Cybersecurity Requirements For Government Agencies-Overview

Government agencies are a primary target for cyber attacks. Cybercriminals use malicious tactics such as infecting a system with ransomware to cripple federal, state, and local governments. Attacks can also cost an agency millions of dollars and damage reputation with the general public. To avoid suffering major damages from cyber attacks, government agencies must commit to strong cybersecurity requirements for the organization.

Assemble a strong team of security experts

If an agency doesn’t frequently update its cybersecurity policies, they can quickly become outdated and ineffective. For this reason, agencies must assemble a strong team of IT security professionals. This team should be familiar with the latest cybersecurity trends and able to interpret new laws that impact cybersecurity policy.

Government agencies of all sizes can assemble an in-house or outsourced group of security professionals. An in-house team can work closely with security vendors to ensure that all vulnerabilities are being addressed. Outsourced teams, such as ThreatAdvice vCISO, can help nontechnical employees build cybersecurity awareness and strengthen overall efforts to protect valuable data.

Build a strategy to transition away from legacy systems

One common ground among compromised agencies is the reliance on outdated legacy systems. Agencies should require mandatory updates to systems as frequently as possible. Older operating systems are filled with security gaps, leaving the entire agency vulnerable to a cyberattack.

Legacy systems can also prevent government agencies from installing modern cybersecurity solutions. Organizations must continuously update their technology to ensure they are accounting for every potential threat. At each budget cycle, agency leaders should plan and prioritize major updates with the most current cybersecurity tools and resources.

Secure agency communication

Email communication is a critical element of agency operations. Hackers understand its importance and craft elaborate phishing schemes to steal valuable agency data. Government agencies must require all employees to undergo phishing training and simulations as often as possible. Any users who show signs of being a high-risk employee should be required to receive additional training and education.

Agencies should also utilize security software to reduce the number of malicious emails users receive. While security software may stop most threatening emails, employees should be properly trained on spotting risky messages that inevitably slip through the cracks.

Summary:

Cybercriminals use malicious tactics such as infecting a system with ransomware to cripple federal, state, and local governments. Attacks can also cost an agency millions of dollars and damage reputation with the general public. Agencies must assemble a strong team of IT security professionals. This team should be familiar with the latest cybersecurity trends and able to interpret new laws that impact cybersecurity policy. Agencies should require mandatory updates to systems as frequently as possible. Older operating systems are filled with security gaps, leaving the entire agency vulnerable to a cyber attack. Government agencies must require all employees to undergo phishing training and simulations as often as possible. Any users who show signs of being a high-risk employee should be required to receive additional training and education.

For assistance in evaluating your strategies, technical requirements, staff evaluations and communications contact a ThreatAdvice Professional to learn more.