The Department of War (DoW) has announced the launch of a new Cybersecurity Risk Management Construct (CSRMC), designed to provide real-time cyber defense for U.S. military operations. The CSRMC aims to address shortcomings in the previous risk management framework, which relied on static checklists and manual processes that did not adequately support operational needs or cyber survivability. These limitations left defense systems open to advanced threats and delayed the deployment of secure capabilities.
The new approach shifts from periodic assessments to a dynamic system that uses automation and continuous monitoring. This change is intended to enable faster and more effective responses to evolving cyber threats.
The CSRMC is structured around a five-phase lifecycle that aligns with system development and operational stages: design, build, test, onboard, and operations. In the design phase, security measures are incorporated from the start. The build phase implements these designs as systems reach initial operating capability. During testing, systems undergo comprehensive validation before full deployment. Once onboarded, automated monitoring ensures ongoing visibility into system status. In the operations phase, real-time dashboards and alerts facilitate immediate threat detection and response.
Ten foundational tenets support this construct, including automation for efficiency, focus on critical controls, continuous monitoring for situational awareness, integration of DevSecOps practices, emphasis on cyber survivability in contested environments, training for personnel development, use of enterprise services to reduce duplication, operationalization for near real-time risk visibility among stakeholders, reciprocity in assessment reuse across systems, and threat-informed cybersecurity assessments.
By adopting this construct department-wide, the DoW seeks to ensure mission assurance across all domains—air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace.
"This construct represents a cultural shift in how the Department approaches cybersecurity," said Katie Arrington, performing the duties of the DoW CIO. "With automation, continuous monitoring, and resilience at its core, the CSRMC empowers the DoW to defend against today's adversaries while preparing for tomorrow's challenges."
Further details about the Cyber Security Risk Management Construct can be found by following this link: For more information on the Cyber Security Risk Management Construct. Information regarding strategic tenets is available here: For more information on the CSRMC Strategic Tenets.
