Government security isn’t just about policies and technology—it’s about breaking down silos, engaging stakeholders, and building a culture of collaboration.
Things tend to go wrong quickly when people working toward a common goal aren’t on the same page.
We’ve all seen it happen. You’re working on a group presentation, but no one assigns responsibilities, so you end up with five slides covering the same topic and none on the conclusion. You show up to a family barbecue and realize four different people thought they were in charge of the potato salad and no one brought hot dogs (a mistake you’ll only make once).
Now, imagine that same lack of coordination happening in a government agency’s security operations. A missed message, a delayed response, or an assumption that 'someone else is handling it' could mean critical gaps in protection.
The secret to impenetrable security isn’t having the latest technology or the biggest budgets—it’s teamwork. When all teams and departments across the organization aren’t aligned, dangerous vulnerabilities emerge.
Security is often treated as an isolated function rather than an agency-wide priority. A government facility might have state-of-the-art surveillance but no coordinated response plan in the event of an intrusion. Or they might enforce strict access control but fail to update cybersecurity measures, leaving critical data exposed.
Without collaboration, facilities risk:
The consequences of these risks can be severe—we’re talking sensitive data exposed, critical infrastructure compromised, and disruptions that could impact national security.
Government agencies have multiple stakeholders, and they must be aligned if you want to build security processes that run like a well-oiled machine. Here’s how different teams and departments contribute.
A collaborative culture of security starts at the top. If leadership isn’t aligned on priorities, expectations, and strategy, that confusion trickles down to every department. When leaders demonstrate that security is a strategic priority—not just a policy on paper—it becomes part of the agency’s DNA.
Physical security and cybersecurity are more interconnected than ever. A cyber breach can compromise access control systems, while a physical intrusion can put sensitive digital infrastructure at risk. IT teams and security personnel must work together to ensure that both digital and physical threats are accounted for in a security strategy.
Security funding is often a challenge, and the people controlling the budgets (understandably) won’t just hand over money without a clear picture of why that money is needed. Security leaders, operations teams, and finance departments need to work together to show how these investments prevent expensive breaches, avoid regulatory fines, and keep operations running smoothly.
Facility managers play a hands-on role in securing a government site, helping manage everything from access points to emergency procedures. Their on-the-ground knowledge is invaluable in identifying vulnerabilities that leadership or IT teams might overlook.
At its core, security isn’t about policies and technology. Security is about people—protecting people, and empowering people to do their best work. But in order to achieve those goals, people need to work together.
This kind of culture doesn’t happen overnight, but over time, agencies that prioritize collaboration will create a stronger, more resilient environment.
Resistance to new security measures is common, particularly in environments where “this is how we’ve always done it” is the prevailing mindset. Employees might view new protocols as just another layer of red tape, while leadership may hesitate to fund initiatives they don’t fully grasp or see as immediately necessary.
Here are some tips to help you overcome resistance:
When teams are on board with evolving processes and see the direct benefits, security becomes an enabler rather than just a cost function.
Technology plays a key role in improving security coordination, but it’s only as effective as the people using it. The right tools can help break down silos, improve communication, and provide real-time visibility into risks. Centralized security platforms give stakeholders access to both cyber and physical threat intelligence, AI-driven analytics help anticipate vulnerabilities before they become crises, and automated compliance tracking ensures agencies stay on top of federal regulations.
Security within government agencies is only as strong as the collaboration behind it. By making security an organizational effort, government agencies can create a culture that is proactive, adaptive, and resilient.
For deeper insights on fostering stakeholder engagement and building a resilient security strategy, watch our webinar featuring Former Vice President of Security of Northrop Grumman Mary Rose McCaffrey.
