2020 has created a radically different landscape for the federal government. With more services offered online and with the majority of the federal workforce working remotely, the risk landscape is far more active. This heightened risk and how to manage it will be the focus of this year’s RSA Archer Summit 2020, which will be held on October 6, 2020.
To encourage learning, collaboration, and engagement, the RSA Archer Summit 2020 brings together the largest security and risk community to tackle de-risking on a grander scale. Attendees will learn about the emerging threats and risks keeping public sector IT leaders up at night, including increased third party risk and the risk that comes from today’s dynamic workforce.
“We’re in an era where we’re tasked with de-risking today’s many digital initiatives,” explained Dan Carayiannis, RSA Archer public sector director. “In order to do this, there are a few components needed, including rigorous IT and security risk management – which enables visibility and overall risk evaluation– and resiliency.”
With most federal employees working remotely because of COVID-19 the risk profile for agencies has increased considerably. “With this dynamic workforce comes inconsistent levels of security, which can accidentally open the door for phishing attacks via home networks,” explained Carayiannis. “One way to negate the challenges presented by today’s dynamic workforce is through deeper visibility; visibility into an agency’s security posture helps to better identify, understand, and counteract problems and their potential impact.”
Another result of the pandemic – which coincides with today’s dynamic workforce – is increased third party risk. Third parties are essential to achieving today’s complex digital mission however, with third parties come major issues with security including the infiltration of bad actors. To protect against third party vulnerabilities and other risks it’s critical for government organizations to implement an overall risk evaluation. This includes understanding, evaluating, managing, and then re-evaluating the risks posed by third party organizations.
“In addition to rigorous IT and security risk management, rooted in visibility and total risk evaluation, the one component that’s most important when looking to de-risk is collaboration and engagement with peers in the federal space,” explained Carayiannis. “Together, these components make managing today’s risk-prone landscape easier and helps agencies to continue meeting their missions and protecting the public.”
With all the risks that 2020 has brought to IT environments and with mission delivery more reliant on IT than ever, federal agencies must redouble their risk management efforts. Those efforts must include rigorous IT and security risk management as well as resiliency and most importantly, collaboration and engagement with others in the industry.
To register for the RSA Archer Summit 2020, click here.
