Critical Analysis of Cybersecurity in the Government Sector

Cybersecurity is essential in Government organizations to maintain safety and national interests.

Cyber Security is the application of protecting computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, theft, or damage to their hardware, software, or data. It aims to put security measures in place to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive information from bad actors.

Also known as information technology (IT) security, cybersecurity measures are designed to combat threats against networked systems and applications, whether those threats originate from inside or outside of an organization. Anyone connected to technology can be a victim of cybercrime. Governments around the world now consider cybersecurity important as they rely highly on technology to run their countries.

A secure government technology infrastructure helps support the delivery of essential services. These span local public safety and national security to protect citizens; disease control and prevention to ensure health and well-being; and transportation to keep commerce moving. A strong cybersecurity strategy also helps protect citizens' data and government data and algorithms—an increasing concern as agencies deploy more AI models.

Cybercriminals, both domestic and foreign, often target public sector technology. Cyber Attackers aim to steal information and money and disrupt the delivery of vital public services.  The range of incidents includes viruses, Trojan horses, phishing, distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks, unauthorized access, and control system attacks.

In recent years, three factors have escalated cyber risks for governments worldwide. First, the attack surface continues to expand. In part, that's due to the burgeoning number of IoT devices, estimated at 30.73 billion in 2020. Second, cyberattackers are beginning to skirt firewalls and security software that might have been effective in the past. And third, fragmented cybersecurity solutions leave gaps that make data vulnerable.

To fight back, government agencies use cybersecurity tools like AI and ML. As the hackers have gotten more sophisticated, so have the tools to stop them.

Agencies have a wide variety of cybersecurity solutions to choose from. These cybersecurity solutions help agencies protect their data at different stages of its life. That includes when the data is first collected when it is transferred between different systems and users and during storage until it is deleted. While there are many different systems they all have the same goal: To provide agencies visibility into what is happening on their computer networks and to alert technology leaders of suspicious behavior.

We will go through some of the reasons for the need for government cybersecurity:

• Most of the services provided by governments are available from websites. Any country has countless websites linked with the government that ensures the country is running effectively. Attackers can try to comprise such vital websites and disrupt national services. The whole nation will come to a standstill, and official matters will suffer. It can even end up creating a negative effect on the economy.
• Many countries and even individuals have used digital techniques to launch a war on governments across the world. The list of victims includes Estonia, Georgia, India, and even

The USA. Enemies can compromise government systems to spy on military intelligence, stop essential services, or even cause damage to infrastructure. Governments won't be able to prevent cyber war without strong government cybersecurity practices. It also helps them protect classified and top-secret information.

• Governments rely on a range of hardware to provide various services. Servers, computers, sensors, IoT devices, processors, modems- the list is endless. Governments need to rely on IT infrastructure to even provide essential services like electricity and water. A part of the national infrastructure is also connected to the internet to exchange data and information. National Governments and even local governments can prevent breaches and secure national infrastructure using cyber security services.

Attacks on the software supply chain are growing exponentially, and the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G wireless technology offer more vulnerabilities to exploit. Some popular forms of cybersecurity technology include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Intrusion detection and prevention systems, Anti-malware, Next-generation firewalls, and a lot more. Government Cybersecurity has proven to be a necessary investment for government agencies. Technology has provided new ways for government agencies to work, interact with citizens and improve overall operations. Government should consider cybersecurity services to protect national interests. It protects national infrastructure, sensitive data, secret information, and national identities. Additionally, cybersecurity helps prevent cyber war and attacks on government assets and investments. It also enables governments to provide essential and non-essential services.