The Efficiency Imperative: How Federal Agencies Can Streamline Cybersecurity Operations

With increasing scrutiny on government spending, federal agencies face mounting pressure to optimize IT budgets while fortifying cybersecurity defenses. However, the unchecked proliferation of security tools has led to inefficiencies, reduced visibility, and increasing total cost of ownership. A recent SiliconANGLE article examined cybersecurity tool sprawl, highlighting the reactive adoption of new tools to address emerging threats and compliance mandates, as well as vendor-driven expansion of unintegrated security stacks. These factors compound security complexity, hindering agencies in identifying and managing enterprise risk. 

The Rising Cost of Cybersecurity Complexity

Research cited in the article shows that large enterprises now manage an average of 76 security tools, up from 64 in 2019. While the study primarily focuses on commercial enterprises, federal agencies face similar challenges. Fragmented security environments create redundant processes, increase risk exposure, and increase costs—ultimately undermining cybersecurity efforts rather than strengthening them.

To meet mandates such as FISMA, NIST 800-171, and Zero Trust directives, it is imperative agencies transform architectures to an integrated security stack that:

•  Introduces automated security processes
• Provides enhanced risk visibility and quantification of enterprise risk
• Increases security operation productivity to reduce mean time to remediate    

How the Expanding Attack Surface Drives Tool Sprawl

As the attack surface has expanded, the cybersecurity industry has responded with specialized solutions to secure new technologies. However, these solutions often operate in isolation, leading to fragmented security architectures. The ease with which new security tools are introduced has made managing cybersecurity operations increasingly complex and inefficient.

To illustrate this, let’s use the NIST Cybersecurity Framework as a foundation and examine how security tooling has evolved across the Identify, Protect, and Detect functions, focusing on traditional IT, cloud, DevSecOps, AI/LLM, IoT/OT, and web applications.

NSF Objective	Traditional IT	Cloud	DevSecOps	AI/LLM	IoT/OT	Web Applications
Identify	Asset Discovery, CMDB, Network Mapping, Vulnerability Assessment, IAM Systems, Data Discovery	Cloud Asset Management, CSPM, Cloud IAM, Cloud Vulnerability Scanners	Asset Management, Vulnerability Scanners, Container Security	LLM Model Inventory, LLM Data Classification	OT Asset Management, OT Network Mapping, OT Vulnerability Management	Web App Scanners, Web App Inventory Tools
Protect	Firewalls, AV Software, Encryption, Access Control, Patch Management, MFA, Secure Email Gateways, WAF	Cloud Firewalls, Cloud Encryption, CASB, Cloud Patch Management, Cloud MFA	DevSecOps Security, DevSecOps Encryption, DevSecOps Access Control	LLM Model Security, LLM Data Encryption	OT Firewalls, OT Endpoint Protection, OT Encryption, OT Access Control	Web App Firewalls, Embedded Security
Detect	IDS, SIEM, Network Traffic Analysis, EDR, UEBA, Threat Intel Platforms	Cloud Log Analysis, Cloud IDS/IPS, Cloud EDR, Cloud UEBA, Cloud Detection & Response	DevSecOps Monitoring	LLM Model Monitoring, LLM Anomaly Detection, LLM Threat Intelligence	OT IDS, OT Network Monitoring, OT Threat Intelligence	Web App Monitoring, Web App Security Testing

The Fragmentation Problem: Siloed Consolidation

While the cybersecurity industry has made efforts to consolidate security functions, most consolidation has occurred within specific attack surface areas rather than across them. A prime example is cloud security: initially, organizations deployed separate tools for cloud workload protection, cloud security posture management (CSPM), and runtime security. Over time, the market evolved to unify these capabilities under Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP).

However, while CNAPP helps reduce cloud-specific tool sprawl, it does not address broader security fragmentation across on-premises, DevSecOps, AI/LLM, IoT/OT, and web applications. As a result, agencies still face siloed security operations, increasing complexity, and limited visibility across the entire attack surface.

Integrated Security Operations: The Path Forward

To overcome the inefficiencies caused by fragmented tool adoption, federal agencies must adopt integrated, platform-based cybersecurity strategies. An effective, modernized security approach should:

• Consolidate security functions across multiple environments (traditional IT, cloud, DevSecOps, AI/LLM, IoT/OT, and web applications).
• Enhance automation, eliminating manual processes and reducing operational overhead.
• Provide unified visibility and risk management, streamlining compliance with FISMA, NIST 800-171, and Zero Trust mandates.

This shift to integrated, automated security operations will improve threat detection and response, reduce costs, and significantly enhance operational efficiency.

