Federal agencies increasingly rely on technology and applications, making application security crucial. As a result of application security, citizen information, national infrastructure, and cyber threats are protected. Federal agencies can reduce the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and disruptions to essential services using stringent security measures. Government operations require strong application security practices to maintain public trust, comply with regulatory frameworks, and maintain integrity and confidentiality. Additionally, increasing efficiency in application development is a top priority for federal agencies. As applications remain the top target for hackers, meeting mission objectives and speed to deployment must be preserved at the expense of mitigating cybersecurity risks.

For even the smallest changes to be approved, traditional methods for application security can take a long time in Federal agencies. As part of the legacy model, developers build an application and hand it over to safety, passing it on to operations and deploying it in a completely different production environment. It can take months or even years for this convoluted process to be completed. Within the public sector, applications remain the leading source of breaches. Government agencies require advanced application security to meet their unique threats with speed, agility, efficiency, and a strong defensive framework.

Application Security and the Challenges in Federal

Federal agencies are confronted with numerous challenges when it comes to application security. These challenges stem from the increasing complexity and sophistication of cyber threats and government organizations’ unique requirements and constraints. Some of the major challenges faced by federal agencies in application security include:

1. Evolving Threat Landscape: Federal agencies operate in an ever-changing threat landscape, where cyber threats constantly change tactics and techniques. They must contend with advanced persistent threats (APTs), malware, ransomware, and other sophisticated attacks, which can compromise the security of their applications.
2. Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Federal agencies must adhere to stringent compliance and regulatory frameworks, such as FISMA and FedRAMP. Meeting these requirements while ensuring effective application security can be challenging, as agencies must navigate complex regulations and implement robust security controls to protect sensitive data.
3. Resource Constraints: Limited resources, including budgetary constraints and a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, pose significant challenges for federal agencies. They often need help to allocate adequate resources to application security initiatives, hindering their ability to implement comprehensive security measures and respond effectively to emerging threats.
4. Legacy Systems and Modernization: Many federal agencies rely on legacy systems designed without modern security considerations in mind. Securing these outdated applications poses challenges, as they may need more built-in security features and compatibility with newer security protocols. Modernizing systems and migrating to more secure platforms can be complex, time-consuming, and costly.
5. Interagency Collaboration: Collaboration and information sharing among federal agencies are vital for effective application security. However, coordination efforts can be challenging due to differences in organizational structures, information-sharing protocols, and varying security maturity levels across agencies. Establishing effective communication channels and promoting collaboration remain ongoing challenges.

A multifaceted approach is needed to address these challenges, including proactive threat intelligence, robust security controls, adequate resources, modernization efforts, and enhanced collaboration among federal agencies. As a result of acknowledging and actively overcoming these challenges, federal agencies can better protect sensitive data and critical systems and strengthen their application security posture.

Solution: For speed, efficiency, and security, agencies need DevSecOps

A traditional approach to application security testing (pen-testing and legacy scan-based tools) was designed for something other than the demands of today’s applications. It slows down Federal development projects, jeopardizes mission goals, and increases the chances of a significant breach later.

To accelerate time to delivery, achieve mission goals, and ensure comprehensive security testing early in the SDLC to reduce the risk of application-based breaches, government agencies need to adopt new application security methodologies to transition from DevOps to true DevSecOps. Security teams should be involved in pipeline-related discussions to ensure the right security steps are built.

Conclusion

Application security poses significant challenges for federal agencies as they strive to protect sensitive data and critical systems from ever-evolving cyber threats. The combination of an evolving threat landscape, compliance and regulatory requirements, resource constraints, legacy systems, and the need for interagency collaboration presents a complex landscape for ensuring robust application security.

However, federal agencies must address these challenges effectively to safeguard citizen information, protect national infrastructure, and maintain public trust. Federal agencies can bolster their application security posture by allocating adequate resources, modernizing systems, enhancing collaboration, and staying abreast of emerging threats. Embracing proactive measures and investing in robust security controls will strengthen the resilience of federal applications and contribute to the nation’s overall cybersecurity posture. Ultimately, by prioritizing application security, federal agencies can mitigate risks, enhance operational efficiency, and maintain the trust and confidence of the citizens they serve.

Works Cited

1. Riotta, Chris. “Public Sector Apps Face Widespread Security Challenges, Report Reveals.” Nextgov, 7 June 2023, www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2023/06/public-sector-apps-face-widespread-security-challenges-report-reveals/387251/.
2. Schradin, Ryan. “ Seven Reasons Why Federal Agencies Need a Unified Approach to Application Security.” Gov DecSecOps Hub, 11 Aug. 2021, govdevsecopshub.com/2021/08/11/seven-reasons-why-federal-agencies-need-a-unified-approach-to-application-security/
3. “The Need for Stronger Application Security Testing in Government.” Govtech, papers.govtech.com/The-Need-for-Stronger-Application-Security-Testing-in-Government-141571.html.