While every type of organization needs to maintain a strong cybersecurity posture in the face of today’s formidable threat landscape, government agencies must develop the most robust security strategies of all. Government agencies should present a front line of defense against cyberthreats that include state-sponsored cyberattacks against vital U.S. infrastructure, such as power, water, and transportation systems.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the national cybersecurity strategy is not as strong as it should be, citing a lack of “outcome-oriented performance measures,” failure to monitor the global supply chain, cyber skills gaps, and a need to address emerging AI risk. Referencing past cyberattacks against Federal agencies, GAO points out deficiencies in preventing and responding to targeted attacks that threaten sensitive data.
Government agencies face the challenge of meeting the toughest security standards, including compliance regulations and Zero Trust, to prevent targeted attacks.
Government agencies are held to strict compliance standards governing how public records and citizens’ personal data are stored, accessed, and preserved. They must retain and archive information to support records management, legal discovery, legislative oversight, and investigative needs. Under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) guidelines, agencies are required to safeguard electronic records while still providing authorized access. Additionally, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) ensures citizens have the right to access government records, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability.
However, balancing transparency with security is no small task. Government records must also be protected from unauthorized access to safeguard citizens’ privacy and national security. To meet this challenge, agencies, and the contractors who support them must stay compliant with strict regulations or face stiff penalties.
Government agencies are entrusted with the most sensitive data that exists. The stakes of securing this data against unauthorized access by bad actors are extremely high because both national security and public safety are at risk.
To serve U.S. citizens effectively, government agencies must store and provide access to personally identifiable information (PII). While citizens must have access to their own data, agencies need to prevent unauthorized access that may result in fraud and identity theft.
Federal agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), must safeguard information related to the national transportation systems that keep our country moving. A breach of transportation data could bring supply chains and emergency services to a halt.
The Department of Defense (DoD) and branches of the military are tasked with protecting data related to combat strategies. If this data were compromised, our military secrets would be revealed to our enemies, possibly leaving us defenseless against acts of aggression.
The Federal government is a popular target for enemy nation states, as well as foreign and domestic terrorist groups. These groups use advanced attacks, such as ransomware, to infiltrate government agencies. However, these attacks also affect local government agencies, so organizations that operate at the municipal level need to eliminate vulnerabilities to prevent them from being exploited.
For example, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) experienced a second ransomware attack in 2024 after having been attacked previously in 2023. The ransomware group took advantage of a vulnerability in the IT network at HACLA, putting the personal and financial information of the low-income people they serve at risk of being stolen and compromised. While HACLA got expert advice on how to respond to the attack, local government agencies need to prevent these targeted attacks before they occur to eliminate any chance of sensitive data being lost or vital systems being shut down.
More recently, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released an alert that Iran-based cybercriminals have been targeting U.S. defense organizations and state government agencies, as well as organizations in healthcare, education, and finance, with ransomware attacks. According to CISA, the group has a long history of attempting to breach the networks of U.S. government agencies.
Today’s companies need to meet the requirements of a Zero Trust Mandate issued by the Federal Government. This mandate puts pressure on government agencies to follow the Zero Trust principles of “never trust; always verify” through a Zero Trust architecture (ZTA).
Government agencies face the challenge of modernizing their approach to security within a specific time frame. The mandate requires that agencies implement solutions that promote stronger identity and access controls, including multi-factor authentication (MFA). Agencies must be able to monitor and track the devices their employees use, isolate systems from each other, and encrypt network traffic. Meeting the requirements for the mandate also means reworking the security controls and policies that govern access.
The Federal government is responsible for protecting the citizens of the U.S. Where does the government turn to protect itself?
Government agencies need to partner with the right technology companies to develop cybersecurity strategies and implement the solution necessary to build a Zero Trust architecture.
Xceptional specializes in key areas of cybersecurity that government agencies need to meet IT security challenges and the Zero Trust security mandate. We offer managed IT security and network security through our Cybersecurity and Compliance Services that can be tailored to the requirements of government agencies.
Our Managed IT Services for security include assessments that can uncover hidden risk and vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals seeking to target government organizations. We can help your agency take a preventative approach to security that follows Zero Trust principles. Through XceptionalProtect, we provide compliance as a service for a range of regulatory frameworks, including CMMC, NIST, SOC, HIPAA, GDPR/CCPA, FTC Safeguard rule, TPN, and FERPA.
Experience the difference of IT security solutions and services that are customized to meet the challenges of government agencies. Reach out to Xceptional today.