Stephanie Ackman is a vice president at CGI Federal, where she supports federal government clients with expertise and insight related to cyber risk, security and technology strategy.
IT modernization is in some ways a never-ending undertaking. Technology is always advancing—usually gradually, but sometimes with dramatic leaps like the recent emergence of artificial intelligence as a force multiplier.
And while it is easy to get caught up in the technical details, modernization, at its core, is about operational agility: faster data-driven decisions, secure data sharing across organizational boundaries and seamless collaboration from headquarters to the tactical edge.
Modernization expands cloud adoption and integrates advanced technologies, thereby raising an organization’s risk profile. Zero trust is the ideal strategy to address the risk. Conversely, IT infrastructure modernization provides a ready opportunity for implementing a zero trust framework, a powerful security technique that protects critical data and systems.
The zero trust security model is based on the reality that threats can come from inside the network as well as from beyond. It assumes the network has been breached, and therefore, treats any request for access to a network or resource as a potential threat subject to verification. By integrating identity, data, and device trust into every layer of the enterprise, organizations move beyond perimeter defense toward continuous mission assurance.
Adding zero trust to IT modernization
Broadly speaking, IT modernization entails replacing legacy systems and adopting new software, migrating to a cloud or hybrid environment and automating processes. The goal is to improve efficiency, agility and scalability while reducing costs and strengthening security. Paired with business process reengineering, modernization provides a foundation for a leaner, faster and more powerful operation.
As technology advances, modernization projects expand to adopt powerful new and emerging technologies such as AI and advanced analytics. Cybersecurity is a perpetual arms race, as government agencies, businesses and other organizations try to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals, who have access to the same updated tools.
Zero trust, if planned smartly and incorporated into the modernization plan at the outset, ensures that security is integrated into every aspect of the IT environment. Zero trust aligns with modernization in many aspects, including:
- Cloud adoption: Zero trust aligns seamlessly with a cloud strategy, replacing perimeter-based defenses with identity- and data-centric controls that secure access across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- Operational agility and resilience: Agility is a hallmark of modernization, and zero trust creates more agile and flexible IT environments. Zero trust enables secure access from any location and device, which is essential for distributed workforces and dynamic IT infrastructures.
- Continuous compliance and risk visibility: Providing stringent access control and policy enforcement, zero trust helps organizations achieve regulatory compliance and reduce risk.
- Integration of advanced technologies: AI, machine learning and edge computing can be securely deployed and managed through zero trust principles, ensuring innovation does not come at the expense of mission assurance. It also supports cloud-native technologies such as serverless workloads and Internet of Things applications.
Enacting good governance
Despite all of these benefits, zero trust implementation does require care and forethought. A governance framework that provides structure for policies, procedures and controls guiding security practices is essential.
This governance structure requires establishing clear roles and responsibilities, defining access privileges and enforcing compliance with security standards.
Conclusion
The modernization journey is not a one-time effort, it is a continuous transformation that aligns people, processes and technology to deliver measurable mission outcomes. When modernization is paired with zero trust and data-centric design, agencies not only strengthen cybersecurity but also accelerate innovation, improve decision speed and increase confidence in every mission execution.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. WashingtonExec is sharing OpEds from industry experts on critical cyber topics, and how GovCons and government can work together to secure critical missions.