4 Security Trends for the New Administration To Consider

James I. Chong is founder and CEO of Vidsys, a provider of security and data correlation technology.

There is much discussion around what our nation’s cybersecurity defenses need to look like in this age of state-sponsored hacking and cyber espionage that has become so pervasive. The new administration has to balance what’s practical with what’s effective, all in the face of global threats evolving every day. With that in mind, here are four security trends for the new administration to consider.

1. Importance of Converged Security

When one thinks of a national security threat, we often envision incidents that would cause physical harm: to individuals or to our critical infrastructure. However, it’s more important today than ever to quickly identify cyber threats and mitigate the risk, especially because hackers have the possibility of shutting down citywide access to resources such as electricity, water and many communication devices and networks, if not properly protected.

IT security, therefore, can become a physical security risk as it is heavily integrated into our day-to-day lives more than we may realize. That’s why it is essential for the new administration to invest in the best and brightest minds to support converged security initiatives, including both cyber and physical, and stay on the forefront of technological innovation. Employing theright technology, along with the right people and process will create a much stronger security posture, which will also positively impact the success of a country’s infrastructure and national security.

2. Interoperability and Collaboration

Integrated systems are crucial for cost-savings, collaboration and overall effectiveness. When individual systems are siloed, agencies and organizations are unable to fully achieve situational awareness and organizational efficiency. Through combining all internet of things device data into one unified interface, they can save money and time as well as become more strategic.

Converged security and information management has been described as a “workforce multiplier” for its ability to do the job of many people faster and more accurately, with consistency. A software platform that pulls in data from numerous disparate sources and also can convert the data into meaningful conclusions is invaluable. 

Data analytics and real-time collaboration technology gives individuals the ability to perform their jobs with greater accuracy and precision, leading to better results for all parties involved. The new administration should consider integrating data from numerous siloed systems and agencies in order to create actionable insights for a greater common goal.

3. Smart Transportation and Infrastructure Planning

Smart city initiatives are being launched around the globe as they promise better community service, government efficiency and increased public safety. Also, intelligent transportation systems is a key component of any smart city and with the hope of new infrastructure investment, the creation of ITS solutions must be a key tenant in any smart city initiative.   

As more and more cities and states are also adopting smart technology as part of their public safety and homeland security strategy, the use of integrated systems, applications and databases are being leveraged not only to identify risks, but to track and manage the use of government resources within a community.

When the federal government implements the right solutions, it has the ability to correlate data and make intelligent decisions that can ultimately save money, time and even save lives, during major incidents and crisis.

4. Intelligent Data

Data filtering, correlation and visualization, therefore, is the source of all effective security, as it provides the means to detect meaningful streams of actionable information out of the noise. Even with all of the data being collected from various sensors, cameras, devices, social media, etc., the raw data is useless without a technology platform that can correlate the data and create actionable intelligence. 

Technology platforms have advanced over the years to become much more sophisticated and powerful. There are now solutions that can work much like the human brain: letting go of meaningless information and holding onto only what is relevant. Like pieces of a puzzle, data correlation technology allows an organization to set its own rules and parameters, making it completely customizable for their needs.

The importance of real-time analysis and response to threats is critical in any environment, and especially when it comes to the federal government. Establishing a platform for interoperability that enables security professionals and law enforcement agencies to correlate data efficiently and communicate effectively is essential to a well-functioning and intelligent administration.