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

my opinion

[BigHungryJoe]

As a rather well-known cyber-security consultant (you'd know my $450/hr name, I guarantee it) at Foundstone, I can tell you what the problem is - the lack of a comprehensive, rehearsed disaster recovery plan. It really isn't that hard, to implement it correctly, I always recommend this (clients are always amazed by its brilliance and simplicity) - every night, copy all of your company's critical data to a CD, and have EACH EMPLOYEE TAKE HOME A COPY.

Bam - that pops, it sizzles, as we say in the consulting biz. Simple yet EXTREMELY effective.

Now, if you want anymore advice, its gonna cost ya - ($450/hr)