The Federal Government’s Cybersecurity Approach: A Review of Current Strategies

The Federal Government’s Cybersecurity Approach: A Review of Current Strategies

With the increasing risk of cyber threats, the federal government has taken several measures to mitigate the risks and secure its critical infrastructure. In this article, we will review the federal government’s cybersecurity approach, current strategies, and highlight some case studies.

The Current Cybersecurity Approach

The federal government has established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to oversee and safeguard critical infrastructure against cyber threats. CISA’s primary objectives include risk management, incident response, and implementing security measures across all sectors, so they can quickly identify, respond, and recover from cyber incidents effectively.

To ensure that its cybersecurity approach is successful, the federal government has adopted various frameworks such as NIST. The framework provides guidelines, practices, and frameworks to prevent cyber-attacks and reduce risks.

Current Strategies

Several strategies have been implemented to tackle the threats posed by cyber-attacks. The federal government has adopted a “defend forward” approach, which ensures that U.S. systems are secure and that the government will take regular action to disrupt cyber threats before they reach U.S. networks.

Additionally, the government has prioritized threat intelligence sharing and collaboration with international partners to combat global threats. The government has also established the CISA Hunt and Incident Response Teams to support organizations with incident response and remediation activities.

Case Studies

The following are some case studies that illustrate the effectiveness of the federal government’s cybersecurity approach:

Case Study 1: SolarWinds

The SolarWinds cyber attack in 2020 was a major blow to the US government. The breach of the SolarWinds software supply chain resulted in the compromise of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Following the breach, the CISA worked with partners to contain the attack and prevent further exploitation.

Case Study 2: NotPetya

In 2017, a malware attack known as “NotPetya” caused massive chaos for several organizations worldwide. The malware spread rapidly through Ukraine’s network before affecting other countries. Despite not being a direct target, the US Department of Justice quickly intervened to help contain the attack.

Conclusion

The federal government’s cybersecurity approach, although not foolproof, has proven effective in mitigating cyber threats to a great extent. While the strategies adopted have been successful, much work remains to be done, and the government must continue to update and improve its cybersecurity approach to keep pace with the evolving cyber threat landscape. It is essential to understand the importance of cybersecurity for everyone, and it is now everyone’s responsibility to practice safe cybersecurity practices.

Speech tips:

Please note that any statements involving politics will not be approved.