The United States has allowed international misconceptions about its cybersecurity posture to perpetuate, said James Lewis, director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies while speaking at an Oct. 21 cybersecurity event at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

A recent CSIS survey revealed that the United States is the most feared nation in cyberspace; China was number two. What's more, the belief that ICANN is secretly a U.S. government-run body, with the aim of controlling the Internet, is not uncommon, Lewis added.

More is being done to establish international cyberspace relationships, said Philip Reitinger, deputy undersecretary at the Homeland Security Department. This will help the United States launch international campaigns to raise cyber awareness and operate better in a time of cyber crisis, he added.

"We have to build the capability to respond, as one, global economy," said Reitinger. Response will be difficult without international policy around cyber security, he added.

"It's going to be essential, on sort of the normative level, to build that set of international norms. This is an ecosystem upon which we all depend. We've got to continue to build the capability and relationships internationally, so we have a common understanding of what is appropriate activity and what is inappropriate," said Reitinger.

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