The Sony Pictures hack is the largest cyber attack to ever hit U.S. shores, and it may bring completely new legislation on the government's involvement with private sector attacks, according to National Security Agency (NSA) director Michael Rogers.

Currently, the government only protects 16 critical sectors of the U.S. economy, including things like food production, power grids, military systems and financial services. This policy was introduced in 2013 by President Obama, to better protect online services.

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The new debate focuses on how far U.S. agencies should go to protect the private sector, and if new legislation for turning over information should be enforced by the government.

Rogers does claim discussions will be hard at a time like this, when the NSA is still noticed as more of a surveillance group than security, due to the mass surveillance leaks by Edward Snowden.

Despite Rogers claiming these leaks were not as damaging as once thought, it has left a rather dirty mark on the NSA and the FBI to some extent, when it comes to gaining cyber information from U.S. citizens and companies.

Congress is also not interested in pushing more legislation to allow the NSA or any other U.S. agency more private information, which could potentially stop attackers hitting the U.S. private sector.

The NSA firmly believes North Korea was behind the Sony Pictures attack, claiming there is sufficient evidence to that effect. President Obama has already announced new financial sanctions on the country, even as more security experts start to question the decision.

Part of the deliberation comes from the U.S. government's refusal to disclose the alleged evidence linking North Korea and Sony Pictures. Until this is shown, questions will continue to crop up and no agency seems to have the answers.

TagsSony Pictures, NSA, U.S. officials, U.S. Government, cyber attacks