Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) La Monte Yarborough said on Monday that upgrading outdated IT systems and bolstering security efforts is crucial to improving public trust and user experience (UX).
During an event hosted by Okta on Nov. 6, Yarborough explained that outdated systems typically come with a lack of security features, making Americans’ data more vulnerable to cyber threats.
“Old systems most likely are not complying with current regulations to secure and protect data, so that’s always a concern,” Yarborough said.
“So, when turning to HHS, we have some 1,250 systems in use from an enterprise perspective,” he added. “There are quote-unquote ‘outdated systems’ that we’re taking every effort to either upgrade those systems or consider shutting them down, knowing that perhaps something newer can replace them.”
The CISO said replacing outdated systems will, in turn, improve the public’s trust in government, because “Americans gauge that trust via a number of factors,” including service delivery.
“We have to be accountable to the American public that, you know, their dollars are being used in a way with regard to the systems that we provide, that they’re operating efficiently and effectively,” Yarborough said.
“So, robust data protection, privacy measures, are at the core of any systems that we make available to the American public, and a rapid response to inquiries when there are concerns or just service-level concerns with respect to whatever the issue was that brought them to whatever service we’re providing,” he explained.
He concluded the conversation by stressing that there needs to be a balance between user experience and security in order to bolster public trust in government.
“Striking a balance between user experience to security to gain customers’ confidence in government services will be most critical in ensuring, again, that those old systems can adapt … delivering faster response and information integrity,” Yarborough said.
LaRel Rogers, senior product marketing manager at Okta, agreed with the CISO, saying, “I think UX and security are very much intertwined. I don’t think you can have one without the other.”
