Federal Government Information Technology

Shutdowns mean the government keeps using old hardware and software... and that's bad for security

Fifth Domain: Most federal agencies continue to experience weaknesses in protecting their information and information systems. Given the security vulnerabilities facing the federal government, it is important to ask 1) How much should we invest in cybersecurity programs? and 2) Perhaps more importantly, what should we spend it on?

“We have had a train wreck coming,” former NSA director Mike McConnell said in a New York Times article examining the aftershocks of the agency’s recent security breach. The greater emphasis on cybersecurity in the FY 2018 federal budget means that more than $20 billion in unclassified cyber program investments is hanging in the balance according to the Taxpayers for Common Sense. Therefore, answering the question of how much and where to invest involves a critical resource allocation decision for each agency. Finding the optimal level of investment in cybersecurity will be key.

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