Strengthening the Cybersecurity Posture of Federal Agencies

May 4, 2023

The federal government has been facing increasing threats from cybercriminals, which prompted the recent M-21-31 Executive Order. This order aims to improve the cybersecurity posture of federal agencies by implementing modern technologies and procedures. In this article, we will take a closer look at the M-21-31 Executive Order, its objectives, key provisions, potential impacts, best practices for implementation, and criticisms.

Current Cybersecurity Landscape of Federal Agencies

The recent years have seen numerous cybersecurity incidents in the federal government, highlighting the need for a stronger cybersecurity posture. The SolarWinds attack in 2020, for example, affected nine federal agencies and demonstrated the devastating consequences of a successful cyberattack. The attack was attributed to Russian hackers and is considered one of the most significant cyber espionage incidents in history. Additionally, the WannaCry and Petya ransomware attacks caused significant damage to federal agencies, with both being linked to North Korea.

Understanding the M-21-31 Executive Order

The M-21-31 Executive Order, signed by President Biden in May 2021, aims to enhance the federal government’s cybersecurity posture and strengthen its defenses against cyber threats. The order mandates the adoption of modern technologies, policies, and procedures, as well as promoting transparency and collaboration among federal agencies.

Key Provisions of M-21-31 Executive Order The order contains five key provisions that federal agencies must adhere to:

Removing Barriers to Sharing Threat Information
This section requires federal agencies to prioritize information sharing with other government entities and private sector partners. This allows for more rapid response and more effective threat detection and mitigation.

Modernizing Federal Government Cybersecurity
This section mandates the deployment of advanced cybersecurity technologies and practices across all federal agencies. Federal agencies must develop and implement a plan for a zero-trust architecture, multi-factor authentication, and endpoint detection and response.

Enhancing Software Supply Chain Security
This section requires federal agencies to establish criteria for software security that suppliers must adhere to. Federal agencies must also develop and maintain a software bill of materials for all software used in their systems.

Establishing a Cybersecurity Safety Review Board
This section requires the establishment of a cybersecurity review board consisting of public and private sector experts who will review significant cyber incidents and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Standardizing the Federal Government’s Playbook for Responding to Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Incidents
This section requires the development of a standardized cybersecurity incident response playbook that all federal agencies must follow. This will improve coordination and communication between federal agencies during a cybersecurity incident.

How Will the M-21-31 Executive Order Affect Federal Agencies?

The M-21-31 Executive Order will have a significant impact on federal agencies’ cybersecurity posture. The order requires federal agencies to adopt modern technologies and procedures, such as zero-trust architecture and multi-factor authentication, which will improve their ability to detect and mitigate cyber threats. However, implementing these changes will be challenging, and federal agencies will need to allocate resources to ensure compliance.

Best Practices for Implementing the M-21-31 Executive Order

Federal agencies can follow several best practices to implement the M-21-31 Executive Order effectively:

Conduct a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
Develop a cybersecurity plan that aligns with the order’s provisions.
Prioritize employee training and education to improve cybersecurity awareness.
Regularly review and update cybersecurity policies and procedures.
Collaborate with other federal agencies and private sector partners to enhance threat detection and mitigation capabilities.

Benefits of Implementing the M-21-31 Executive Order

Implementing the M-21-31 Executive Order will provide several benefits to federal agencies, including:

Improved cybersecurity posture and resilience against cyber threats
Enhanced coordination and communication between federal agencies during cybersecurity incidents.
Increased transparency and collaboration among federal agencies and private sector partners.
Increased public trust in the government’s cybersecurity capabilities.

Criticisms and Concerns of the M-21-31 Executive Order

Despite the benefits of the M-21-31 Executive Order, there are also some criticisms and concerns. One concern is that the order does not provide sufficient resources to implement the necessary changes effectively. The order mandates the deployment of advanced technologies and procedures, but it does not allocate additional funding to support these changes. Another criticism is that the order is too prescriptive, and federal agencies may have difficulty implementing the required changes in a timely manner.

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Conclusion

The M-21-31 Executive Order is a critical step towards strengthening the cybersecurity posture of federal agencies. The order mandates the adoption of modern technologies and procedures and promotes transparency and collaboration among federal agencies and private sector partners. However, implementing the order will be challenging, and federal agencies will need to allocate resources to ensure compliance. Despite the criticisms and concerns, the benefits of implementing the order far outweigh the drawbacks, and the federal government must take action to improve its cybersecurity defenses against ever-evolving cyber threats.

FAQ's

Q: What is the M-21-31 Executive Order?

The M-21-31 Executive Order is a mandate issued by President Biden to enhance the cybersecurity posture of federal agencies and strengthen their defenses against cyber threats.

Q: Why is the M-21-31 Executive Order important for federal agencies?

The M-21-31 Executive Order is important for federal agencies because it mandates the adoption of modern technologies and procedures and promotes transparency and collaboration among federal agencies and private sector partners. This will improve their ability to detect and mitigate cyber threats.

Q: What are the key provisions of the M-21-31 Executive Order?

The M-21-31 Executive Order contains five key provisions: removing barriers to sharing threat information, modernizing federal government cybersecurity, enhancing software supply chain security, establishing a cybersecurity safety review board, and standardizing the federal government's playbook for responding to cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents.

Q: How will the M-21-31 Executive Order affect federal agencies?

The M-21-31 Executive Order will have a significant impact on federal agencies' cybersecurity posture. It requires federal agencies to adopt modern technologies and procedures, such as zero-trust architecture and multi-factor authentication, which will improve their ability to detect and mitigate cyber threats.

Q: What are the best practices for implementing the M-21-31 Executive Order?

Federal agencies can follow several best practices to implement the M-21-31 Executive Order effectively, including conducting a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment, developing a cybersecurity plan that aligns with the order's provisions, prioritizing employee training and education, regularly reviewing and updating cybersecurity policies and procedures, and collaborating with other federal agencies and private sector partners.

Q: What are the benefits of implementing the M-21-31 Executive Order?

Implementing the M-21-31 Executive Order will provide several benefits to federal agencies, including improved cybersecurity posture and resilience against cyber threats, enhanced coordination and communication between federal agencies during a cybersecurity incident, increased transparency and collaboration among federal agencies and private sector partners, and increased public trust in the government's cybersecurity capabilities.

Q: What are the criticisms and concerns of the M-21-31 Executive Order?

The criticisms and concerns of the M-21-31 Executive Order include the lack of sufficient resources to implement the necessary changes effectively and the prescriptive nature of the order, which may make it difficult for federal agencies to implement the required changes in a timely manner.