Outdated Technology and Cybersecurity Threats: Strategies for Federal Agencies to Eradicate Tech Debt and Decrease Cybersecurity Risks
Federal agencies are grappling with a multitude of challenges in their IT infrastructure, including unused licenses that represent wasted funds, outdated legacy systems, a shortage of IT workers, and cybersecurity risks. These issues hinder their ability to fulfill their missions effectively.
One solution that is gaining traction is Qualys, a leading cybersecurity and compliance solutions provider. Qualys automates key processes such as patch management and risk assessments, saving time, reducing errors, and facilitating federal compliance audits.
Qualys' Cybersecurity Asset Management (CSAM) offers a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges. It continuously identifies internet-facing systems and assesses related risks in real time on an agency's external attack surface. CSAM supports this approach by identifying unknown assets, optimizing software investments, and strengthening cybersecurity posture across every attack surface.
Qualys uses a lightweight agent as a passive sensor to expand internal attack surface coverage, detecting risks from previously hidden assets. This helps agencies maintain continuous asset visibility and gain actionable insights into vulnerabilities and risks.
CSAM also integrates seamlessly with leading ITSM platforms such as ServiceNow and BMC, keeping the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) current and accelerating ticket resolution.
Federal compliance programs such as Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and FedRAMP depend on accurate, up-to-date asset data and strong security controls. CSAM provides insights to eliminate overspending and ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
A unified toolset strategy, such as the one offered by Qualys, can help agencies standardize tools and processes, gain visibility into system health and vulnerabilities, automate routine maintenance, and move data securely across cloud environments.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is one example of an agency modernizing its enterprise resource planning systems due to aging IT systems. Jamie Wolff, the NNSA's Chief Information Officer, has publicly stated that many federal agencies face a significant backlog of technology upgrades and need to move data efficiently across cloud-based networks.
Qualys' proactive management of federal IT tech debt is another key advantage. It enables agencies to identify upcoming End-of-Life (EoL) and End-of-Support (EoS) software, hardware, and operating systems up to 12 months in advance.
To address these vulnerabilities and inefficiencies, federal agency leaders must adopt a centralized, agency-wide Software Asset Management (SAM) strategy. Qualys' CSAM empowers agencies to eliminate inefficiencies, strengthen cybersecurity, and focus on mission advancement with precision and confidence.
While the search results do not specify which particular agency uses Qualys CSAM with External Attack Surface Management to improve software asset management and cybersecurity posture, it is clear that Qualys is a valuable tool in the modernization of federal IT.
