This essay discusses the Target cyber breach in 2013, the importance of cyber defences, and applicable government requirements. It highlights the rising cost of breaches, the increase in sophisticated hackers, the availability of hacking tools, and the proliferation of IoT devices. It also explores the government regulations and requirements for securing public data, including the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171.