5 Ways Agencies Can Prepare for Cyberattacks

Ger Daly is Accenture’s managing director for Defense & Public Safety.

Governments face an increasingly complex security landscape, with new technology ushering in enormous benefits for citizens, as well as new threats. At the same time, agencies are under greater pressure to protect personal data, resulting in unprecedented investments in information security.

A recent U.S. federal budget proposal, which would go into effect in early 2017, increases cybersecurity spending by 35 percent. This decision is part of a broader White House-led initiative to modernize and protect IT across the public sector, known as the National Cybersecurity Action Plan. Announced in February, this plan has led to the establishment of a Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and the appointment of a federal chief information security officer.

But how serious is the risk posed to the public sector by data breaches and other cyber threats?

According to estimates, cyberattacks cost the global economy $400 billion each year. Some industries have it worse than others: According to the Brookings Institution, one in four cyberattacks affect health care organizations.

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The public sector is another primary target, as evidenced by last year’s attack on the Office of Personnel Management, in which more than 21 million current, former and prospective federal employees’ employment records were hacked.

So how can public-sector organizations—large and small—manage digital risks? Here are five key steps for gauging the cybersecurity “health” of an organization:

Undertake Risk Assessment

According to Accenture research, 43 percent of enterprise security professionals believe their company’s brand reputation is most susceptible to attack, while 37 percent feel the same about their customer support business functions.

But every organization is different, and modern threats can manifest in myriad ways.

To prepare for a cyberattack, government agencies should conduct a risk assessment to determine where they are most vulnerable and what the consequences of such an attack might be. By understanding both the worst and most likely scenarios, governments will be able to engineer defenses that address their unique vulnerabilities.

Open dialogue between security experts and business stakeholders is also crucial, to ensure that everyone—across all levels of an agency or organization—understands how data is utilized and what safeguards exist to keep information secure.

Devise a Cybersecurity Strategy

Many organizations have crisis plans in place to help them respond to and mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. But as digital threats become more common and sophisticated, leaders must develop a more proactive approach to data security.

Prioritization is an important element of any security strategy. Once an agency has conducted a risk assessment, they can build systems that protect what’s most vulnerable and essential. Because breaches can happen at all levels of government, it’s also important for agencies to develop protocols that can be leveraged by federal, state and local officials.

Further adoption of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework would help provide robust protection for public-sector organizations and citizens alike, while also reducing the administrative burden and uncertainty for smaller agencies.

Take an Intelligence-led, Analytics-based Approach

Effective cybersecurity can no longer rely on a passive “gates and guards” approach and using endpoint detection systems that can only identify known malicious activities. By employing advanced analytics systems that incorporate cyber threat identification and intelligence garnered from suspect behavior within networks, government agencies will be able to respond swiftly and proactively to digital threats.

Likewise, advanced analytics will empower public-sector organizations to effectively use and manage large volumes of data, rather than suffer from data overload. Such an approach will also make it easier to integrate intelligence-led cybersecurity with new and emerging technologies such as cloud, mobile and social media while protecting confidential data. In fact, half of enterprise security professionals say digital initiatives—including analytics—are critical to data security.

Increase Stakeholder Collaboration

In the digital age, the role of the individual in cybersecurity has become more important. This is especially true considering the volume of data citizens generate on a daily basis on tablets, smartphones and wearable fitness or health-monitoring devices. Government employees, in particular, need to understand the risks and security protocols when using mobile devices or operating in the cloud.

A recent survey of more than 200 enterprise security professionals showed two-thirds had experienced data theft or corruption within their organization. Educating employees and citizens about cybersecurity risks will allow them to play their part in keeping sensitive data safe from threats—internal and external—while building digital trust.

Cross-sector collaboration is also crucial. Governments should build upon existing relationships with peer organizations, academia and the private sector when developing security procedures and systems—particularly in the context of cybersecurity R&D and intelligence gathering. As the majority of security infrastructure is owned and/or managed by private-sector companies, their involvement is essential.

Invest in Cybersecurity Talent

No cybersecurity initiative can succeed without the proper talent to back it up. Unfortunately, many public-sector organizations are finding themselves short on the skills and competencies required to stave off digital threats.

According to Accenture research, 42 percent of enterprise security professionals believe they have insufficient budget to recruit and train security talent, and 76 percent say they aren’t adequately equipped to conduct threat and vulnerability assessments.

To prepare for the next wave of digital threats, all public-sector leaders must allocate resources to build a strong cybersecurity team. The federal Cybersecurity National Action Plan has already taken steps to address the skills gap through strategic investments ($62 million in 2017) in cybersecurity education and training, but change must happen on an agency level. Those deterred by the idea of additional spending should consider the potential cost of a data breach.

In today’s data-driven world, a reactive approach to cybersecurity won’t cut it. By developing a robust, proactive cybersecurity strategy, government agencies will be better equipped to prepare for, prevent and resolve digital threats into the future.