Page 184 - Cyber Defense eMagazine March 2024

Three Tips for Federal CIOs to Improve Cyber

Resilience in 2024

By Gary Barlet, Federal Chief Technology Officer, Illumio

The threat of ransomware looms large in 2024. We continue to witness firsthand the fallout from
devastating supply chain attacks such as the MOVEit breach, which affected millions of customers and
compromised several federal agencies, and see critical infrastructure sectors (like water management
operators) face a near-constant barrage of everyday attacks.

The reality is that while ransomware attacks persist, federal agencies still face significant resourcing
challenges – including shortages in funding, staffing, and comprehensive guidance, making it difficult to
address the scope of these dynamic threats. With $88.1 trillion in debt globally, agencies are hard pressed
to do more with less when responding to and preparing for today’s attacks.

But there are proactive measures that federal Chief Information Officers (CIOs) can take to enhance their
cyber resilience plans and better protect their own IT environments in the year ahead. By shifting their
mindsets towards smaller and more achievable goals, recognizing that cyber resilience is an ongoing

Cyber Defense eMagazine – March 2024 Edition 184
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