In a report entitled Federal Information Security: Actions Needed to Address Challenges, the United States Government Accountability Office outlined the complexity and scope of cyber security threats against Federal Agencies. Available on the Government Office of Accountability's website, the report focuses on the period between 2006 and 2015.
Increasing cyber insecurity
In 2006, U.S. Federal Agencies experienced 5,503 confirmed cyber threats from domestic and international sources. In 2015, that number had jumped to 77,183. Clearly digital security risk assessment has become a fundamental aspect of protecting national security.
The huge jump in cyber threats suggests a real expansion in efforts to compromise United States' networks and databases.
Information security can include securing vital records about identity, aspects of government spending, as well as ensuring that United States national security is not compromised as a result of data breaches, leaks, and hacks over other digital crimes. In many cases the legal and ethical scholarship around the landscape of thwarting cyber security threats has not been clearly defined.
As a result, more research and analysis is needed to arrive at solutions which protect national and global security without compromising the freedom and privacy granted by the U.S. Constitution and numerous Supreme Court decisions.
This current research was compiled utilizing data provided by theU.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the Office of Management and Budget data.
Year of the leak chronicles continued
Federal Information Security: Actions Needed to Address Challenges makes the following recommendations for protecting the United States from digital threat:
- Address cyber security risk assessments. Federal agencies need to be aware of the evolving landscape of cyber security and the need to remain vigilant.
Advance expertise around detecting and addressing threats.Federal agencies need to be pro-active about preventing and mitigating threats to information security.
- Accelerate efforts to build cyber security personnel.Federal agencies need to expand their efforts to hire advanced cyber security human capital.
