Computer Security Lacking at Homeland Security

peter303 writes "The New York Times (reg. required) reports that computer backup procedures are woefully inadequate at 19 centers of the Department of Homeland Security. Should this agency strive to be good example for the rest of the country and protect against extreme hackers? " From the article: "Adequate backups were lacking for networks that screen airline passengers, that inspect goods moving across borders and that communicate with department employees and outside officials. Those same agencies, the auditors found, have in most cases failed to prepare sufficiently written disaster recovery plans that would guide operations if a main office or computer system was knocked out."

Comments

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[DotNM]

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Re:WTF? Backups and DR equate to 'security?'

[fuzzybunny]

Backups are part of an overall security strategy, comprising, to use a well-worn phrase, confidentiality, integrity and availability. In a broad sense, you can apply this to DHS' "mission" (such as it is) as well. And yes, a DR plan, especially for an organization which is supposedly so "critical" to the nation's safety, is part of the whole shebang.

What's this have to do with HIPAA?

Re:What do backups have to do with security?

[Bob 4knee]

Security is normally considered to have 3 aspects. Secrecy (or confidentiality), integrity, and availability. (Use the mnenomic "CIA" to remember the three components). While secrecy is (sometimes) important, it is just one part of security.