Federal agencies operate in a unique environment compared to the private sector. Their attack surface is vast and diverse, encompassing critical infrastructure, sensitive national security data, and public-facing services. The threat actors they face are equally unique, ranging from nation-states with sophisticated capabilities to hacktivists and cybercriminals. Building a robust security posture in this context is a continuous journey, often refined through years of experience and adaptation. However, the abrupt changes introduced by DOGE present an immediate and intensified challenge to these established primitives, demanding rapid and effective adjustments under increased constraints.
In this challenging environment, security leaders must focus on foundational principles to maintain and enhance their agency’s cyber resilience, all while navigating the complexities of reduced resources. Here are key areas to prioritize:
If you can’t see, you can’t prioritize and secure
In times of reduced staff, understanding the entirety of your digital footprint is paramount. Having a full understanding of what systems and assets — yours, your contractors' and other agencies' — are touching your data and processes becomes the bedrock of any effective security strategy. Without a clear and up-to-date source of truth for your attack surface — from workstations, to on-prem servers, to identities and private or public cloud services — it ..
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