President Obama has signed an executive order designed to increase control over classified information on computer networks, brought on by the disclosure of government documents by WikiLeaks in recent months.
The order directs the heads of agencies that operate or access classified networks to:
Designate a senior official to be in charge of overseeing classified information sharing and information safeguarding efforts for the agency;
Implement an insider threat detection and prevention program;
Perform self-assessments of compliance with policies and standards set forth in the order, and report on them annually to a senior information sharing and safeguarding steering committee;
Provide information and access to enable independent assessments by an executive agent for safeguarding classified information on computer networks and the new insider threat task force;
Detail or assign staff as appropriate and necessary to the information safeguarding office and task force on an ongoing basis.
