Just like many private sector organizations, federal government institutions are undergoing a digital transformation as they move data and applications to the cloud. While this shift can help to optimize and streamline operations, it also limits control and visibility into a network. This makes it difficult to effectively secure federal systems, protect cyber critical government infrastructures, and monitor and manage overall cyber risk.
The sensitive nature of the data collected by federal government agencies means that a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy is not an option, but an absolute necessity. With cyber threats constantly evolving, the government needs to take a proactive approach to risk management in order to protect private citizen data and national security.
Why is cybersecurity important in the federal government?
The Federal Cybersecurity Risk Determination Report and Action Plan by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found that 74 percent of federal agencies are considered “at-risk” or “high risk” of falling victim to cyber attack. Cybercriminals and nation-states exploit vulnerabilities to steal information and money, and they are increasingly successful in developing capabilities to disrupt, destroy, or threaten the delivery of essential services. For this reason, cybersecurity must be a priority for government agencies, many of whom have access to some of the nation’s most critical infrastructures.
The major cybersecurity challenges faced by the federal government
In regard to cybersecurity, the mounting challenges faced by federal government agencies have made it difficult to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that can effectively identify and mitigate risks. A few of these challenges include:
Protecting cyber critical government infrastructures
This type of protection refers to the preparedness and response of government entities to incidents that involve critical infrastructures such as energy, transportation systems, communications, and financial services. Vulnerabilities in this industry have become increasingly dangerous as many infrastructures undergo digital transformation, opening themselves up to unforeseen threats.
The cybersecurity skills gap
The growing cybersecurity skills gap has had a great impact on the industry, and the public sector has been hit especially hard as they typically have more trouble attracting experienced staff than the private sector. Agencies often contract workers to close the gap, although many would prefer to have the position filled by someone in-house.
Securing private and sensitive information
Government agencies have access to highly sensitive data that, if put in the wrong hands, could potentially lead to a national security emergency. Agencies must improve their ability to protect sensitive data, and regulations need to be put in place to restrict the amount and type of personal information that can be collected.
Budget restrictions
Many government agencies are already working within constrained budgets, and IT departments are typically among the first to be affected when budget cuts need to be made. This is because it can be challenging to show return on investment for cybersecurity tools and solutions.
How can the government improve cybersecurity?
The first step in combating the cybersecurity challenges facing government institutions is to establish informed legislation and policies with the help and expertise of cyber technical professionals. Agencies will also need to quickly adopt new technology solutions and modern standards that can work within the context of today’s expanding threat landscape. Consider tools that offer advanced security measures such as multi-factor authentication, that can help prevent, detect, or disrupt a cyber attack on your organization.
Additionally, to address increasingly advanced insider threats, such as phishing, agencies should invest in thorough employee training that can teach individuals how to spot potential threats, allowing them to take a more proactive approach to cybersecurity.
5 best practices for achieving comprehensive cybersecurity within federal agencies
Government institutions have been slow to adapt to the evolving digital environment, and when cybersecurity falls to the wayside, critical information is put at risk. To improve cybersecurity and build a more comprehensive security strategy, federal agencies should keep the following best practices in mind:
1. Understand your agency’s cybersecurity posture
Your agency’s cybersecurity posture refers to its overall defense against cyber attacks and threat actors. It is a demonstration of how secure your agency is as a result of your collective security strategy, including software and hardware, services, networks, and cybersecurity solutions. A simple way to gain an understanding of your agency’s security posture is by conducting a self-assessment, which can provide an overview of your organization’s security performance.
2. Maintain regulation compliance
In early 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) released the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), in an attempt to establish a unified cybersecurity standard for private contractors. The framework is an update to NIST, and adds additional cybersecurity best practices such as continuous security monitoring. Organizations should look for solutions that can automatically map to relevant security standards and regulations such as CMMC, NIST, and ISO, so they can be confident they’re maintaining compliance with evolving government mandates.
3. Ensure third-party risk management
Due to the highly confidential nature of the data collected by government agencies, it’s critical that your agency has visibility into the security posture of any service provider, contractor, subcontractor, or supplier in your supply chain. Risk assessments, questionnaires, and a thorough due diligence review are key to ensuring that third-parties are taking the necessary steps to mitigate risk and protect valuable information.
4. Regularly report on cybersecurity risks
To ensure transparency, it’s important to keep supervisors and stakeholders up-to-date on the success of your agency’s cybersecurity efforts. Your agency should regularly provide board security report highlights to key decision-makers and showcase the strengths of your cybersecurity strategy in a way that is easily understood by those without technical expertise. This will help to facilitate productive conversations about cyber risk, demonstrate return on investment, and prove the value of security efforts.
5. Develop an integrated cybersecurity strategy that continuously identifies, monitors, and manages risks
Evaluating cybersecurity risk is a process that should never end, as hackers are quickly outpacing traditional security measures and introducing advanced attacks into the digital landscape. Point-in-time assessments are no longer sufficient, thus, continuous monitoring is the only way to ensure that your agency is effectively protecting its critical assets and information against complex threats.
How SecurityScorecard can help the federal government sector maintain cybersecurity
The rapid increase in the volume and sophistication of cyber threats means that cybersecurity for federal governments is imperative. As critical infrastructures continue to move to the cloud, organizations need to be prepared to defend against the wide range of cyber threats that they are likely to face. With SecurityScorecard, agencies can use security ratings to gain an understanding of organizational performance across 10 groups of risk factors, allowing you to drill down into, and prioritize specific issues. Additionally, you can enable cybersecurity compliance and audit remediation to ensure your agency is keeping up with evolving government regulations.
The ability to identify and manage threats across the entire supply chain will provide you with the confidence that your third-party vendors are taking the same careful steps to protect important information that may have been shared with them. By continuously monitoring your agency’s ecosystem, identifying threats, and securing agency infrastructure, SecurityScorecard makes it possible to protect reputation, ensure federal information security, and maintain public trust.
