Federal agencies and cybersecurity: Challenges and opportunities

“Moving from traditional networks to more secure infrastructure is the driver for network modernization, with cybersecurity being a core focus” said Tony We...

December 4, 2023 2:17 pm

3 min read

Federal agencies have been working to fulfill a White House mandate to update their networks to improve government cybersecurity. The May 2021 Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity states, “The United States faces persistent and increasingly sophisticated malicious cyber campaigns that threaten the public sector, the private sector, and ultimately the American people’s security and privacy. The Federal Government must improve its efforts to identify, deter, protect against, detect and respond to these actions and actors.” The order emphasizes advances in zero trust network access (ZTNA), cloud services and infrastructure updates as a way to improve networks.

“Moving from traditional networks to more secure infrastructure is the driver for network modernization, with cybersecurity being a core focus,” said Tony Wellen, vice president of federal at Spectrum Enterprise.

Wellen explained that agency technology needs are constantly evolving, with budgetary constraints at the center of the challenge. “It’s important for agencies to think strategically about what security solutions are needed for the current state of their IT infrastructure,” Wellen said. “As part of the process, they should consider the benefits of working with a technology provider that can deliver a complete solution that is best tailored to their needs for achieving agency goals.”

Federal agencies rely on network and communication operations that are connected and protected to operate securely and efficiently. It is crucial to partner with a technology provider that understands how to turn purpose into a plan of action.

Questions for agencies to consider when looking for a technology partner and technology solutions to fulfill mandate requirements include:

1. What will be the implementation and integration process of the solutions with agency operations?

2. Is the security solution easy to provision and manage users, devices and locations?

3. How does the security solution empower remote users?

4. Can the security solution extend network protection across multiple locations?

5. What type of support should the agency expect?

Cyberthreats emerge constantly with an increasing number of network endpoints expanding the potential attack surface. It’s crucial for IT teams to stay ahead of the risk. Partnering with a trusted technology provider that understands day-to-day agency priorities is essential to achieving mission-critical objectives – from cloud migration to digital transformation. Agencies need a collaborative partner to secure the network and critical data to maintain public trust.

It is crucial to protect data, people and reputation. Agencies can find the help they need with in-depth cybersecurity expertise and intuitive, flexible managed services from Spectrum Enterprise. Our security solutions are monitored 24/7/365 and updated with redundant layers of protection to help keep attacks from impacting operations.

Spectrum Enterprise is a part of Charter Communications, a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator. Spectrum Enterprise is a partner that can power secure, next-generation networks driving collaboration and security for every objective, offering a diverse portfolio of federal solutions across networking, connectivity, managed services, security and communications to ensure resilience and to speed recovery. A consultative approach to serving federal government agencies will help organizations identify the best solutions to meet agency needs. Learn more about how Spectrum Enterprise can help secure your agency.