Page 7 - FCW, November/December 2019
P. 7

digital black hole.
All this represents a qualitatively
different approach to securing your network. Where perimeter defense aimed merely to bar the gates, a modernized cybersecurity infrastructure is prepared to engage with hostile actors at all levels, at all the diverse digital endpoints, as well as within
the network itself. In this model, effective cybersecurity involves not
just sophisticated tools but also sound policies and trained staff, all working in concert to protect critical information technology assets – including data. A modern security architecture consists of multiple elements that impede attackers, while still allowing validated users access to their mission-critical applications and data.
Tools for success
Working in partnership with
Cisco, CDW•G provides government
with a range of powerful tools for enacting this sophisticated vision of modernized cyber.
The Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), for example, offers a network- based approach for adaptable, trusted
access everywhere. It delivers intelligent, integrated protection through intent- based policy and compliance solutions. Cisco’s Stealthwatch, meanwhile, delivers network visibility and analytics, using enterprise telemetry from the existing network infrastructure to provide advanced threat detection and accelerated threat response.
For many years federal IT managers have labored with fragmented cyber solutions, protection schemes built piecemeal in response to immediate concerns, but often without a long- term view toward interoperability and manageability. A modernized cyber protection suite aims to integrate and streamline these unwieldly compilations of tools and applications, delivering
a fully integrated set of solutions to address email security, web security and threat prevention.
Cisco’s Advanced Malware Protection offers a strong example of such a system. It delivers global threat intelligence and real-time malware blocking while also continuously analyzing file activity across the extended network, so that IT teams can quickly detect, contain, and remove
advanced malware.
For federal leaders looking to move
toward a more comprehensive cyber solution, a good first step is to inventory the current, likely fragmented, solution sets already in place. This will help
to highlight potential security gaps, while also indicating the places where streamlining could help to lighten
the ongoing burdens of systems administration and incident response.
CDW•G’s security experts are able
to help federal agencies strengthen and simplify their security infrastructure. For IT teams already overburdened with the responsibilities of network maintenance, database management and applications administration, a modern cybersecurity approach offers simplicity and a higher level of security across the enterprise.
Learn more about modernizing your security infrastructure at CDWG.com/security
Contracting for Cyber: CIO-CS
The federal Chief Information Officer Commodities and Solutions (CIO-CS) enables agencies to onboard cyber solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner. It can be a boon to those seeking cyber solutions.
A government-wide acquisitions contract (GWAC), as well as an OMB-designated Best in Class (BIC) vehicle, CIO-CS enables agencies to proactively pursue virtually any type of commercial off-the-shelf IT solution.
Especially helpful from the cyber perspective is the contract’s use of the EPIC (Enterprise Portfolio IT
Category) type of agreement.
Like a GSA blanket agreement, EPIC enables
agencies to set up their own strategic source contracts against CIO-CS. For agencies looking to build out multiple iterations of a cyber solution across a complex enterprise, the blanket approach streamlines sourcing and purchasing, ensuring a tailored cyber rollout that is both timely and consistent across the enterprise.
Call or purchase off the contract at CDWG.com/ CIO-CS.
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