On Feb. 12, the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology released the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. This framework is the result of Presidential Executive Order 13636: Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, issued in February 2013. The framework was created through public-private collaborations and provides a common language to address and manage cyber risk in a cost-effective way based on business needs. Local health departments can use the framework to determine their current level of cybersecurity, set goals for cybersecurity, and establish a plan for improving or maintaining their cybersecurity. Learn how to use the framework.