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Information Security: Homeland Security Needs to Enhance Effectiveness of Its Program

GAO-07-1003T Published: Jun 20, 2007. Publicly Released: Jun 20, 2007.
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Highlights

To protect and mitigate threats and attacks against the United States, 22 federal agencies and organizations were merged to form the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002. One of the department's components, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is responsible for securing the nation's borders. DHS and CBP rely on a variety of computerized information systems to support their operations and assets. GAO has reported for many years that poor information security is a widespread problem with potentially devastating consequences. In reports to Congress since 1997, GAO has identified information security as a governmentwide high-risk issue. In this testimony, GAO discusses DHS's information security program and computer security controls for key information systems. GAO based its testimony on agency, inspector general, and GAO issued and draft reports on DHS information security.

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Computer securityData integrityHomeland securityInformation securityInformation systemsInternal controlsOperational testingPhysical securityProgram evaluationProgram managementRisk assessmentStrategic information systems planningCritical infrastructure protectionSecurity standards