The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report that revealed the Department of Defense’s (DoD) neglect of cybersecurity recommendations for over a decade. The report highlights the DoD’s failure to implement basic cybersecurity measures, leaving the department vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The OIG report found that the DoD did not implement 11 out of 14 cybersecurity recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) between 2008 and 2018. These recommendations included implementing multi-factor authentication, encrypting sensitive data, and regularly updating software and hardware.
The report also found that the DoD did not prioritize cybersecurity in its budget, with only 23% of the department’s IT budget allocated to cybersecurity in 2019. This lack of funding has resulted in outdated and vulnerable systems that are easy targets for cyber criminals.
The consequences of the DoD’s neglect of cybersecurity are significant. Cyber attacks on the department could compromise national security, put military personnel at risk, and result in the theft of sensitive information. The OIG report notes that the DoD has already experienced several high-profile cyber attacks, including the 2017 breach of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) that exposed the personal information of over 200,000 individuals.
The OIG report recommends that the DoD take immediate action to address its cybersecurity shortcomings. This includes implementing all outstanding GAO recommendations, prioritizing cybersecurity in its budget, and improving its cybersecurity workforce.
The DoD has acknowledged the findings of the OIG report and has committed to taking action to improve its cybersecurity posture. In a statement, the department noted that it has already implemented several of the GAO recommendations and is working to address the remaining ones.
However, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that the DoD is adequately protected against cyber threats. Cybersecurity must be a top priority for the department, with sufficient funding and resources allocated to address the issue. Failure to do so could have serious consequences for national security and the safety of military personnel.
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- Source: https://zephyrnet.com/the-oig-takes-the-dod-to-task-for-ignoring-cybersecurity-recommendations-for-over-ten-years/