SAN FRANCISCO, April 21 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to open an office in Silicon Valley to facilitate cooperation between private companies and the public sector on cybersecurity, Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said here Tuesday.

In a keynote speech at the RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco, Johnson reiterated the U.S. government call for cooperation from companies to advance the country's cybersecurity capability, saying that cybersecurity is a major priority of the government, which, however, "does not have all the answers or all the talent."

"Cybersecurity must be a partnership between government and the private sector. We need each other and we must work together. There are things government can do for you and there are things we need you to do for us."

He said the department is finalizing plans to open a satellite office in high-tech hub Silicon Valley to serve as a new point of contact with companies there, with the hope that the government and the private sector would strength their relationships and benefit from each other's research and development.

Johnson said the primary pathway for companies to work with the U.S. government in the field of cybersecurity is the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, which has recently deployed the capability to automate publication of near real-time cyber threat indicators in a machine-readable format and is sharing indicators with an initial group of companies.

The center is expected to accept cyber threat indicators from the private sector in automated near real-time format later this year, Johnson said.

He also encouraged talented workers in the Silicon Valley to join government teams to help the country's cybersecurity efforts.

Johnson raised concerns over tech companies' offer of increased encryption protection to data within their systems, which he said poses real challenges for public security, making it hard for law enforcement organizations to access encrypted information.

He urged companies to help to find a solution to this issue while respecting the privacy of individuals and the cybersecurity of American businesses.

U.S. tech companies, on their part, are cautious about sharing information with the government out of concerns over infringement on privacy. They are asking the government to reform its electronic surveillance program.

Top executives from some high-profile tech companies chose to be absent from a White House summit on cybersecurity and consumer protection early this year.