New directive addresses vulnerabilities and flaws.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued the first of its kind directive ordering federal agencies to fix hundreds of vulnerabilities in software and hardware that hackers have been known to exploit. Aging computer systems are among the vulnerabilities to cyber threats in the federal government’s technology.
The new directive includes a list of vulnerabilities “that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise” with technical specifics that agency leaders are required to review and address within 60 days. Some areas will require a more immediate fix according to CISA.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “Cybersecurity threats are among the greatest challenges facing our Nation. Organizations of all sizes, including the federal government, must protect against malicious cyber actors who seek to infiltrate our systems, compromise our data, and endanger American lives.”
The new directive aims to address hacker strategy by restructuring its classifications for vulnerabilities and establishing a working catalog of flaws that need to be addressed. The directives do not apply to the Department of Defense or U.S. intelligence agencies.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- That the new directive will significantly improve the federal government’s vulnerability management practices.
- For officials overseeing systems upgrades to be successful in preventing attacks by hackers.
- For the president and his advisors as they endeavor to implement security practices to keep pace with technology changes.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, ABC News
