Cybersecurity has been on the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) high-risk list since 1997. Federal agencies struggle with issues like cyber hygiene, cyber workforce shortages and strategic execution. While agencies put strategies in place to secure their systems, the implementation and execution can be ineffective, according to GAO Managing Director of IT and Cybersecurity Nick Marinos.

Marinos says that evolving threats have reshaped the cybersecurity landscape over the years in government, making evolution a moving target. Agencies are adjusting their workforces accordingly, he says, but is is difficult to keep pace with emerging technology. He underscores the urgency of streamlining federal hiring processes to prevent losing top talent to faster-moving private sector opportunities.