Sepio’s Role in Enhancing Federal IoT Inventory Cybersecurity Posture

What is Sepio’s Role in Enhancing Federal IoT Inventory Cybersecurity Posture

 The White House released a memo by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young on December 4. This memo has underscored an urgent need in the digital landscape. There is a need for Federal agencies to prioritize making Internet of Things (IoT), inventories of their assets by the end of FY 2024. This initiative is focused on bolstering the cybersecurity infrastructure of the United States government.

The memo clearly states – “Agency chief information officers (CIO) will establish overall enterprise-wide IoT inventory of their agency’s assets to enhance the U.S. Government's overall cybersecurity posture and to help ensure the integrity of systems.

What is the importance of IoT Inventory?

 “Agencies must have a clear understanding of the devices connected, IT/IoT inventories, within their information systems to gauge cybersecurity risk to their missions and operations,” states the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo. In today’s increasingly interconnected and automated world, IoT devices present a new and more complex vector of cyber threats.

Moreover, the 2020 IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act, mandated the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish the guidelines for IoT devices. This plays a crucial role in the whole scenario. It highlights the importance of aligning agency policies with NIST standards to mitigate cybersecurity threats effectively.

What is the role of IoT Inventory Cybersecurity?

 Sepio is a leader in IT/OT/IoT cybersecurity and offers instrumental expertise for federal agencies in addressing this new mandate.

1.      Control and Visibility

 Sepio is a trafficless solution that provides unparalleled visibility into all connected devices (wired or wireless). This capability is very important considering the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) emphasis. “An IoT inventory management enables agency CIOs to gain visibility over their connected devices and systems, and apply appropriate controls and make risk-based decisions about mitigating cybersecurity threats.”

2.      The Alignment with NIST Standards

 Sepio’s approach to cybersecurity is in harmony with NIST cybersecurity framework guidelines. Sepio’s solution can help agencies ensure that their IoT devices and networks comply with all the recommended standards. Thereby strengthening their security posture.

3.      Risk Assessment and Mitigation

 Understanding and mitigating risks associated with IoT cybersecurity and the importance of the Internet of Things IoT inventories is an important aspect of the OMB directive, and alignment with other relevant directives that is NDAA section 889B. Sepio’s advanced risk assessment analysis allows agencies to detect potential threats proactively. This aligns with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) goal for a secure and resilient infrastructure.

4.      Supporting the specialized security needs

 With the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) indicating the formation of a working group for IoT and OT security practices, Sepio’s experience across different sectors, focusing on converging OT, IT, and IoT under a unified Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) solution, breaks away from the inefficient soiled approach and positions it as a valuable resource for this initiative.

Conclusion

 As Government and Federal Agencies embark on this important path of securing their IoT inventories. Sepio’s role becomes increasingly important. Sepio’s advanced solution and expertise not only align with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directives but also pave the way for a more secure digital infrastructure for the U.S. Government. In the face of sophisticated cyber threats, Sepio stands as an important ally, ensuring a secure and more resilient digital future.