Tag: ZeroTrust

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What does the future of cybersecurity look like?

As we look ahead, there are several key areas of focus that will undoubtedly shape the virtual battleground. Government agencies who proactively embrace and implement current high priorities in these key areas will be better prepared to navigate the evolving digital threatscape and safeguard their sensitive information and assets. Here are some top drivers we anticipate will impact agencies’ cybersecurity strategy and spending plans.

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)

ZTA has been at the forefront of government guidance in recent years. Now that agencies have had time to plan for their ZTA requirements, implementing strategies should commence. ZTA provides agencies with the foundation to build a strong security posture that evolves with the ever-changing technological environment of dynamic and accelerating threats.

Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM)

The growing interconnectedness of systems, services, and products makes management and mitigation of supply chain risks even more important. Effective C-SCRM should be a fundamental component in cybersecurity strategy. Having C-SCRM as an essential element in procurement helps to ensure the resilience, security, and continuity of operations for organizations, government agencies, and critical infrastructure.

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)

PQC is an emerging field within the cyber realm that is gaining increased relevance due to the potential threat quantum computers pose to traditional encryption methods. PQC involves the development of new cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum computer attacks to ensure the security of digital communications and sensitive information. Agencies should begin to plan for future quantum resistant methods by inventorying their systems and engaging with vendors on how they are addressing quantum-readiness.

Some challenges agencies may face include:

  • The ability to identify PQ-vulnerable systems.
  • The ability to identify and implement appropriate PQC algorithms.
  • The high cost and complexity of implementation.
  • A gap in a trained and certified workforce to implement and maintain PCQ algorithms.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The rapid emergence and adoption of generative AI tools has created new challenges, especially for data security. As AI becomes more prevalent in our modern technology, agencies will need to assess the associated risks and develop strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities.

GSA and other agencies are working to support the new Executive Order to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy.

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GSA’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Instills Cybersecurity Confidence

On May 12, the White House issued the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. This EO underlines the fundamental problem of how cybersecurity weaknesses leave critical infrastructure open to debilitating attacks. It also outlines what government agencies must do to improve their collective defensive posture, reduce risk, improve visibility and secure their infrastructure.

GSA’s Information Technology Category (ITC) tracks cybersecurity trends and is involved in conversations with industry experts on this topic. We incorporate the EO’s technological goals in our contract solutions, like Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Contract, or EIS.

When it comes to network security, Zero-Trust Architecture (ZTA) is the gold standard. We even published a Zero Trust Architecture Buyer’s Guide to help agencies build toward it. EIS is featured prominently in the guide, because it offers baked-in security “building blocks” to create customizable solutions.

Managed Security Services

The EIS Managed Security Service (MSS) is a comprehensive service that protects an agency’s information technology assets—hardware devices, network, software, and information—from malicious attacks. It includes capabilities such as authentication, anti-virus, anti-malware/spyware, intrusion detection, and security event management. MSS comprises the following sub-services: Trusted Internet Connections Service (TICS), Managed Prevention Service (MPS), Vulnerability Scanning Service (VSS), and Incident Response Service (INRS).

Managed Network Services

The EIS Managed Network Service (MNS) enables an agency to outsource a portion or all of its network planning, design, implementation, maintenance, operations and customer service as a strategic move to improve IT services and lower costs.

Software Defined – Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Services

SD-WAN services provide significant benefits by giving agencies central security management and visibility, the ability to segment networks where security policies can be tailored per application and data type, and identity-based user access.

Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Services (MTIPS)

MTIPS version 2.2 provides security for all external connections to public Internet, Extranet, and Cloud Service Providers. As agencies look to implement the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) TIC 3.0 guidance, MTIPS may be complemented with additional EIS services to achieve the updated security capabilities of a TIC 3.0 Traditional TIC solution.

FedRAMP Authorized Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Tools

SaaS gives an agency access to applications hosted in the cloud. The provider manages the security, availability, and performance of the applications as part of their service. Using SaaS allows an agency to reduce the time, expense, and risk associated with the installation and maintenance of software on agency computers. EIS SaaS meets all federally required security standards for Cloud services.

EIS delivers solutions to agencies that will meet CISA’s latest Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 guidance and ZTA requirements which include the Core Zero Trust Logical Components described in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-207. GSA continues to collaborate with CISA to provide guidance to agencies advancing legacy networks towards a zero trust architecture.

In the past decade, the typical federal agency network has evolved from being static with a known perimeter to mobile-friendly with nodes across the country. We are now regularly reminded that security solutions must correspondingly evolve to secure agency data and be able to ensure the safe transport of information to and from cloud applications, data centers, and remote users. If they don’t, the U.S. will continue to be vulnerable to malicious actors all over the world.

The Cybersecurity EO prioritizes “accelerated movement to secure cloud services; centralized and streamlined access to cybersecurity data to drive analytics for identifying and managing cybersecurity risks; and investment in both technology and personnel to match these modernization goals.” EIS already supports these by supplying SD-WAN services, 5th Generation (5G) telecommunications technology, Internet of Things (IoT) offerings, and Cloud-based security solutions.

Using EIS to buy IT infrastructure ensures a greater degree of consistency in the government’s telecommunications and network infrastructure services. It also consolidates the government’s purchasing power, driving lower prices on products and services that to satisfy complex security, flexibility, and visibility needs. EIS solutions offer the foundation needed to adapt to evolving threats and continue accomplishing your mission. The sooner agencies transition, the sooner they can take advantage of the secure solutions available on EIS. Accelerate your transition progress by Taking A.I.M. at EIS.