Cybersecurity has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges to national security. Today’s digital threats can disrupt critical infrastructure, compromise sensitive data, and erode public trust in essential systems. In response, the U.S. is advancing both its technical defenses and the legal frameworks, executive orders, and agency-level policies that govern and support them.
This shifting landscape is creating new opportunities for professionals with expertise in the legal and regulatory dimensions of cybersecurity, particularly in government, defense, and policy-driven roles.
This article examines the digital threats that pose national security threats, the legal gaps and policy challenges that remain, the careers growing at this intersection, and how the George Washington (GW) Law online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) prepares professionals to excel in this area without a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree. The program offers a concentration in national security and cybersecurity law that is focused on protecting critical infrastructure such as energy grids, as well as offensive and defensive cyberoperations within the military.
Cyber Threats Are Now National Security Threats
Cyberattacks on government systems are increasing in frequency, scale, and sophistication. Incidents like the SolarWinds breach and the Colonial Pipeline attack have shown that malicious actors can disrupt critical infrastructure, compromise sensitive data, and affect millions of people, all while undermining public trust.
These incidents have expanded the scope of national security and cybersecurity and highlighted the urgent need for robust, coordinated cyber defenses.
Federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency lead the charge in protecting against these threats. They depend on professionals who can craft policies, interpret laws, and ensure regulatory compliance.
As cyber threats evolve, legal and policy experts are playing an increasingly vital role in shaping how the U.S. prevents, mitigates, and responds to attacks in the digital domain.
Build Expertise in Cybersecurity Law With GW Law’s MSL
Train To Safeguard Critical Infrastructure and Data
Legal Gaps and Emerging Challenges in Cybersecurity Policy
In the U.S., a patchwork of laws and policies governs how the nation addresses cybersecurity. These frameworks guide collaboration between government agencies and private companies to protect critical systems, safeguard data, and stay ahead of evolving threats.
Key components of the national cybersecurity strategy include:
- Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA): Sets standards for how federal agencies secure information systems and manage cyber risks.
- Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA): Promotes threat data sharing between the public and private sectors to bolster collective defenses.
- Executive Order 14028: Calls for zero-trust architecture, stronger supply chain protections, and improved incident response across federal agencies.
- National Cybersecurity Strategy: Outlines goals for protecting infrastructure, disrupting threat actors, enhancing resilience, and coordinating with international partners..
- Presidential Policy Directive 41 (PPD-41): Defines how the federal government responds to significant cyber incidents.
Despite this legal foundation, critical gaps remain in cybersecurity law. Unresolved questions around privacy, surveillance limits, cross-border jurisdiction, and emerging threats—such as those driven by artificial intelligence—continue to challenge policymakers.
Professionals with expertise in cybersecurity law are essential to addressing these complexities. They interpret regulations, advise public and private organizations, and develop legal strategies that protect national interests while upholding civil liberties. By bridging law, policy, and technology, they play a vital role in securing the digital systems society depends on.
Careers at the Intersection of Law, Cybersecurity, and National Defense
As cyber threats grow more complex, federal agencies, defense contractors, and public-sector organizations increasingly need professionals who can bridge the gap between law, policy, and technology.
In-demand roles include:
- Cybersecurity policy advisors, who shape national security strategies and draft cyber-related policy.
- Regulatory analysts, who interpret new laws and ensure organizational compliance.
- National security risk officers, who assess emerging threats and recommend legal and operational safeguards.
- Public sector compliance leads, who oversee day-to-day operations to ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards.
Many of these positions do not require a JD, but they do demand a strong understanding of legal frameworks and the ability to apply them in real-world contexts. An MSL with a national security and cybersecurity law focus equips professionals with the knowledge to navigate federal policy, shape regulatory strategy, and support compliance efforts across government and defense sectors.
How GW Law’s MSL Equips Professionals To Lead in National Security and Cyber Law
GW Law’s MSL program offers a National Security & Cybersecurity Law Concentration, an advanced track for professionals who want to work at the intersection of law, policy, and national defense. The program equips students to analyze cybersecurity law, counterterrorism policy, and intelligence oversight from both legal and strategic perspectives, with a focus on real-world application. The curriculum also addresses emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, exploring the new risks and legal challenges they pose to both government and private-sector systems.
Designed for working professionals, the program is fully online and flexible. Students can complete their studies from anywhere while benefiting from GW Law’s deep ties to Washington, D.C., a major hub for legal and policy activity. Courses are taught by faculty and guest speakers with direct experience in federal agencies, cybersecurity, and regulatory leadership.
Graduates gain the legal insight and strategic skills needed to shape policy, guide compliance, and make an immediate impact in government, defense, and related sectors.
Is a GW Law MSL Degree Right for You?
Cybersecurity is now a core pillar of national security, but the legal framework surrounding it continues to evolve. GW Law’s online MSL in National Security & Cybersecurity Law prepares professionals to lead in this critical field of cybersecurity policy and law—helping shape policy, support public institutions, and protect digital infrastructure. It offers the legal foundation you need, without the time and cost of a JD.
This program is ideal for professionals who want to assist government agencies or private organizations in protecting their digital infrastructure, navigating complex regulations, and operating at the intersection of law, technology, and national defense.
To learn more, schedule a one-on-one overview with an enrollment advisor. Ready to get started? Review the admissions guide and begin your application today.