Federal Cybersecurity Workforce: A Comedy of Errors in Data Management!
The US federal government employs tens of thousands of cybersecurity professionals at a cost of billions per year—or at least it thinks it does. Auditors found the figures incomplete and unreliable, making it a cyber guessing game worthy of a sitcom. The GAO is not amused, but the data’s comedic timing is impeccable.
Hot Take:
Seems like the US government’s cybersecurity workforce data is about as reliable as a weather forecast from a fortune cookie. With incomplete records and questionable accounting, it looks like the only thing secure is the chaos. Maybe they should try turning it off and on again?
Key Points:
– The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the data on federal cybersecurity employees is incomplete and unreliable.
– There are reportedly over 63,934 full-time federal cybersecurity employees, costing $9.3 billion annually, alongside 4,151 contractors costing $5.2 billion.
– Most agencies lack quality information and standardized practices for identifying cybersecurity workforce members.
– The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) is criticized for poor guidance and lack of action on data quality improvements.
– The GAO recommended four actions to improve data accuracy and workforce effectiveness, but ONCD’s response was non-committal.