Page 28 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2022

managers. Improving collaboration between mission owners and IT teams will ensure stronger alignment
between the mission and cybersecurity technology implementation, making it easier to know which tools
to choose.

Zero Trust and Agency Missions

The journey to zero trust will be different for every agency. It will depend on the technology that is already
implemented, the agency’s mission requirements and current cybersecurity posture, agency and
contractor staffing, and more.

The survey data suggests that agencies are working to meet the aggressive zero trust implementation
deadlines laid out by the White House, but lack of resources and fundamental gaps in understanding
may hinder their progress. To overcome these challenges, agency IT teams can:

➢ Partner with mission owners to understand the impacts of data and services on each mission.
Understand what data they rely on, where it lives, and how they use it
➢ Identify digital assets and how cyber compromise of those assets would affect the agency
mission. Prioritize security controls based upon the importance of the asset
➢ Demonstrate quick wins by optimizing current infrastructure. Identify applications and services
that can transition to zero trust through configuration changes and policy updates
➢ Then, look for incremental zero trust projects that provide the greatest value relative to the
mission, regardless of which zero trust pillar they fall under

Zero trust is a not just a cybersecurity strategy, it’s also a mission enabler. Its primary value is in improving
agency missions by providing data and services to the people who need them, right when they need
them. By partnering with mission owners, systems integrators, and taking an incremental approach to
zero trust that focuses on the greatest value to the mission, IT teams will ensure not only compliance with
zero trust requirements, but also mission success.

Read the full report here.

About the Author

Dr. Matthew McFadden, Vice President, Cyber, GDIT. Dr. Matthew
McFadden spearheads cyber strategy for GDIT, leads cyber research and
development, and develops advanced cyber solutions for the Federal
Civilian, Defense, Health, Intelligence and Homeland Security markets. He
represents a cyber workforce of more than 3000+ professionals, 30+
commercial cyber partners and programs supporting some of the largest,
cyber missions in the federal government sector.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2022 Edition 28
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