Federal agencies must adopt a new approach to network security to successfully integrate their multitude of existing security tools. Brian Meyer, Federal Field Chief Technology Officer at Axonius Federal Systems, states that Cybersecurity Asset Management (CAM) provides the essential “connective tissue” agencies need. CAM aggregates data from every security and IT tool, normalizes the information, and creates a single, trusted source of truth. This critical visibility allows teams to enforce security policies consistently across the entire IT environment.
Establishing Visibility and Zero Trust
Meyer stresses that visibility forms the foundation of modern security frameworks, including zero trust. Far from being optional, comprehensive visibility serves as the prerequisite for every other security control. Without a complete view into assets spanning on-premises systems, cloud-based environments, and the growing ecosystem of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, agencies create dangerous blind spots. These unknown or unmanaged assets quickly become serious vulnerabilities.
Streamlining Compliance and Automation
The Axonius platform tackles this visibility challenge directly, connecting all operational and cybersecurity technologies to generate a common landscape across business units. This holistic view helps agencies close security gaps immediately. Furthermore, the platform integrates seamlessly with the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program, managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). This integration enables automation across all six groups in the CDM framework for securing federal civilian networks. Cybersecurity Asset Management platforms allow agencies to automatically validate security controls and maintain continuous compliance.
Moving Beyond Reactive Security
Cybersecurity Asset Management tools empower agencies to transition away from a reactive mode of security operations. They detect unmanaged devices and identify blind spots before they escalate into major incidents. The technology gives teams the necessary context to address gaps proactively, fortifying their security posture efficiently.
