Cyber Resilience Is Essential for Federal Government Agencies

Technology is constantly changing and providing new ways for organizations to collaborate more easily and efficiently. However, these advancements also create new opportunities for cyberattacks.

Federal agencies must be prepared to defend against these evolving security threats, but many still rely on legacy systems that can’t support advanced defenses. It’s time to strengthen your agency’s cyber resilience tools. 

Cyber resilience goes beyond traditional cybersecurity measures, which primarily aim to prevent cyberattacks. Cyber resilience includes a much more well-rounded approach that includes the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from and adapt to negative conditions. This approach ensures that, despite cyber incidents, critical functions continue and recovery is quick and efficient.

According to the CrowdStrike 2024 Global Threat Report there was a 75% increase in cloud environment intrusions in 2023. Federal agencies with private, sensitive and classified information need to be well prepared to defend against these types of intrusions.

For federal agencies, cyber resilience is a necessity to ensure a strong defense against bad actors. The interconnectedness of government agencies means that a security breach in one agency can adversely affect another, interrupting services and compromising sensitive data.

According to IBM Security, it can take an average of 204 days to identify a breach and another 73 days to combat the breach. It is not acceptable for any agency to take this long to recover, as being exposed for an extended period can leave critical information visible to our adversaries. Therefore, preparing for security incidents and a quick recovery is crucial for mission success and cost effectiveness.

Working to strengthen security measures and resilience can take time but having a strong and well-planned strategy in place can make the process much smoother.

Here are a few key things to consider when creating your strategy.

1. Assessing for vulnerabilities: Identifying and prioritizing risks allows agencies to allocate resources effectively, addressing the most critical vulnerabilities first.
2. Monitoring and detection: Implementing advanced monitoring tools enables an early detection of irregularities and allows for prompt response to potential threats.
3. Incident response: Developing and regularly updating incident response plans ensures that agencies can act swiftly to contain and mitigate the impact of cyber incidents.
4. Recovery and continuity planning: Establishing protocols for data backup, system restoration and maintaining essential functions ensures agencies can recover quickly from disruptions.
5. Collaboration and information sharing: Engaging in operational collaboration with other federal entities and private sector partners enhances situational awareness and collective defense mechanisms.

Modernizing IT systems offers a vital opportunity to enhance cyber resilience and stay ahead of evolving threats. Legacy systems often lack the necessary security features to combat modern threats. Moving toward new technologies and user-friendly digital services can help federal agencies to improve performance. With the right approach, federal agencies can overcome challenges like technical debt and budget constraints, paving the way for a more secure and efficient future.

CDW Government understands that federal agencies contend with limited budgets, technical debt and legacy systems when creating a cyber resilience strategy. With over 25 years of experience, our experts can help you devise a strong cyber resilience strategy. No matter where you are in your security journey, we can assess your vulnerabilities, guide your path to modernization and bolster your cyber resilience.