Key Challenges Facing Federal Agencies

1. Operational Inefficiencies from Tool Sprawl Multiple security tools lacking integration create overlaps, inflated costs, and reduced productivity. Teams spend excessive time managing siloed dashboards, manually correlating risks, and reconciling data discrepancies, hindering proactive cybersecurity efforts. A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights these challenges, noting fewer than half of federal agencies achieve effective cybersecurity ratings annually.

2. High Costs Due to Complexity Managing fragmented tools leads to extensive manual workflows and increased resource expenditures. Agencies face escalating licensing, training, and maintenance costs, exacerbated by the risk of oversight and inefficiencies. Because federal and state facilities are prime ransomware targets, reactive security measures strain resources further, underscoring the need for centralization and automation.

3. Visibility Gaps and Delayed Incident Response Expanding digital footprints across diverse environments (cloud, OT, APIs, remote workforces) result in fragmented security visibility. Agencies struggle to manage assets, detect threats, and respond effectively due to data silos. The GAO’s 2024 findings confirm most civilian agencies fail in achieving cybersecurity objectives, while the Department of Defense emphasizes integrated frameworks to overcome traditional perimeter defense limitations.

Strategic Investments to Improve Efficiency

Agencies must integrate visibility, posture management, and automated remediation within unified platforms. Fragmentation slows detection and response times, leaving critical vulnerabilities exposed. According to Qualys research, the average patch application exceeds 30 days, whereas vulnerability exploitation windows have reduced significantly—from nearly 20 days in 2022 to only five days by 2023. An integrated platform addresses this urgency by:

• Offering real-time visibility across hybrid environments.
• Proactively identifying misconfigurations and compliance gaps.
• Automating remediation workflows to accelerate vulnerability mitigation.

The Solution: How Qualys Drives IT Modernization and Security Efficiency

Qualys delivers a unified approach to risk management, eliminating inefficiencies and improving security outcomes for civilian and defense organizations. By consolidating security tools and automating critical workflows, agencies gain greater visibility, reduce costs, and improve response times.

Key Benefits:

• Enhance Attack Surface Visibility – Continuously discover, assess, and monitor IT, cloud, OT, and API environments to eliminate security blind spots.
• Eliminate Redundant Security Tools – Consolidate multiple-point solutions into a single platform for improved efficiency and cost savings.
• Proactively Identify & Mitigate Risks – Leverage real-time asset discovery and risk prioritization to focus on the most critical threats.
• Automate Response & Reduce Manual Workflows – Streamline security operations with automated remediation and risk-based response.
• Make Smarter, Data-Driven Decisions – Gain continuous security insights to optimize risk management and compliance strategies.

Key Outcomes:

By consolidating security tools and automating risk management, Qualys helps agencies achieve measurable improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and security effectiveness.

Key Use Cases: Achieving Security & IT Modernization Outcomes

Qualys enables agencies to transition from compliance-driven security to proactive risk management. By consolidating tools and automating key processes, agencies reduce complexity, improve efficiency, and confidently meet evolving federal mandates.

Enhancing Efficiency for BOD-23-01 Compliance

To meet BOD-23-01 requirements, agencies must eliminate security blind spots and accelerate risk mitigation. Qualys helps by:

• Discovering and inventorying IT, cloud, and OT assets to eliminate unknown exposures.
• Automating vulnerability remediation and exposure management to reduce attack surfaces.
• Providing real-time attack surface visibility for continuous compliance.

Strengthening Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust security requires continuous visibility and enforcement. Qualys strengthens Zero Trust initiatives by:

• Identifying and eliminating shadow IT and misconfigured assets.
• Enhancing identity-based access controls with full endpoint and workload visibility.
• Dynamically enforcing security policies across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Dynamic Asset risk scoring, ensuring that high-risk assets are isolated from critical services.

Proactively Managing Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (BOD-22-01)

To comply with BOD-22-01, agencies must rapidly detect and remediate known vulnerabilities. Qualys enables:

• Automated vulnerability detection and remediation across all assets.
• Prioritization of actively exploited threats with real-time intelligence.
• Accelerated patching workflows to reduce MTTR.

Optimizing IT & Security Spending

Agencies must maximize cybersecurity investments while minimizing operational overhead. Qualys helps by:

• Reducing costs through security tool consolidation.
• Eliminating redundant solutions to streamline workflows.
• Enhancing visibility and automation to improve security outcomes.

Take Action: Future-Proof Your Security & Improve Efficiency

Federal IT priorities are evolving, and agencies must modernize their security strategies. Discover how Qualys can help consolidate cybersecurity operations, reduce costs, and strengthen resilience against emerging threats.

Take the next step—learn more today.