WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today released the following statement on the Biden administration’s announcement to institute a cybersecurity certification and labeling program. As the “Internet of Things” continues to proliferate with connected products in millions of households, the program will label qualified devices that meet cybersecurity standards, making it easier for customers to know which products they buy are secure by design.

The certification and labeling program instituted today will allow consumers to inform their purchasing decisions with the goal of increasing demand for secure-by-design products. Read the program announcement HERE and see a video of Senator King’s pre-recorded remarks for the event HERE. This effort was a specific recommendation of the CSC.

“The cybersecurity certification and labeling program is an important step towards encouraging consumer products to adhere to specific cybersecurity criteria published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and fulfills a key recommendation proposed by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission back in 2020.

“A critical piece of this program is its emphasis on public-private collaboration. The program already includes many major private sector businesses as participants and plans to continue to engage stakeholders going forward. With so much of the threat surface within the private sector, this collaboration will help the implementation process and make the transition to labeling products much smoother.

“We are excited to see this program go into effect and are eager to see an increased consumer demand for secure-by-design products.”

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As Co-Chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), Senator King and Representative Gallagher are recognized as two of Congress’ leading experts on cyber defense and are strong advocates for a forward-thinking cyber strategy that emphasizes layered cyber deterrence. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.