VA gives CIO IT security authority

 

Connecting state and local government leaders

Veterans Affairs secretary James Nicholson has given the VA CIO broad authority over information security policies and procedures, including enforcement, effective immediately.

Veterans Affairs secretary James Nicholson has given the VA CIO broad authority over information security policies and procedures, including enforcement, effective immediately.

Previously, the CIO did not have that authority; the CIO could only seek compliance from the heads of VA's health, benefits and burial administrations.

Congress and security experts have cited VA's decentralization as a major factor in VA's failing grade on the annual report card for adherence to the Federal Information Security Management Act and a contributing factor in the recent theft of sensitive data of up to 26.5 million veterans and others.

Nicholson announced yesterday at a hearing of the Veterans Affairs Committee that the stolen laptop and hard drive containing the data were , and added that he was optimistic that the culprits did not access the sensitive data.

House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) praised Nicholson for his action, saying that at times he has not been well-served by others.

'I commend you for taking bold action to change the culture at VA and definitively granting [the] CIO the authority to manage and enforce VA's information systems,' he said

'I have been paying close attention to these hearings,' Nicholson told the committee.

Among the provisions in the VA directive dated Wednesday, the CIO has authority to require key officials to report on actions taken in response to any compliance failure or policy violation. The CIO also will bring background investigations on employees and contractors, and determination of risk and sensitivity levels of employee position descriptions into compliance with the security regulations.

VA's general counsel last week told lawmakers it was his
legal opinion that FISMA did not require that the department CIO have authority over IT enforcement, only that the CIO could ensure compliance. The secretary had ultimate authority, and he could delegate that authority.

VA has begun implementing a federated model of centralizing the IT structure. The department CIO has authority over IT operations and maintenance, and the IT employees associated with that. VA's benefits, health and burial administrations will retain authority over IT development and those employees. The House last year passed legislation that would centralize all IT authority under the department CIO.

Nicholson also has established a program that will strengthen internal controls and establish enforcement mechanisms. VA is about to complete its assessment of existing security conditions, he said.

He has directed that all sensitive VA data be kept on VA equipment, such as laptops. Previously, many employees had used their own personal computers to conduct VA business. VA will determine who has been doing that, and why, and will issue guidance related to it.

Nicholson said that out of this bad situation he hopes to make VA a model for data security.

'I believe we can craft a structure that will be the gold standard for the government, much as the VA's vaunted electronic medical records and health care system are being held up as a standard to be emulated,' he said.

First, he plans to correct the deficiencies the inspector general has noted in the past and raise VA's FISMA's failing grade.

He also proposed that Congress legislate criminal penalties and fines for the misuse of sensitive personal information similar to those under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for intentional misuse of health information for private gain.

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.