In the wake of recent major cybersecurity incidents, such as the SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange, and Colonial Pipeline attacks, the Biden administration has released an executive order on cybersecurity, which includes new security requirements for software vendors selling to the U.S. government. After years of cybersecurity challenges, the development of effective cybersecurity industry standards for software is finally, squarely in the spotlight.
The executive order maps out how the U.S. government will implement cybersecurity requirements and standards – but it is just the beginning. The federal government won’t be the last entity demanding more security transparency from software vendors and this is likely a sign of what’s to come for any organization creating software in any industry. We expect to see enterprises and SMBs alike requiring their software vendors to adhere to strict cybersecurity protocols in the future. With that in mind, anyone developing software should be prepared to understand the order in detail, and adapt their processes accordingly to ensure the highest standards of software security are implemented.