Hide the Report Card: Homeland Security's Mediocre Performance

by Jordan Yerman | April 13, 2007 at 01:35 pm

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Back in high school, whenever I brought home a C- in math I would be proud-- proud that I had dragged myself up from a D-. My folks, on the other hand, reacted with somewhat muted enthusiasm. Such should be the case here.

Information security procedures in federal government have improved, albeit modestly. An annual computer security report card on 24 federal agencies released Thursday rated average security at "C-minus for 2006 compared to D+ in 2005.

So instead of been sent to bed without their pork supper, Federal IT managers have earned a pat on the head, if not a generous end of term present. The scores are based on reports submitted in response to the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA).

Perennial security underachievers the US Department of Homeland Security received its first-ever non-failing grade, managing to pull its performance up from an F to a D, the first time since the scheme began in 2003 that it didn't flunk.

The Department of HomeLand Security's shocking track record should give surveillance enthusiasts pause: remember that the more info these guys have, the more info they can mismanage.

Do you feel safer?