According to the report, a software malfunction, a virus, a natural disaster, etc., could cause an Internet disruption, and while federal laws and regulations provide broad guidance that applies to the Internet, it is not clear how useful these authorities would be in helping to recover from a major disruption.
GAO cited several key challenges to establishing a recovery plan including the fact that many diffuse networks make up the Internet and many components are privately owned, a lack of consensus as to when DHS should involve itself in responding to a disruption, legal issues concerning DHS’s authority to assist in restoring Internet service, reluctance on the part of the private sector to share information on Internet disruptions, as well as leadership and organizational uncertainties within DHS.
While the department has started a variety of initiatives to fulfill its responsibility to develop an integrated response plan, its efforts are not complete or comprehensive, GAO said.
It said that DHS has developed high-level plans for infrastructure protection and incident response, but that the components of these plans that address the Internet infrastructure are not complete.
Download FREE from FEDweek
—————————
Weathering the Storm:
———————
Your Guide to Financial Survival
During Times of Terror Computer Attacks
Natural Disasters
Pandemics and Other Crises!
———————-
This FREE Download is Available to All Federal Employees.
Go to https://www.fedweek.com and you’ll find it toward the bottom of the home page.
Go to https://www.fedweek.com now! Please Pass this Along to Your Colleagues.