U.S. SLED leaders believe computing innovation benefits outweigh cybersecurity risk, turning to outside resources to achieve resilience.
Network Security

In higher-ed IT, balancing innovation with cyber risk


Many U.S. SLED leaders believe computing innovation benefits outweigh cybersecurity risk, as sector turns to outside resources to achieve cyber resilience

Key points:

U.S. state, local government, and higher education leaders continue to face deep-seated barriers and inconsistencies in how they prioritize cyber resilience issues, and they struggle to balance technological innovation while facing evolving threats from cybercriminals weaponizing the latest technologies.

This challenge and others are outlined in the 2024 LevelBlue Futures Report: Cyber Resilience in U.S. State and Local Government and Higher Education (SLED).

​​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 percent of respondents anticipate that dynamic computing will enhance operational performance within the next three years, yet 86 percent acknowledge the increased exposure to risk. However, 3 in 4 (74 percent) respondents believe the benefits of computing innovation outweigh the cybersecurity risks.

Fortunately, 79 percent 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 percent 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 percent to 37 percent. 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 percent more outside resources than any other industry, with nearly half (47 percent) 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:

  • 66 percent indicate that digital transformation is an ongoing barrier to cybersecurity resilience
  • 70 percent believe cybersecurity is an afterthought in their organizations, with another 67 percent stating efforts are often siloed
  • 69 percent of respondents report cyber resilience is primarily the responsibility of cybersecurity teams and is not an organization-wide priority
  • 55 percent of respondents reveal there’s a lack of understanding about cybersecurity at the board level
  • 59 percent of respondents say leadership doesn’t prioritize cyber resilience, and 68 percent admit that their governance team doesn’t understand it
  • 36 percent of respondents say cybersecurity is typically included in computing planning, while just 43 percent say it is included in corporate strategy discussions
  • 72 percent 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.

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.

This press release originally appeared online.

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