In a heavily redacted 2015 report released to CyberScoop, the Department of Defense's inspector general says the fledgling command lacks the authorities it needs to manage personnel, set standards for training and ensure its teams are properly equipped for cyber-combat.

Trump's decision moves Cyber Command one step closer from being moved away from the National Security Agency.

Hackers linked to a North Korean cyber espionage group — best known for a global ransomware attack dubbed "WannaCry" — are now actively targeting U.S. defense contractors.

The deal comes more than a year after then-CIO Terry Halvorsen first pledged to get rid of the ubiquitous Common Access Card smartcard.

Vital U.S. industries like banking and telecommunications are more vulnerable than ever to cyberattacks, and the military systems that ought to deter such incursions are themselves susceptible to hackers, said former Pentagon cybersecurity policy chief Jim Miller.

Sensitive Philippine government documents acquired by a hacker group with suspected ties to the Vietnamese government have been floating on the public internet, according to evidence gathered by CyberScoop.