In today’s era, where the digital landscape is as critical as the physical, the urgency to adapt and reinforce our cybersecurity infrastructure is more pressing than ever. For government operations, where data breaches and cyberattacks frequently make the headlines, adopting a whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity isn’t just a precaution—it’s a strategic imperative to protect our communities and safeguard our future.
Building a Digital Fortress for State and Local Government Agencies
Whole-of-state cybersecurity is a collaborative strategy that unites state agencies, local governments, private entities and educational institutions to fortify their defenses. This integrated approach aims not only to prevent unauthorized access but also to create a resilient framework capable of anticipating, withstanding and swiftly recovering from cyberthreats. Think of it as building a digital fortress, where strategy ensures that the protective measures at one node enhance the security across the entire network.
One example of this strategy in action is Norfolk County, a municipality in Ontario, Canada. Faced with growing cyber risks, a small IT team and strict cyber insurance requirements, the county implemented a centralized privileged access management (PAM) solution. By consolidating and securing access across internal teams and external vendors, Norfolk County built a stronger, more resilient security posture.
As a result, the municipality not only met cybersecurity insurance guidelines but also reduced service disruptions and improved its ability to detect and prevent incidents before they could impact critical citizen services. The municipality’s experience demonstrates how even resource-constrained municipalities can successfully adopt a whole-of-community cybersecurity model to protect public infrastructure.
Blueprint for a Secure State
Implementing a whole-of-state cybersecurity strategy requires meticulous planning, seamless communication and strict adherence to both national and international cybersecurity frameworks.
Here are key strategies for how governments can orchestrate and implement whole-of-state cybersecurity:
1. Central Command: Establishing Clear Governance
A centralized governing body is essential for orchestrating the state’s cybersecurity strategy. Led by a chief information security officer (CISO) or a cybersecurity council, this body sets standards, monitors compliance and coordinates the diverse entities across the state’s cybersecurity landscape. This central command center ensures that all parts of the governmental machinery work in harmony to bolster defenses.
The CISO leads the centralized governing body, setting cybersecurity policies, managing risk initiatives and coordinating between agencies. Cybersecurity council members, drawn from state, local and education sectors, work together to standardize practices, share threat intelligence and drive incident response. Other key stakeholders, such as compliance officers and communications leads, ensure regulatory alignment and clear public outreach during incidents, helping maintain a unified, resilient defense.
2. Rapid Response: Developing a Unified Incident Response Plan
A robust incident response plan is vital in the event of a cyberattack. Similar to a well-drilled emergency response procedure, this plan should include protocols for handling breaches, sharing information swiftly and deploying resources efficiently. By reducing response time, these plans minimize the impact of attacks on public services, making the government more resilient against cyberthreats.
Common cyberattack scenarios in the public sector include ransomware attacks on vulnerable identity and access management (IAM) infrastructure, account takeovers during digital service rollouts and unauthorized access due to poor credential hygiene across a growing number of applications. A unified incident response plan equips agencies to act decisively across each scenario by isolating infected systems, triggering credential resets, notifying affected stakeholders and coordinating forensic analysis.
When tested regularly and aligned across agencies, these plans help state and local governments contain threats quickly and resume critical services with minimal disruption.
3. Gatekeepers of the State: Enhancing Identity Security with PAM and EPM
Securing access to sensitive systems is a cornerstone of identity security. PAM solutions play a critical role by managing, securing and monitoring who and what can access the most critical assets—helping to ensure that only authorized identities, whether human or machine, can reach sensitive systems. By tightly controlling these access points, PAM acts as the gatekeeper of the state’s digital infrastructure, helping to prevent unauthorized access and mitigating the risks posed by insider threats.
A comprehensive endpoint privilege manager (EPM) further strengthens identity security by enforcing least privilege access on endpoints such as laptops, servers and workstations. Best-in-class endpoint security helps minimize attack surfaces, reduces the risk of malware spread and supports compliance initiatives, all while enabling users to perform their jobs without unnecessary elevated rights. Together, PAM and EPM solutions create a layered identity security approach that protects critical systems at both the infrastructure and endpoint levels.
4. Vigilant Sentinels: Fostering Cybersecurity Awareness
Cultivating a culture of cybersecurity awareness across all state agencies and local governments is essential. Regular training programs raise awareness about cyberthreats and equip employees with the knowledge to act as the first line of defense. In essence, every employee becomes a vigilant sentinel, ready to spot and respond to potential cyberthreats proactively.
5. Strength in Unity: Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships
Cybersecurity transcends the capabilities of any single entity. States can harness cutting-edge technologies, additional expertise and superior threat intelligence capabilities through strategic partnerships with private organizations. These collaborations are vital for crafting a comprehensive and robust defense strategy.
Real-world collaborations underscore the power of public-private partnerships in strengthening state-level cyber defenses. The Texas Department of Information Resources, for instance, has teamed up with private cybersecurity firms to enhance threat monitoring and enable real time intelligence sharing across state agencies. North Carolina and Michigan have also leaned on industry partnerships to deploy scalable security services, helping local governments adopt centralized identity controls and better defend against evolving threats. These examples illustrate how strategic alliances can help fill resource gaps, accelerate modernization and create a more unified and resilient cybersecurity posture.
6. Constant Vigilance: Conducting Regular Audits and Simulations
Routine security audits and cybersecurity simulations are essential for maintaining the integrity of the state’s cybersecurity infrastructure. Like regular health checks, these practices help uncover potential vulnerabilities, allowing for timely enhancements and ensuring that the state’s defenses are always ready to counteract the latest cyberthreats.
Strengthening Our Digital Defenses
As we navigate this complex cyber landscape, the call to action for cybersecurity professionals within government sectors is clear: fortify your cyber defenses, streamline identity management processes and stay vigilant against the ever-evolving threats. By adopting a whole-of-state approach and utilizing sophisticated PAM and endpoint security solutions, governments can not only defend against current challenges but also prepare for unforeseen future challenges.
In this context, Norfolk County, Canada, provides a compelling example of effective cybersecurity implementation. Explore how Norfolk County managed third-party access and complied with strict insurance guidelines, offering an inspiring model for other governments aiming to bolster their digital defenses.
James Imanian is senior director of the U.S. Federal Technology Office at CyberArk.
