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By: FEDweek StaffThe central council of agency inspectors general has said that reports from its members show a common theme of management challenges in a half-dozen areas, with information technology security and management remaining “the top identified challenge by far.”
That is a “long-standing, serious, and ubiquitous challenge for federal agencies across the government because agencies depend on reliable and secure IT systems to perform their mission-critical functions. The security and management of government IT systems remain challenges due to significant impediments faced by federal agencies, including resource constraints and a shortage of cybersecurity professionals,” the council said it its annual report for fiscal 2021.
“Key areas of concern are safeguarding sensitive data and information systems, networks, and assets against cyber-attacks and insider threats; modernizing and managing federal IT systems; ensuring continuity of operations; and recruiting and retaining a highly-skilled cybersecurity workforce,” it said.
Maintaining cybersecurity in a high-telework environment was mentioned as a particular focus, for example citing a review of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency raising concerns about topics ranging from hardware and software security configuration requirements to consistently performing anti-phishing exercises.
The annual report added that during 2021 IGs collectively identified $75 billion in potential savings but that more than 13,000 recommendations to agencies remained open.
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