Yesterday I mentioned that 26 million veterans (probably including myself) have had their personal data stolen. Today, the Washington Post reports that this should come as no surprise.
In 2005, Veterans Affairs earned an F on the annual federal computer security report card compiled by Davis’s committee, the same grade it has received every year but one since the scorecard began in 2001. (It got a C in 2003.) The government-wide average for 2005 was a D-plus, but there were wide variations — the Social Security Administration got an A-plus, while the departments of Defense and Homeland Security earned F’s.
Hey, it’s government. Lowest common denominator is the rule of thumb.
How could security be improved? Less red tape. Less middle management. Competitive salaries for technicians and network engineers who actually plan and implement security.