Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Government: Federal, State and Local

Federal Cybersecurity Continues to Struggle

cyber_enews
July 18, 2016

Despite repeated high-profile breaches, federal government continues to struggle with its job of keeping personal data and public infrastructure safe.

 

According to The State of Cybersecurity from the Federal Cyber Executive Perspective report by KPMG and the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, 59 percent of federal workers say their agencies struggle to understand how cyber attackers could potentially breach their systems, while 40 percent said they were unaware where their key assets were located. About 65 percent said the federal government as a whole cannot detect ongoing cyber attacks.

Last year’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach that aired the personal information of at least 22.1 million people led to an effort OPM called a “Cybersecurity Sprint,” a 30-day effort to rectify the shortcomings that allowed the breach to happen in the first place. Despite that effort and the fallout from the breach itself, more than half of survey respondents disagreed that the “sprint” initiative improved security overall. A quarter of respondents said their agencies did nothing to respond to the OPM breach.

This is a frustrating time for chief information security officers, Hubbard said, because it’s often not made clear who is accountable when something goes wrong. And if someone will be held accountable, he said they may not be given the resources needed to do their job properly. What’s worse, government organizations as a whole do not fulfill their responsibilities to prevent security incidents. 

Many within government do not even acknowledge the importance of cybersecurity.

Of the IT personnel surveyed, only 8 percent said cybersecurity was unimportant or very unimportant. But in human resources, that number was 39 percent; in purchasing and procurement that number was 41 percent; and in communications and public relations it was 48 percent. When a half to one-third of an organization will not even acknowledge a problem that everyone is responsible for, how will government ever be able to solve this problem?, Hubbard asked.

Possible solutions, the report said, include increased training within government, increased cybersecurity training at the university level to catch people before they enter the workforce, and a new incoming federal CISO who can empower and hold the right people accountable. The report concludes by saying that the fight against cyberthreats is not a sprint, but an everlasting marathon.

KEYWORDS: cyber security federal government security solutions by sector

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Enterprise Services
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Technologies & Solutions
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Coding

AI Emerges as the Top Concern for Security Leaders

Half open laptop

“Luigi Was Right”: A Look at the Website Sharing Data on More Than 1,000 Executives

Shopping mall

Victoria’s Secret Security Incident Shuts Down Website

Laptop with coding on ground

Stepping Into the Light: Why CISOs Are Replacing Black-Box Security With Open-Source XDR

Gift cards and credit cards

Why Are Cyberattacks Targeting Retail? Experts Share Their Thoughts

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

June 24, 2025

Inside a Modern GSOC: How Anthropic Benchmarks Risk Detection Tools for Speed and Accuracy

For today's security teams, making informed decisions in the first moments of a crisis is critical.

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

From animal habitats to bustling crowds of visitors, a zoo is a one-of-a-kind environment for deploying modern security technologies.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Office with blue walls, wooden table, and white chairs

    48% of professionals struggle to keep up with cybersecurity threats

    See More
  • Security newswire default

    Congress Votes to Create Federal Cybersecurity Agency

    See More
  • cyber 2 responsive default

    Federal Government Agencies Using Big Data Analytics to Cut Cybersecurity Breaches

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • into to sec.jpg

    Introduction to Security, 10th Edition

  • facility manager.jpg

    The Facility Manager's Guide to Safety and Security

  • The-Complete-Guide-to-Physi.gif

    The Complete Guide to Physical Security

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • September 3, 2024

    From DDoS Protection to WAAP: How Layered Protection Enhances Your Cybersecurity Strategy

    ON DEMAND: By participating in the webinar, attendees will gain enhanced knowledge of cyber threats and understand the current spectrum of cyber threats facing businesses.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing