Security's First Pillar: Identity Modernization, DHS, and the Government's Adoption of Zero Trust

The Department of Homeland Security holds a unique position when it comes to cybersecurity, serving as “both chef and diner” in that it is both on its own modernization journey and provides guidance on modernization strategies for other agencies. CISA is a part of DHS, and the agency has benefited from this in-house expertise and heightened security requirements. DHS has also seen the consequences of security weaknesses — in 2020, suspected Russian hackers successfully breached the department as part of the SolarWinds cyberattack, along with parts of the Treasury and Commerce departments.