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Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018

US FederalCritical Infrastructure2018
ByDecipherU Editorial

The CISA Act established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within DHS. This cybersecurity law promoted the former National Protection and Programs Directorate into a standalone agency responsible for protecting US critical infrastructure. CISA serves as the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience.

Quick Reference

EnactedNovember 16, 2018
Enforcement BodyCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
PenaltiesCISA issues binding operational directives to federal agencies; no direct penalties on private sector
Applicable ToFederal agencies, critical infrastructure operators, state and local governments

Key Requirements

6 U.S.C. § 652(c)(1)

CISA must lead the national effort to protect and defend federal civilian IT networks

6 U.S.C. § 652(c)(4)

CISA must coordinate cybersecurity information sharing between government and private sector

6 U.S.C. § 652(c)(7)

CISA must issue binding operational directives to federal agencies for cybersecurity actions

How Does CISA Act Affect Cybersecurity Careers?

CISA is one of the largest cybersecurity employers in government. Threat intelligence analysts, incident responders, and vulnerability analysts can pursue careers directly at CISA. GRC professionals need to track CISA binding operational directives that affect their agencies.

How Does CISA Act Affect Cybersecurity Sales?

CISA maintains the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, which drives urgency for patch management products. Vendors can participate in CISA's Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). CISA endorsements or mentions can validate a vendor's credibility in government sales.

Cybersecurity Roles That Work With CISA Act

Incident Responder→Threat Intelligence Analyst→Chief Information Security Officer→

Related Cybersecurity Certifications

CISSPCompTIA Security+

Related Cybersecurity Laws

Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022→Federal Information Security Modernization Act→Executive Order 14028: Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity→

Read the full text of CISA Act at the official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3359

Frequently Asked Questions

The CISA Act established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within DHS. This cybersecurity law promoted the former National Protection and Programs Directorate into a standalone agency responsible for protecting US critical infrastructure. CISA serves as the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience.

CISA is one of the largest cybersecurity employers in government. Threat intelligence analysts, incident responders, and vulnerability analysts can pursue careers directly at CISA. GRC professionals need to track CISA binding operational directives that affect their agencies.

CISA issues binding operational directives to federal agencies; no direct penalties on private sector

Sources

  1. Official text: CISA Act
Last verified: April 2026?Report an inaccuracy

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Cybersecurity law and regulation summaries are educational plain-language descriptions, not legal advice. Statutes, regulations, and enforcement guidance change frequently. Consult qualified legal counsel and verify against the official published text before relying on any summary for compliance or career decisions.