On the positive side, the definition of “government service” is changing before our eyes. From artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to 5G apps and autonomous vehicles, the list of startup opportunities promises to revolutionize government (again) over the next decade. Plus, the smartphones in our pockets have the power to enable digital transformation in government on a scale that seemed like a far-fetched fantasy at the beginning of the millennium.
But, if history has taught us anything over the past two decades, the Achilles’ heel to these advances in technology will continue to be cybersecurity. The Internet is an accelerator for both wonderful ideas for good but also bad actors, data breaches and privacy violations.
So what can be done? Here are tips to help enable the good and disable the bad.
1. Stop saying “no” when you are approached with innovative tools to improve customer service. Instead, security and technology professionals should strive to:
- Offer workable alternatives to provide deliverables on time and on budget, with the right level of security.
- Examine global best practices and innovative approaches to solve security and privacy concerns.
- Empower new capabilities that will maintain trust with citizens and staff.
3. Embrace new tech, like IoT, inside security shops. Too many organizations are leaving new technologies to business areas and/or “shadow IT” groups. They see these areas as not central to the mission.
For example, they don’t see IoT deployments as part of their job. But according to a 2019 Microsoft study of more than 3,000 private-sector executives across the globe, IoT adoption is expected to accelerate with 94 percent of public- and private-sector organizations by 2021. Consequently, the top three security concerns on the minds of leaders are:
- 43 percent are careful about developing strong user authentication;
- 38 percent have a concern regarding tracking and managing each IoT device; and
- 38 percent are worried about securing endpoints for each IoT device.
Most governments are not the first to deploy these new tech products and services. Look for case studies from other successful implementations and watch for success stories from groups like the National Association of State Chief Information Officers or Federal CIO Council.
5. Good security is all about the people. It’s tempting to always run to the latest and greatest new solution. But whether you are implementing a $150 million tax system, a $25,000 security appliance or a cloud-based server, most security problems come from people-related issues or processes that are inadequate or not regularly secured, updated or tested properly.
Ensure that your cybersecurity automation is implemented with people, process and technology in mind. Go back and double-check assumptions with your team.
The 2020s promise to be a decade filled with amazing new technologies that make government even more accessible to the masses in new ways. But cyber is left out of these projects at your peril.