LevelBlue released its 2024 LevelBlue Futures Report: Cyber Resilience in U.S. State and Local Government and Higher Education (SLED).
The research reveals deep-seated barriers and inconsistencies in how
U.S. state, local government, and higher education leaders prioritize
cyber resilience issues, balancing technological innovation while facing
evolving threats from cybercriminals weaponizing the latest
technologies.
Today's U.S. SLED organizations operate in a climate where vital
systems can be disrupted within minutes, compromising public services
and sensitive data. While emerging technologies offer significant
opportunities, such as improved data management and easier access to
critical information, they also introduce new security challenges. For
example, 83% of respondents anticipate that dynamic computing will
enhance operational performance within the next three years, yet 86%
acknowledge the increased exposure to risk. However, 3 in 4 (74%)
respondents believe the benefits of computing innovation outweigh the
cybersecurity risks.
Fortunately, 79% of U.S. SLED leaders expect earlier involvement of
cybersecurity in computing projects, indicating a shift towards
proactive measures. This positive trend, coupled with the fact that 63%
of respondents report being a cautious or late adopter of artificial
intelligence (AI), suggests a moderate level of preparedness. Compared
to 2023 research, there is also a notable increase in resources
dedicated to security - growing from 24% to 37%. Digital innovation
drives business priorities, but cybersecurity resilience is essential
for maintaining stakeholder trust. U.S. SLED organizations can
prioritize resilience by fortifying defenses, mitigating risks, and
ensuring long-term viability in an evolving threat landscape.
"As cyber threats grow in sophistication and frequency, cybercriminals
are increasingly targeting government and educational institutions,
where the consequences of a breach are far-reaching. The rise in attacks
has made it clear that traditional security measures are no longer
sufficient to protect against evolving threats," said Theresa Lanowitz,
Chief Evangelist of LevelBlue. "U.S. SLED leaders must adopt a
comprehensive approach to ensure overall cyber resilience. LevelBlue is
committed to helping them achieve their resilience goals while
eliminating any added complexity."
Given the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats, U.S. SLED is using
15% more outside resources than any other industry, with nearly half
(47%) turning to Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (CSaaS) as a solution. This
approach allows them to leverage specialized expertise that may not be
available in-house, ensuring that security is integrated into every
facet of their operations.
Additional key findings include:
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66% indicate that digital transformation is an ongoing barrier to cybersecurity resilience.
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70% believe cybersecurity is an afterthought in their organizations, with another 67% stating efforts are often siloed.
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69% of respondents report cyber resilience is primarily the
responsibility of cybersecurity teams and is not an organization-wide
priority.
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55% of respondents reveal there's a lack of understanding about cybersecurity at the board level.
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59% of respondents say leadership doesn't prioritize cyber resilience,
and 68% admit that their governance team doesn't understand it.
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36% of respondents say cybersecurity is typically included in computing
planning, while just 43% say it is included in corporate strategy
discussions.
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72% are struggling to find the external guidance they need.
Achieving cyber resilience is paramount to safeguarding the U.S. SLED
sector from the relentless onslaught of cyber threats. As a trusted
advisor, LevelBlue outlines five steps to future cyber resilience;
identifying barriers, being secure by design, aligning cyber investment
with business; building a support ecosystem; and transforming
cybersecurity strategies.
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here to dive further into the findings of the 2024 LevelBlue Futures Report: Cyber Resilience in U.S. SLED.