As the Federal Government grows larger and larger, the vulnerability to cyber attack of its agency systems grows geometrically. And, since the whole network of diverse agencies and customers is becoming more integrated, various access points open the whole program to attack. Despite the fact that the government is conscious of the threats and is talking action typically this has inhibited the productivity of quite a few agencies whilst concurrently causing the use of remote unsecure devices that improve cyber risk

The administration has made cyber security a priority. A lot of federal executives having said that, locate they are inhibited by cumbersome cyber safety procedures and policies at their agency in the locations of information access, computing functionality, and mobility. Agency measures normally produce cyber safety-associated obstacles, such as getting forced to access info at house and disrupted communication with other workers. As Cloud security , productivity suffers. Although cyber attackers are innovative and nimble, federal agency response remains rule bound and out of date.

The resultant cyber security measures, often a lot more bureaucratic than threat responsive, restrict access to websites and webmail accounts that can be valuable to federal executives. Restricting these forms of data sources generally negatively impacts the efficiency with which executives do their jobs. Agency personnel usually encounter slow-loading web sites, delayed login times, tedious e-mail downloads, and long file download times.

In order to retain productivity, federal executives and staff regularly resort to much less secure practices when cyber safety restrictions avert access to info they need for their jobs. The most prevalent alternative strategy of accessing data is the use of nonagency devices like usb thumb dives, random media and unprotected wireless devices. Cyber attackers can use these unprotected devices to wreak havoc with otherwise protected networks.

Federal executives often work outside agency buildings. Recent surveys show that about half of these responding do at least some function at house or on travel. To facilitate functioning outside the office, federal agencies usually supply them with a mobile device and a lot of executives have an agency-supplied laptop. Quite a few of these devices lack the required cyber security precautions.

Considering that federal executives typically think access to information and facts is the most crucial factor to take into account when contemplating alterations to cyber safety policy, it follows, then, that respondents most frequently identify access to data as inhibited by cyber security measures as a major lead to of reduce productivity at their agency.

Agencies should recognize that, in order to boost productivity, executives and essential workers have to have to perform offsite with mobile devices. New measures that add security to these devices are expected with no sacrificing productivity.

More relevant, coordinated and timely cyber policies are needed at all federal agencies. In addition to information and facts access, many federal executives believe that other aspects-including response time, agency mission, interconnectivity and computing functionality-really should be prioritized in order to improve cyber security policies in the federal space.