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Strengthening the Civilian Backbone of National Security: ICIT’s Center for FCEB Resilience 2025 Impact
- ICIT Research
- 20 minutes ago
- 3 min read
January 2026
In an era where cyber threats, geopolitical competition, and technological disruption are accelerating, the resilience of the Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) has become a defining pillar of U.S. national security. Since its launch in August 2024, the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology’s (ICIT) Center for FCEB Resilience has emerged as a national platform uniting government, industry, academia, and civil society to close long-standing resilience gaps across civilian agencies that millions of Americans rely on every day.
“As the operational lead for federal cybersecurity, CISA works every day to strengthen the security and resilience of the Federal Civilian Executive Branch (the FCEB) that millions of Americans depend on for critical services. To inform our efforts and accomplish this mission, CISA collaborates with government, industry and organization partners, such as ICIT. The work of ICIT’s Center for FCEB Resilience to address evolving threats, enhance security, accelerate resilience, and advocate for a modernized FCEB aligns with and supports CISA’s mission. CISA recognizes ICIT’s efforts to convene key stakeholders, deliver actionable insights, and advance broader resilience efforts.”
— Nick Andersen, Executive Assistant Director, Cybersecurity Division, CISA
Why the FCEB Matters
More than 100 civilian departments and agencies deliver essential services that power American life—from energy and transportation to healthcare, finance, and environmental protection. Their openness, scale, and public mission make them uniquely exposed to adversaries, yet historically under-resourced compared to military and intelligence counterparts. Strengthening the FCEB strengthens the nation.
A Year of Measurable Impact
In 2025, ICIT’s Center for FCEB Resilience delivered:
18 convenings and roundtables
50+ executive briefings
38 research publications advancing policy, modernization, and resilience
Key focus areas included:
AI assurance and data integrity
Cloud, software, and supply chain resilience
Workforce readiness and modernization
Foreign-owned technology and systemic risk
Public-private coordination and information sharing
This work informed congressional oversight, supported agency leadership, and elevated civilian cyber resilience as a national priority.
Powering Progress Through Partnership
The Center’s momentum is driven by a broad coalition that includes:
Federal leaders: CIOs, CISOs, and senior executives across the civilian enterprise
National security partners: CISA, DHS, NIST, DoD, and others
Congressional stakeholders: authorizers, appropriators, and oversight committees
Industry and technology leaders across critical infrastructure sectors
Academic and research institutions shaping the future workforce
As CISA underscored, ICIT’s ability to convene stakeholders, deliver actionable insight, and accelerate resilience is central to advancing national outcomes.
Looking Ahead: An Invitation to Support
The challenges facing civilian agencies will only intensify. ICIT’s Center for FCEB Resilience is a multi-year national initiative, and its success depends on sustained collaboration with forward-looking organizations committed to public service, innovation, and national resilience.
Industry partners have a unique opportunity to:
Shape policy and modernization conversations
Engage directly with federal decision-makers
Contribute expertise to high-impact research and convenings
Help secure the systems Americans depend on every day
Interested in becoming an FCEB supporter? To explore partnership and sponsorship opportunities, contact Javier@icitech.org or visit www.icitech.org.
VIEW AND DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
About ICIT
The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)3think tank with the mission of modernizing, securing, and making resilient critical infrastructure that provides for people’s foundational needs. ICIT takes no institutional positions on policy matters. Rather than advocate, ICIT is dedicated to being a resource for the organizations and communities that share our mission. By applying a people-centric lens to critical infrastructure research and decision making, our work ensures that modernization and security investments have a lasting, positive impact on society.
ICIT CONTACTS:
Parham Eftekhari
Founder and Chairman
Cory Simpson
Chief Executive Officer