Public-sector cybersecurity

Three elements combine to make government data systems highly attractive to cybercriminals: First, by their nature, government entities are relatively open to a very broad collection of users—some of whom have very limited experience online, which leaves them vulnerable to intrusive actions; second, the entities generally keep a high profile, which makes them attractive targets to foreign political actors, politically motivated hackers, and others; and third, the cybersecurity budgets of public entities are generally much more restricted than non-governmental organizations and businesses.

By definition, government entities face both economic and logistical challenges where technological advancements are involved. Many government bodies must comply with complex bidding processes, which can delay adoption of emerging cybersecurity approaches, and most must operate within tight procurement budgets. Aside from sourcing and implementing updated cybersecurity technology, governments are also somewhat challenged where recruitment is concerned. Not only must they overcome the extreme shortages in skilled personnel, but they face challenges where it comes to offering highly competitive salaries and benefits.

Governments, at all levels, are highly interactive, with data flowing between them and the general public. This makes them extremely vulnerable to certain types of cyberattacks. The flow of data also creates a very large attack surface, but with relatively deep individual wells of critical data. This interconnectivity makes a consolidated data security network extremely important to safeguard information related to both government operations and individual citizens.

At the most basic level, good cybersecurity can enable government to meet its fundamental goal of providing excellent services to its clients—whether at the local, regional or national level. Effective cybersecurity can help improve users’ experience—enhancing the trust of stakeholders by streamlining processes and improving compliance. Implementing advanced software and effective counter-measures can help counteract sophisticated threats before they have an opportunity to compromise your network, ensuring that your organization can do its part to safeguard the privacy of stakeholders and continue to provide essential services.

The ever-changing face of cyberthreats requires ongoing vigilance. To stay ahead of emerging cyberthreats it’s essential to follow a comprehensive approach to combatting malware and ransomware while continuously evolving your defenses to meet new attack vectors and technologies. It’s critical that government source the help it needs to maintain an edge against rising threats.