Federal agencies must urgently replace unsupported firewalls, routers, and VPN gateways under a new CISA directive aimed at closing critical security gaps exploited by attackers.

CISA Mandates Removal of End-of-Life Network Hardware to Block Cyber Intrusions

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an urgent directive requiring all federal civilian agencies to identify and remove end-of-support network hardware within one year. This sweeping mandate targets firewalls, routers, VPN gateways, and other perimeter devices that no longer receive security patches from vendors—equipment that has become a favorite entry point for cybercriminals targeting government systems.

The Vulnerability Time Bomb

Edge devices form the first line of defense for federal networks, but when vendors cease support, they transform into what CISA calls a "substantial and constant" risk. Unpatched vulnerabilities in these systems provide attackers with persistent access points, often allowing rapid network infiltration. Recent incidents demonstrate the severity: Researchers found intruders could gain administrative access to cloud systems in under 10 minutes by exploiting outdated components. In Germany, 90% of Exchange servers ran unsupported software during major breaches—a pattern CISA aims to prevent in U.S. infrastructure.

Binding Requirements and Timelines

The Binding Operational Directive (developed with the Office of Management and Budget) enforces these key actions:

Immediate: Update all still-supported edge devices
Within 3 months: Complete full inventory of perimeter hardware and flag end-of-life (EOL) equipment
Within 1 year: Remove all unsupported devices and replace with patched alternatives
Within 2 years: Implement continuous tracking systems to prevent future abandonware accumulation

While the directive carries no financial penalties or criminal consequences, CISA and OMB will monitor compliance through mandatory reporting. Historical precedent shows federal agencies treat such mandates as de facto law despite lacking traditional enforcement mechanisms.

Broader Implications for Data Protection

This move aligns with global regulatory principles seen in GDPR (Article 32) and CCPA, which mandate "appropriate security" measures to protect user data. Outdated hardware violates these frameworks by creating indefensible attack surfaces. For federal agencies, failure to comply risks exposing citizen data, classified information, and critical infrastructure controls.

Acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala emphasized that the order extends beyond technical compliance: "Unsupported devices have no business on any enterprise network in 2026." The agency urges state/local governments and private companies to adopt identical measures, noting that network infrastructure—not just endpoints—is increasingly targeted.

The Path Forward

CISA will publish a continuously updated list of EOL devices to assist agencies. This shift transforms hardware lifecycle management from a procurement footnote to a core security practice. Organizations must now prioritize:

Automated inventory systems for real-time EOL detection
Budget allocation for proactive hardware refreshes
Vendor partnerships ensuring seamless transition support

The directive represents a watershed moment in operationalizing infrastructure security—acknowledging that defending networks requires eliminating known weaknesses before attackers exploit them. As cybercriminals increasingly weaponize neglect, this mandate sets a new baseline for public and private sector cyber hygiene.