Ransomware attacks are not only growing in number, but they are also targeting an increasing number of critical companies and operations. The Colonial Pipeline attack was a prime example of how attackers were able to infiltrate a network due to the lack of standard security protocols. The White House issued an executive order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity in May. Today, we are going to look at what this executive order entails, how it could impact you, and how Mnemonix can assist with improving your cybersecurity.
The executive order focuses on the follow areas:
Within 60 days of the executive order, the head of each federal agency was expected to develop a plan to implement a zero-trust architecture. We spoke on the zero-trust framework in a previous blog. Zero-trust is a security framework requiring all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted or keeping access to applications and data. While the impact of the executive order could take a while to affect the market for security solutions, it lays out an accelerated timeline and could help encourage other industries to adopt similar measures.
While most, if not all government and health businesses are kept to a higher standard of cybersecurity, we can begin to see a need for all businesses, no matter the industry to be kept to those same standards. Theresa Payton, the first CIO of the White House during the George W. Bush years stated that while these new standards are not mandated across all industries, it is best to prepare for the day that they are. She states that it is wise to slowly start updating your environment to meet the zero-trust framework as she can see that being a business standard in the upcoming years. Mnemonix has worked closely with many businesses to develop and implement up to date security protocols that have proven successful. Nothing is ever 100% secure, but Mnemonix would like to emphasize that it is important to be as secure as you are able to be, always. If you or your business would like to know more about security standards, zero-trust framework or how Mnemonix can assist with implementing up to date security protocols, please reach out.
The executive order focuses on the follow areas:
- Removing barriers to sharing threat information between the public and private sectors. Service providers will be required to share threat and incident information with agencies.
- Leveraging zero-trust architecture to modernize and strengthen cybersecurity.
- Establishing baseline security standards for software used by government agencies. Software vendors will be required to provide security data visibility.
- Establishing a standard playbook for cyber incident response. Because each agency currently has its own procedures for cybersecurity incidents, the order will aim to standardize this process across all agencies to ensure more efficient and comprehensive analyzations across the board.
- Improving cyberthreat detection, investigation, and remediation process by establishing an endpoint detection response initiative. Recommendations for the initiative are expected within 30 days, with requirements issues 90 days later.
Within 60 days of the executive order, the head of each federal agency was expected to develop a plan to implement a zero-trust architecture. We spoke on the zero-trust framework in a previous blog. Zero-trust is a security framework requiring all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted or keeping access to applications and data. While the impact of the executive order could take a while to affect the market for security solutions, it lays out an accelerated timeline and could help encourage other industries to adopt similar measures.
While most, if not all government and health businesses are kept to a higher standard of cybersecurity, we can begin to see a need for all businesses, no matter the industry to be kept to those same standards. Theresa Payton, the first CIO of the White House during the George W. Bush years stated that while these new standards are not mandated across all industries, it is best to prepare for the day that they are. She states that it is wise to slowly start updating your environment to meet the zero-trust framework as she can see that being a business standard in the upcoming years. Mnemonix has worked closely with many businesses to develop and implement up to date security protocols that have proven successful. Nothing is ever 100% secure, but Mnemonix would like to emphasize that it is important to be as secure as you are able to be, always. If you or your business would like to know more about security standards, zero-trust framework or how Mnemonix can assist with implementing up to date security protocols, please reach out.