Cheating on your midterm is one thing. Faking cybersecurity compliance? That’s quite another. But it’s exactly what Penn State University was accused of last year when the federal government said the university lied or misled about its adherence to government cybersecurity protocols.
The recent lawsuit against Penn State highlights the growing scrutiny the government places on cybersecurity standards for its contractors. Failing to meet these standards can result in serious legal and financial consequences, as Penn State is now facing.
As cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication and frequency, the private sector is increasingly turning to the Zero Trust security model as a way to reduce risk and protect data. Zero Trust offers a comprehensive approach to data protection, ensuring "never trust, always verify" across all access points. The adoption of Zero Trust is driven by two primary factors:
1. The need to effectively combat the increasing danger of cyber attacks and protect critical data.
2. The desire to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, particularly when pursuing government contracts.
As government organizations work to meet the September 30th, 2024, deadline for the Zero Trust mandate, private sector companies are also recognizing the importance of adopting this security model to address threats that are growing in scope.
However, for private sector organizations, aligning their thinking and operations with the Zero Trust framework can have benefits beyond cybersecurity protection; it can also mean better alignment with the security strategies of government entities.
Here are some other reasons why private sector companies should adopt a Zero Trust security model:
Improved Security and Reliability
In many cases, the private sector serves as an extension of government agency projects, making it essential for these organizations to extend Zero Trust principles beyond their boundaries and into their partnerships. This approach is important for protecting the critical infrastructures and sensitive information of government agencies, which often involves collaborating with private organizations. By implementing Zero Trust across these partnerships, government agencies and their private sector partners can ensure that their assets are safeguarded and improve overall security and reliability.
Regulatory Compliance and Trust
Government agencies work under strict regulatory requirements. Private sector organizations that align with NIST can maintain adherence to those regulatory requirements, e.g., encryption, but also build a basis for trust with government partners by demonstrating their commitment to data and systems security.
Market Differentiation
This uniquely sets private sector organizations apart as cybersecurity thought leaders from the crowded market. This differentiator is key in attracting not only government partnerships but also customers and clients who place a premium on security. Additionally, the Private Sector shouldn’t be surprised when demonstrable adherence to Zero Trust principles is mandated in bids and RFPs they’re pursuing.
Operational Agility and Efficiency
When the private sector leverages FedRAMP-authorized cloud services, there's additional value in alignment with government mandates. FedRAMP's high-security standards help organizations jump-start their security profiles by utilizing the same FedRAMP services agencies utilize. This is critical for collaboration on Private-Sector/Public-Sector projects that share data.
How Zero Trust in the Private Sector Can Drive Countless Benefits
The private sector's adoption of the Zero Trust model is a classic Win-Win scenario, as governments will look to partner with organizations to mirror their commitment to cybersecurity. This will not only fortify their security posture but also earn them the status of a preferred partner by government agencies, giving them a step ahead in competition. The road to Zero Trust is one that doesn't just secure data and networks; it secures the future of business success and growth.
Using Salesforce? With our recent FedRAMP® authorization, U.S. government agencies can now leverage our leading Salesforce data protection platform. We empower agencies to manage and protect mission-critical SaaS data so you can maintain the trust of the citizens you serve and satisfy Zero Trust security requirements.
Learn how Own can help you achieve and demonstrate Zero Trust readiness for your Salesforce orgs.
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