Elodie Collins
Axonius’ co-founder and CEO Dean Sysman sees the government adoption of automation as a force multiplier as a way for federal agencies to achieve strategic cybersecurity goals amid workforce and budget cuts. In an article posted on NextGov/FCW, Sysman recommended that agencies automate rote tasks to enable remaining cyber professionals in government to focus on more complex challenges.
How to Enhance Cybersecurity With Limited Resources
The executive recommended that agencies implement the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule, to government cybersecurity. The Pareto Principle specifies that 80 percent of consequences stem from 20 percent of the causes.
In cybersecurity, Sysman explained that applying the Pareto Principle would mean automating often repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as data collection, vulnerability triage and scanning, and incident remediation. Through automation, he said that federal agencies that have seen their cyber teams reduced can continue to make progress toward achieving government cyber goals such as zero trust and Continuous Threat Exposure Management.
Automation can also play a key role in empowering agencies to become more agile and adaptable to changes. He wrote in the article that agencies can automate cyber hygiene processes, including securing software licenses and deprovisioning access of former personnel.
Strategies for Securing Government Systems
Sysman also advised federal agencies to maintain an updated inventory of systems and assets to create a more accurate look at their attack surfaces and prioritize security efforts based on risks and the presence of exposures. By following the strategies, agencies can remain resilient to changing government policies and emerging cyberthreats.
