The cybersecurity landscape is undergoing significant transformations, driven by the dual goals of government agencies and innovative cybersecurity solution providers. As Steve Jacyna, Director of Innovative Cybersecurity Solutions for Carahsoft, highlights, the top cybersecurity issues and trends organizations should be aware of include the automation imperative and the consolidation of point products into integrated platforms.
- Automation is becoming essential in the government cybersecurity space, with current federal priorities and broader goals to do more with less driving the need for automated security solutions.
- The consolidation of point products into integrated platforms is another critical trend, enabling federal agencies to secure more with fewer people and streamline their cybersecurity operations.
The push for greater operational efficiency is closely tied to the automation imperative, with many larger cybersecurity providers shifting towards platform-based solutions with modular components that work together seamlessly. This trend is not new, with some vendors having historically prioritized this type of integration and efficiency.
| Example | Vendors like Cisco and Splunk have made significant investments in platform-based solutions, showcasing the growing importance of integration and efficiency in the cybersecurity market. |
As the market continues to evolve, we’re seeing a lot of market consolidation, with larger companies seeking to fill gaps in their cybersecurity portfolios and smaller vendors looking to scale their operations and gain market protection. Major moves, like Cisco’s acquisition of Splunk, are a clear indication of this trend. The government’s efforts to modernize and implement cybersecurity measures are also driving the need for innovative solutions. For instance, the CISA’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program, also known as CDM, is undergoing significant changes. A key development in CDM is a shift away from compliance-focused initiatives, such as hardware and software asset management and continuous monitoring, towards a real-time threat detection and response approach.
- AI is set to play a pivotal role in the evolution of CDM, particularly in managing large data volumes and enhancing threat detection.
- The program is becoming more flexible, allowing agencies to adopt security solutions that fit their unique environments.
The growing interest in ID verification and identity proofing is another key trend, with several vendors and partners standing out in this space. Carahsoft is committed to assisting agencies in identifying the best solutions for ensuring compliance with these directives. The cybersecurity executive order signed by President Biden in his final days in office is another significant development. Executive Order 14114 builds on previous executive orders and emphasizes critical areas like zero trust and endpoint protection, while allowing more flexibility in the adoption of evolving cybersecurity practices like network segmentation, endpoint detection and response, and phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication.
“The new guidance still emphasizes critical areas like zero trust and endpoint protection but is less technically prescriptive and allows more flexibility in the adoption of evolving cybersecurity practices. This is an exciting development, and we’re ready to assist agencies in identifying the best solutions for ensuring compliance with the EO’s ambitious directives.”
— Steve Jacyna, Director of Innovative Cybersecurity Solutions for Carahsoft
Data sovereignty is becoming increasingly important in federal government cybersecurity, with solutions supporting agencies in meeting these requirements. Snowflake, for example, helps customers ensure that their data is stored in domestic FedRAMP High environments, supporting cross-cloud data sharing and control over sensitive information. Key Takeaways:
* Automation is becoming essential in government cybersecurity, with platform-based solutions enabling agencies to secure more with fewer people. * Consolidation of point products into integrated platforms is a critical trend, driving operational efficiency and security. * Market consolidation is underway, with larger companies seeking to fill gaps in their portfolios and smaller vendors scaling their operations. * AI is set to play a pivotal role in the evolution of CDM, enhancing threat detection and response. * ID verification and identity proofing are emerging trends, with several vendors and partners standing out in this space. * Data sovereignty is becoming increasingly important, with solutions supporting agencies in meeting these requirements.
This evolution in the cybersecurity landscape is driven by the need for innovative solutions that address the unique needs of government agencies.
