Information Security:
Continued Efforts Needed to Sustain Progress in Implementing Statutory Requirements
GAO-05-483T: Published: Apr 7, 2005. Publicly Released: Apr 7, 2005.
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Text:
Contact:
(202) 512-6244
contact@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
For many years, GAO has reported that poor information security is a widespread problem that has potentially devastating consequences. Further, since 1997, GAO has identified information security as a governmentwide high-risk issue in reports to Congress--most recently in January 2005. Concerned with accounts of attacks on commercial systems via the Internet and reports of significant weaknesses in federal computer systems that make them vulnerable to attack, Congress passed the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA), which permanently authorized and strengthened the federal information security program, evaluation, and reporting requirements established for federal agencies. This testimony discusses the federal government's progress and challenges in implementing FISMA as reported by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the agencies, and Inspectors General (IGs) and opportunities for improving the usefulness of the annual reporting process, including the consideration of a common framework for the annual FISMA reviews conducted by the IGs.
In its fiscal year 2004 report to the Congress, OMB reports significant strides in addressing long-standing problems, but at the same time, cites challenging weaknesses that remain. The report notes several governmentwide findings, such as the varying effectiveness of agencies' security remediation processes and the inconsistent quality of agencies' certification and accreditation (the process of authorizing operation of a system including the development and implementation of risk assessments and security controls). Fiscal year 2004 data reported by 24 major agencies generally show increasing numbers of systems meeting key statutory information security requirements compared with fiscal year 2003. Nevertheless, challenges remain. For example, only 7 agencies reported that they had tested contingency plans for 90 to 100 percent of their systems, and 6 of the remaining 17 agencies reported that they had tested plans for less than 50 percent of their systems. Opportunities exist to improve the usefulness of the annual FISMA reporting process, including enhancing the reliability and quality of reported information, providing performance information based on the relative importance or risk of the systems, and reporting on key information security requirements. In addition, a commonly accepted framework for the annual FISMA mandated reviews conducted by the IGs could help ensure the consistency and usefulness of their evaluations.
Oct 9, 2020
-
Aviation Cybersecurity:
FAA Should Fully Implement Key Practices to Strengthen Its Oversight of Avionics RisksGAO-21-86: Published: Oct 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 9, 2020.
Sep 22, 2020
-
Cybersecurity:
Clarity of Leadership Urgently Needed to Fully Implement the National StrategyGAO-20-629: Published: Sep 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 22, 2020.
Sep 21, 2020
-
Information Security and Privacy:
HUD Needs a Major Effort to Protect Data Shared with External EntitiesGAO-20-431: Published: Sep 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 2020.
Sep 17, 2020
-
Critical Infrastructure Protection:
Treasury Needs to Improve Tracking of Financial Sector Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation EffortsGAO-20-631: Published: Sep 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 17, 2020.
Sep 16, 2020
-
Veterans Affairs:
VA Needs to Address Persistent IT Modernization and Cybersecurity ChallengesGAO-20-719T: Published: Sep 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 2020.
Aug 18, 2020
-
Cybersecurity:
DHS and Selected Agencies Need to Address Shortcomings in Implementation of Network Monitoring ProgramGAO-20-598: Published: Aug 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 18, 2020.
May 27, 2020
-
Cybersecurity:
Selected Federal Agencies Need to Coordinate on Requirements and Assessments of StatesGAO-20-123: Published: May 27, 2020. Publicly Released: May 27, 2020.
May 13, 2020
-
Management Report:
Improvements Are Needed to Enhance the Internal Revenue Service's Information System Security ControlsGAO-20-411R: Published: May 13, 2020. Publicly Released: May 13, 2020.
Apr 24, 2020
-
Information Security:
FCC Made Significant Progress, but Needs to Address Remaining Control Deficiencies and Improve Its ProgramGAO-20-265: Published: Mar 25, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 24, 2020.
Apr 13, 2020
-
Cybersecurity:
DOD Needs to Take Decisive Actions to Improve Cyber HygieneGAO-20-241: Published: Apr 13, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 13, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here