GDIT had just finished a years-long effort to integrate top cyber teams and revamp its cyber culture when work-from-home began en masse last spring. That foundational work would prove vital.
Through the new models, GDIT last year quickly rolled out and consolidated large-scale enterprise systems while focusing on cost containment.
âAs soon as we finished this out, we had to immediately focus on universal remote work and the unique risks that accompany that, including the rapid rollout of new data protection schemes, remote access methods and large-scale video collaboration,â said Michael Baker, GDIT staff vice president and chief information security officer.
In 2020, GDIT received a perfect defense industrial base cybersecurity assessment center rating â a designation Baker said reflects âthe executive and operational commitmentâ to customer mission. And the company has worked to continuously improve supply chain risk management practices before and after the SolarWinds-based breach.
âBefore technology can be applied, it is imperative to position cybersecurity away from being the âparty of noâ and more of a force for IT transformation and business value,â Baker said. âThe focus to âget to yesâ safely and collaboratively is a differentiator for our company and customers that allows us to embrace innovation across a broad range of missions.â
Why Watch
Baker will continue to focus on evolving GDITâs cyber teams while holding technical prowess and soft skills in equal importance â an approach that maximizes productivity and employee experience in a tough hiring market.
âWe will be looking to deepen our focus on [artificial intelligence]and automation to increase our teamsâ effectiveness, doubling down on zero trust principles across our networks, taking the next step in data awareness and tagging, and evolving our supply chain risk management program,â Baker said.