By David DiMolfetta and Edward Graham

The newly confirmed Director of the Office of the National Cyber Director, Sean Cairncross, has emphasized the need for a unified "whole of nation" approach to combat digital threats from foreign adversaries. In his first public address at the Billington Cyber Summit on Tuesday, Cairncross outlined his vision for bolstering U.S. cyber defenses and deterring malicious nation-state hackers.

Cairncross, who was confirmed last month to lead the ONCD, stressed that crippling cyberattacks will continue unless officials impose more severe consequences on bad actors. "The United States cannot expect this behavior to change," he said, adding that the nation must send a message that such behavior is unacceptable and comes with a cost to foreign rivals.

Cairncross highlighted China as a key adversary, citing its storied campaigns targeting telecommunications networks and critical infrastructure across the country. He emphasized the need for engagement and increased involvement with the private sector to achieve success in this effort.

"Together, we'll explore concepts of operation to enable our extremely capable private sector, from exposing malign actions to shifting adversaries' risk calculus and bolstering resilience," Cairncross said. This approach is designed to leverage the expertise and resources of the private sector to complement government efforts and achieve a more effective deterrence strategy.

Cairncross's comments were echoed by Senator Angus King (I-Maine), who stressed that cyberthreat actors will continue to exploit vulnerabilities unless they face consequences. King noted that he sponsored an amendment to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), which charges the Secretary of Defense with developing a deterrent strategy over the next year and a half.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be cyber for cyber," King said about countering digital attacks with a more offensive approach. "It can be some other kind of response, but it has to hurt." This approach suggests that the government is considering unconventional methods to counter cyber threats, including privateering contracts that would authorize private sector hacking operations against adversaries.

Cairncross also emphasized the need for a robust cybersecurity workforce. He said that the U.S. needs to develop and share talent, reconciling and taking advantage of existing avenues within academia, vocational schools, corporations, and venture capital opportunities. "We need a pipeline that develops and shares talent," he said.

Cairncross's responsibilities include coordinating cybersecurity efforts between various government agencies, developing and implementing national cybersecurity policies, and advising the president on critical cyber issues. He also highlighted the importance of hardening government networks, updating technologies, and preparing for a post-quantum future.