4 Reasons Why Cyber Security in the Government is Essential

Whether you’re the head of a department or a government agency, you need to implement cyber security into your daily routine. Not only will it protect sensitive information, but it will also protect your workforce, assets, and economy. Read on to discover why cyber security is vital to your organization.

Protects sensitive information

Cyber security is the process of securing sensitive information, such as personal data, from hackers. This data can be used for identity theft, as knowing a person’s Social Security number makes it easier for someone to apply for a credit card in their name, or to obtain a fake passport or visa. Moreover, releasing this data could have detrimental effects on a company. For example, it could expose trade secrets and intellectual property, which could hurt the company’s reputation, and it could harm its merger plans with competitors.

As a result, it is vital for companies and governments to secure this data. A breach of this information would result in significant financial penalties for the company. It would also require extensive resources to investigate the situation and recover. The same can be said for classified information, which is intentionally kept secret. The information is classified because it belongs to a certain sensitivity level and can endanger the government’s goals and international standing if it is exposed to a third party.

The number and sophistication of cyber attacks continues to grow, and organizations are taking steps to protect their sensitive information. Top intelligence officials have even said that cyber attacks are a top national security threat. Because of this, the importance of cyber security is increasingly obvious. Cyber attacks threaten the integrity of our country and the security of our society.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of government-run organizations that take data privacy very seriously. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been implemented in May 2018, and the California State Legislature has passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). As a result, governments around the world are attempting to safeguard the privacy of their citizens.

Governments and private sector companies must work together to secure sensitive information. It is imperative that the federal government set an example and make all federal information systems meet or exceed cybersecurity standards and requirements.

Protects critical assets

Cybersecurity for critical assets is a hot topic, but it can prove difficult to achieve. There is controversy in the security community and among industry groups about whether or not the government should require a cybersecurity program for critical infrastructure. While some members of Congress support regulations, others question the need for them and the costs they might incur.

It is important to protect critical infrastructure to protect essential services and the people who rely on them. This process relies on public-private partnerships. By defining ‘critical infrastructure’, the government can create comprehensive public-private cooperation models to protect vital assets. This can help ensure that critical services are provided without interruption. Cybersecurity spending for critical assets has increased dramatically in the government and the entities that rely on it.

The Commission on Cyber Security concluded that government and private sector cooperation was necessary to protect critical assets. It also recommended that the government invest more in R&D in cybersecurity technologies. The interagency review that followed led to the Presidential Decision Directive in May 1998. This directive set out priorities for protective measures and recommended new laws and regulations.

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. Hence, local government cyber security services are necessary in this day and age to combat these evolving threats. In fact, the WEF recently described a “new normal” for cybersecurity threats and encouraged the government to expand its cybersecurity resilience and readiness. Although this is an uphill battle, protecting critical infrastructure is imperative. The WEF report also highlighted the need for greater collaboration between public and private sectors.

As part of the new President’s Executive Order, the United States has a policy to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. The goal is to make disruptions in critical infrastructure minimal, and to make them rare and preventable. The Executive Order also created the President’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, a group of federal officials who are tasked with developing policies and programs to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Critical infrastructure protection is a term describing the security of a nation’s information infrastructure. Putting these terms together makes it possible to understand the importance of this goal and the importance of protecting this vital infrastructure. In fact, there are several federal programs aimed at ensuring that our government and critical infrastructure is protected.

Protects workforce

Providing cybersecurity protection is an essential part of protecting the government’s workforce. But the demand for cybersecurity workers isn’t always sufficient to meet the organization’s needs. The supply of cybersecurity experts is largely determined by a variety of factors, including the visibility of cybersecurity occupations, the availability of appropriate training and education, and the overall state of the labor market. Generally, cybersecurity workers need to be U.S. citizens, but some positions require additional qualifications.

The government has made progress on individual projects, such as the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NISCTE). However, there is no centralized government strategy to set priorities and allocate resources. This lack of coordination can result in duplication of effort and resources. It can also impede federal efforts to leverage resources to address cybersecurity challenges.

The Office of the National Cyber Director in the White House should lead efforts to create a national cybersecurity workforce strategy. It should consult with the National Security Agency, CISA, NIST, and other relevant federal agencies. It should also work with educational institutions and the National Science Foundation, which runs the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program.

Cybersecurity challenges are continually evolving. As new technologies are developed and deployed, new threats emerge. These new threats have created new vulnerabilities that have been exploited by bad actors. A recent example is the proliferation of networked personal computers. Fortunately, President Biden has prioritized cybersecurity in his administration.

Despite this, the government is struggling to hire cybersecurity experts. This lack of cybersecurity workers makes it more difficult to protect government data. It also undermines the government’s ability to improve cybersecurity in other industries and exacerbates the risks associated with outdated technology systems. Top government officials have characterized the shortage of cybersecurity workers as a national security threat. In addition to holding top government officials accountable for hiring cybersecurity professionals, the Partnership for Public Service provides paid internships to young cybersecurity professionals. The program also makes it easy for these young professionals to transition from their internships to government jobs.

In order to maintain cyber security in the government, federal agencies must improve the way they implement cybersecurity plans. These plans should improve the security of federal information systems and their workforce.

Protects economy

The growing need for effective cyber security has spurred governments to allocate large sums to the issue. For instance, the California Cybersecurity Enhancement Act has created a fund to upgrade cybersecurity in local governments. This legislation also restricts the use of taxpayer money for cyber attacks and ransomware.

Cybersecurity measures should be justified and not unjustifiably restrict trade. They must be necessary for the protection of public order, human health, or other vital infrastructure. These measures would be subject to stricter disciplines than those that fall under the national security exception. However, governments may be reluctant to subject national security measures to the general exception disciplines.

Cybersecurity should also include risk-based approaches that take into account the legitimate interests of others. For example, the OECD suggests a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, in which risk assessments are tailored to an organization’s needs. Likewise, the EU Network and Information System Directive lays down guidelines for appropriate and proportionate security measures.

Financial authorities should also prioritize increasing resilience of the financial sector. This should include implementing secure encrypted data vaults to allow members to back up customer accounts overnight. They should also conduct regular simulations of cyberattacks so that they can identify weaknesses and devise action plans for a cyberattack.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Biden-Harris Administration are working hard to ensure that the country is protected from cyberattacks. This legislation has included the establishment of a cybersecurity monitor for certain electric utilities. It has also mandated the establishment of a state risk and authorization management program and the establishment of a volunteer incident response team. Lastly, it has created a cybersecurity council.