	Action Is Needed to Address Ongoing Cybersecurity and Privacy Challenges

Our work has identified the need for improvements in the federal  government’s approach to cybersecurity of its systems and those  supporting the nation’s critical infrastructures and in protecting the privacy  of PII. While previous administrations and agencies have acted to  improve the protections over the information and information systems  supporting federal operations and U.S. critical infrastructure, additional  actions are needed. Federal agencies need to effectively implement risk-based entity- wide information security programs consistently over time. Implement sustainable processes for securely configuring operating  systems, applications, workstations, servers, and network devices. Patch vulnerable systems and replace unsupported software. Develop comprehensive security test and evaluation procedures and  conduct examinations on a regular and recurring basis. Strengthen oversight of contractors providing IT services. The federal government needs to improve its cyber incident  detection, response, and mitigation capabilities. Expand capabilities, improve planning, and support wider adoption of  the government-wide intrusion detection and prevention system. Update federal guidance on reporting data breaches and develop  consistent responses to breaches of PII. In addition, the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 contains a  provision for us to study and publish a report by December 2018 on the  effectiveness of the approach and strategy of the federal government to  secure agency information systems, including the intrusion detection and  prevention capabilities and the government’s intrusion assessment plan. The federal government needs to expand its cyber workforce  planning and training efforts. Enhance efforts for recruiting and retaining a qualified cybersecurity  workforce. The federal government needs to expand efforts to strengthen  cybersecurity of the nation’s critical infrastructures. Similar to federal systems, the systems supporting critical infrastructures face an evolving  array of cyber-based threats. Develop metrics to measure and report on the effectiveness of cyber  risk mitigation activities and the cybersecurity posture of critical  infrastructure sectors. The federal government needs to better oversee protection of PII. Protect the security and privacy of electronic health information. Ensure privacy when face recognition systems are used. Protect the privacy of users’ data on state-based marketplaces. Several Recommendations Made by the Cybersecurity Commission and CSIS Are Generally Consistent with GAO’s Recommendations for Improving Cybersecurity

Recent reports by the Cybersecurity Commission and CSIS identify  topical areas and numerous recommendations for the new administration  to consider as it develops and implements cybersecurity strategy and  policy. In its study, the Commission focused on 10 cybersecurity topics  including international issues, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity  research and development, cybersecurity workforce, and the Internet of  Things. Nevertheless, several of our recommendations are generally  consistent with or similar to recommendations made by the Commission  and CSIS in the following areas:  International cybersecurity strategy. Protecting cyber critical infrastructure. Promoting Use of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Specifically,  federal agencies need to address control deficiencies and fully implement  organization-wide information security programs, cyber incident response  and mitigation efforts needs to be improved across the government,  maintaining a qualified cybersecurity workforce needs to be a priority,  efforts to bolster the cybersecurity of the nation’s critical infrastructure  needs to be strengthened, and the privacy of PII needs to be better  protected.
Why GAO Did This Study

Cyber-based intrusions and attacks on federal systems and systems supporting our nation's critical infrastructure, such as communications and financial services, are evolving and becoming more sophisticated. GAO first designated information security as a government-wide high-risk area in 1997. This was expanded to include the protection of cyber critical infrastructure in 2003 and protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information in 2015.
This statement (1) provides an overview of GAO's work related to cybersecurity of the federal government and the nation's critical infrastructure and (2) identifies areas of consistency between GAO recommendations and those recently made by the Cybersecurity Commission and CSIS. In preparing this statement, GAO relied on previously published work and its review of the two recent reports issued by the Commission and CSIS.

What GAO Found

GAO has consistently identified shortcomings in the federal government's approach to ensuring the security of federal information systems and cyber critical infrastructure as well as its approach to protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information (PII). While previous administrations and agencies have acted to improve the protections over federal and critical infrastructure information and information systems, the federal government needs to take the following actions to strengthen U.S. cybersecurity:
Effectively implement risk-based entity-wide information security programs consistently over time . Among other things, agencies need to (1) implement sustainable processes for securely configuring operating systems, applications, workstations, servers, and network devices; (2) patch vulnerable systems and replace unsupported software; (3) develop comprehensive security test and evaluation procedures and conduct examinations on a regular and recurring basis; and (4) strengthen oversight of contractors providing IT services.
Improve its cyber incident detection, response, and mitigation capabilities . The Department of Homeland Security needs to expand the capabilities and support wider adoption of its government-wide intrusion detection and prevention system. In addition, the federal government needs to improve cyber incident response practices, update guidance on reporting data breaches, and develop consistent responses to breaches of PII.
Expand its cyber workforce planning and training efforts . The federal government needs to (1) enhance efforts for recruiting and retaining a qualified cybersecurity workforce and (2) improve cybersecurity workforce planning activities.
Expand efforts to strengthen cybersecurity of the nation's critical infrastructures . The federal government needs to develop metrics to (1) assess the effectiveness of efforts promoting the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity and (2) measure and report on effectiveness of cyber risk mitigation activities and the cybersecurity posture of critical infrastructure sectors.
Better oversee protection of personally identifiable information . The federal government needs to (1) protect the security and privacy of electronic health information, (2) ensure privacy when face recognition systems are used, and (3) protect the privacy of users' data on state-based health insurance marketplaces.
Several recommendations made by the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (Cybersecurity Commission) and the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) are generally consistent with or similar to GAO's recommendations in several areas including: establishing an international cybersecurity strategy, protecting cyber critical infrastructure, promoting use of the NIST cybersecurity framework, prioritizing cybersecurity research, and expanding cybersecurity workforces.

What GAO Recommends

Over the past several years, GAO has made about 2,500 recommendations to federal agencies to enhance their information security programs and controls. As of February 2017, about 1,000 recommendations had not been implemented.