Overcoming legacy and third-party challenges in CJIS compliance

Agencies face real hurdles in meeting CJIS 6.0, from outdated systems to vendor risks. Learn practical strategies to overcome these challenges and stay compliant.

Law enforcement agencies face more than new requirements under CJIS 6.0. They must also make outdated systems and vendor-heavy operations fit a much stricter security framework. For many, these obstacles are the real blockers for compliance. They can feel overwhelming and cause a lot of headaches for access management.

But there are ways forward. By addressing legacy gaps, tightening third-party access, and finding workable solutions for the challenge of having limited resources, agencies can move from frustration to progress.

The problem with legacy systems

Many agencies still rely on software built long before multifactor authentication or identity federation became the norm. These systems often cannot support modern access controls out of the box. This means it's difficult to both manage and audit access. Additionally, users will have to remember yet another set of unique credentials for system access, adding another layer of access friction. On top of all of this, replacing these legacy systems can take years and require budget that simply isn't available.

But compliance is still achievable. Agencies can extend secure authentication to legacy applications with tools that layer MFA on top of existing systems. This approach enables critical operations to continue running while meeting CJIS requirements. It also buys time for long-term modernization.

Even for agencies that have already achieved compliance, there are always...

Risks of third-party access

Vendors and contractors are essential partners, but they can also create the biggest blind spots. Shared credentials and broad access rights are still common. These practices make it nearly impossible to know who is doing what, or to revoke access once a vendor is no longer involved.

CJIS 6.0 requires agencies to apply the same access standards to third parties as they do to sworn officers. That means granting time-bound, tightly scoped permissions and logging every action. With the right tools, agencies gain both visibility and control, minimizing third-party risks while achieving compliance.

Why shared credentials and manual tracking are liabilities

Shared credentials persist because they save time and cut down on user management. The problem is that they also undermine accountability. Without individual identities, agencies cannot prove compliance during an audit or investigate suspicious activity with confidence.

Manual tracking introduces similar risks. Spreadsheets and paper logs create delays, errors, and blind spots - plus, this is challenging to do for resource-constrained IT teams. CJIS 6.0 makes clear that unique, auditable credentials are the only way forward. Secure MFA methods such as biometrics or mobile tokens make that shift practical and enforceable.

Securing remote access and addressing resource constraints

Requiring remote access is unavoidable. Officers in patrol cars and investigators working from home need to connect quickly without cutting corners. If secure connections feel slow or cumbersome, users are more likely to look for workarounds that create risk.

Agencies also face staffing and budget pressures. IT teams are stretched thin, and onboarding new users or configuring secure VPN access can take hours. The answer is simplicity: solutions that integrate with existing infrastructure, automate routine tasks, and reduce the effort needed to keep systems compliant. Compliance may be mandatory, but how effectively agencies are able to achieve that compliance is another matter.

The bottom line

CJIS 6.0 highlights real gaps in systems and processes that agencies use every day. Legacy technology, vendor dependencies, and limited resources continue to challenge compliance, but they can be managed.

By layering modern access controls onto older systems, tightening vendor oversight, eliminating shared credentials, and simplifying secure remote access, agencies can protect sensitive data while keeping critical operations moving.

Ready to go deeper? Download the Imprivata full white paper, "CJIS 6.0 compliance made practical," to learn more about CJIS 6.0.

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