House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Democrat Responds to Cyber Security Industry Alliance Report

Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D- MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today expressed concern about the federal government's continued failure to meet its cybersecurity protection responsibilities.
Congressman Thompson's comments were in response to the Cyber Security Industry Alliance's (CSIA) report, "National Agenda for Government Action on Information Security," released today that gives the government low or failing marks in several key areas of cybersecurity protection.
The Department of Homeland Security received a "C" grade for failing to fill the Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity position Secretary Michael Chertoff said the agency was creating as part of the Second Stage Review six months ago. The Department only agreed to create such a position after legislation was introduced both last Congress and this Congress by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Mac Thornberry (R-TX).
"Where is the government's leadership on cybersecurity? How long will the nation have to wait? I, for one, hope Mr. Chertoff doesn't wait until a cyber attack causes billions of dollars in damages or results in lost lives before he decides to appoint an Assistant Secretary to take charge of our nation's cyber crisis."
Some of the lowest grades CSIA gave include "D"s' for the government's general inaction in improving information sharing between the public and private sectors and failure to promote information security corporate governance in the private sector. The government also received a "D" grade for delaying federally led efforts to track potential costs of cyber attacks to U.S. businesses.
The need to track costs is important to help businesses build a business case for increasing cybersecurity spending and help insurance companies develop more comprehensive and less costly cyber risk insurance policies. This information would also provide the government with a comprehensive overview of the damage a cyber attack could cause. The federal government is in a unique position to take a leadership role in this effort, but so far no agency has been placed in charge of this issue.
A separate CSIA survey found that 65 percent of adults believe that the government needs to give higher priority to protecting the nation's information systems and networks.
"Congress, the private sector, academia, and the public all understand that America is dependent on interconnected networks -- whether in our homes, our workplaces, or in our pipelines, electric grids, and dams. It is about time that the Department and this Administration understood this and took action."

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