So, how cybersecurity in the U.S. should be monitored?

The matter of the White House playing the leading role in coordinating cybersecurity efforts involving the federal government and key private-sector industries has been raised by critics last week. 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, stated that putting the White House in charge would make it harder for Congress to manage policies and budgets. She added that the president should be responsible for "declaring [cyber] war," with input from Congress. She suggested that the government uses the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), which was set up in 2004 as a model.

Another bill that would give the White House more control over security efforts was introduced in the Senate last week. Proposed by Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) it would establish a National Office for Cyberspace. Director of the office would be appointed by the president and report to him/her. Moreover, there was another bill introduced early last month by Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). The latter one is aimed at creating a cybersecurity office in the White House.

Stewart Baker, a former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, argued control should not be shifted to the White House, as well. He recommended that the government should instead strengthen the ability of the DHS on managing cybersecurity by providing required resources, and support of the National Security Agency and the military.