Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • Networking

    CSIA Gives Government Poor Marks on Security

    By
    Brian Prince
    -
    January 31, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The Cyber Security Industry Alliance in its latest annual report (PDF), released Jan. 31, is pressing for the federal government to be more aggressive in its efforts to protect sensitive information in cyberspace.

      In its 2007 Agenda for U.S. Government Action, contained in the annual report, CSIA officials call for Congress and the Bush Administration to take specific actions to improve information security for citizens, industry and governments around the world.

      “While the government has taken some positive steps forward to improve the state of information security, action has been decidedly mixed,” Liz Gasster, acting executive director and general counsel of CSIA, based in Arlington, Va., said in a statement.

      The Alliance gave the government low marks on a number of issues in its Federal Progress Report for 2006, which the group also released Jan. 31.

      In that report, the group criticized the government for failing to pass a comprehensive law to protect sensitive personal information, not offering a clear agenda for the Department of Homeland Security in the area of cyber-security research and development priorities, and failing to establish an emergency coordination network to handle a large scale cyber-security disaster.

      On the subject of federal information assurance, Alliance officials said the government “continues to offer a mixed bag of successes and failures, with progress within OMB [Office of Management and Budget] and implementation of HSPD-12, but much improvement is needed in the areas of using the power of procurement, resolving systemic telework issues, and releasing information on the cost of cyber-attacks.”

      /zimages/4/28571.gifFor advice on how to secure your network and applications, as well as the latest security news, visit Ziff Davis Internets Security IT Hub.

      “CSIA commends the government for moving forward on several key initiatives, including the Senates ratification of the Council of Europes Convention on Cybercrime and the appointment of an Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Telecommunications,” Gasster said. “However, we are discouraged by Congress inability to pass a comprehensive federal law to protect sensitive personal information, even in the face of more than 100 million Americans having their data records exposed. In 2007, CSIA will work even harder to urge swift action from Congress to pass this much-needed legislation.”

      Gartner analyst John Pescatore said while the CSIAs low grades are hard to argue against, its criticisms of the government are focused on the wrong areas and are meant to further the interest of Alliance members.

      “For example, if every government agency was required to have all software providers test their products for known vulnerabilities before accepting the software, then government systems would be much more secure, their suppliers would have to develop better software, and fewer security products would be sold to protect the vulnerable products,” he said. “[Thats] a good thing, unless you are the lobbyist for the security vendors.”

      /zimages/4/28571.gifThe DHS names a cyber-security chief. Click here to read more.

      Also in the 2007 Agenda for U.S. Government Action, CSIA calls on the Bush administration and Congress to work together to strengthen the FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act). In addition, the DHS should establish cyber-security and telecommunications priorities that address situational awareness, emergency communications, and recovery and reconstitution, and ensure that appropriate funding is in place to support these programs, officials said.

      The group also urged Congress and the Bush Administration to take direct action by passing a comprehensive federal law to secure sensitive personal information and notify consumers in case of a breach.

      Pescatore said he was skeptical of Congress intent. “The election season was the main interruption in Congress passing a data protection law,” he said. “We believe Congress will pass a law in 2007, but odds are high that it will serve to lower the bar on data protection below the level that many states have set. Congress has a tendency to be more business and lobbyist-friendly than many state legislatures.”

      Check out eWEEK.coms Security Center for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at Ryan Naraines eWEEK Security Watch blog.

      Brian Prince

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×