Why do you remember who posts what and when? Why would you go and look up her old post? AND...

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REMEMBER WHEN THIS STORY BROKE? Finally, somebody is dealing with the issue. Check this out!

http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/41035-1.html

VA IT security gaps extend to contractors
06/14/06 -- 04:15 PM
By Mary Mosquera,

Rep. Buyer: Department CIO needs IT security enforcement authority
 
[b]The Veterans Affairs Department said today that it has been investigating allegations that an offshore medical transcription subcontractor last year threatened to expose 30,000 veterans’ electronic health records on the Internet in a payment dispute with a VA contractor. [/b]
The VA assistant inspector general referred to the investigation during questioning in a congressional hearing on VA’s data security environment in the wake of the theft of sensitive data of 26.5 million veterans, active duty military and reserves officers.

The medical transcription incident highlights how gaps in information security also extend to contractors, said Michael Staley, VA’s assistant inspector general for auditing. Some VA medical transcription contractors have used offshore subcontractors in India and Pakistan without VA’s approval and without adequate controls to ensure veterans’ health information was secure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, according to an audit released today.

“Contracts do not specify criteria for how to protect information,” Staley told the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Staley enumerated audits of information management security under the Federal Information Security Management Act, the Consolidated Financial Statement and Combined Assessment Program that revealed significant vulnerabilities. These include VA not controlling and monitoring employee access, not restricting users to only the data they need and not terminating accounts of departing employees in a timely manner.

In last year’s FISMA review, the IG provided 16 recommendations, including addressing security vulnerabilities of unauthorized access and misuse of sensitive information and data throughout VA demonstrated during its field testing. All 16 recommendations remain open, he said.

Audits also found instances where out-based employees send veterans’ medical information to the VA regional office through unencrypted e-mail; monitoring remote network access and usage does not routinely occur; and off-duty users’ access to VA computer systems and sensitive information is not restricted.

“VA has implemented some recommendations for specific locations identified but has not made corrections VA-wide,” he said.

From fiscal years 2000 to 2005, the IG identified IT and security deficiencies in 141, or 78 percent, of 181 Veterans Health Administration facilities reviewed, and 37, or 67 percent, of the 55 Veterans Benefits Administration facilities reviewed.

“We recommended that VA pursue a more centralized approach, apply appropriate resources and establish a clear chain of command and accountability structure to implement and enforce IT internal controls,” Staley said.

The underlying situation is the VA’s department CIO does not have authority to enforce compliance with data security and information management and recommendations from GAO, said Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.).

Buyer traced problems in security enforcement to a memo dated April 2004 from the general counsel that said the department CIO did not have enforcement authority.

The CIO, undersecretaries who lead VA’s benefits, health and burial administrations, and the VA secretary share responsibility for enforcement, said Gregory Wilshusen, director of information security issues for the Government Accountability Office.

“Information security is a governmentwide problem, and we have talked with OMB about that,” said Linda Koontz, director of GAO’s information management issues.

Buyer expressed frustration that there are no consequences for “recalcitrant” agencies that do not correct problems that GAO has repeatedly highlighted. He cited the Privacy Act, which has been strengthened with consequences.

“If you have a bureaucracy so strong in the department that the secretary or political bodies are unable to act, don’t you think the president or vice president or OMB needs to know that because there are monetary consequences behind that inaction? I’m bothered that GAO doesn’t have the higher authority to which they can turn,” Buyer said after the hearing.

After several more hearings this month, Buyer and his committee will make recommendations or craft legislation. He suggested that Congress consider looking at strengthening FISMA.

“We can even come up with that in our language, but we’re not going to have jurisdiction over that. We’ll have to work with Mr. Davis [House Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.)] and his committee. I’d be more than happy to do that,” he said.

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Nobody even knows what you're talking about with hatred.  I don't see any hateful posts here.

science is a GOOD thing :) If anything, the ultimate gift of God. IMO

(shuttin up now)

I probably found out about it at night, when the newspaper arrived. It didn't phase me at all.  

In terms of my age at the time ... 27.

As a child;

Movies were 50 cents. We went at least every weekend...

We got cable TV...wow, more than 3 or 4 channels!

Our first VCR had a remote...with a cord running across the floor!

As a teenager;

Let me just say...leg warmers!

Big hair!

Wham! Boy George! Flock of Seagulls...

Those were the days...

When we waited for guys to call us now girls ask guys out (I have two daughters).  When you would not be stuck with one guy and would go out with several. When College was an option because jobs were more plentiful. Now College is a must.   When TV had the good shows like Different Strokes, Facts of Life Etc, when Kenny Rogers was as hot as Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney.  When TV was a little more sensored than it is now.  When there was more little corner stores and not a variety of  supermarkets.  When you only had one brand to choose at the store and not a million.   When Sundays were a day of rest and not work(stores were closed).  The only time you could get donuts was on Sundays at the corner stores. 

Milk used to come in glass bottles with cardboard tops. Bread was wrapped in waxed paper with a label on each end.  Kids had to be inside as soon as the street lights when on.  Everyone ate dinner together, and you had to ask to be excused from the dinner table.  All 3 of us kids waited in the back seat of the car while mom did grocery shopping, and we actually believed she could see us.

As a teen I remember city buses took us everywhere, or we walked.  I remember bleeding madras shirt, tight cut-off kakhi-colored jeans (but I'm not sure kakhi was a word then), boys with bleached blonde surfer haircuts, and penny loafers without socks.  I remember circle pins, letter sweaters, and Aqua-Net. 

Thanks, fun!

were you were only four days ago.  You posted on this board "bawling your eyes out" and having no idea what to do.  I am very happy for you, please understand that.  But I have been where you are right now.  I am not trying to dampen your spirits or get you down, I'm just trying to give you a little bit of reality.  I didn't respond to your original post because I felt that you had enough people putting their two cents in.  I left my husband over four years ago.  It took a lot of courage and it was a very scary thing to do.  He was a very emotionally abusive man who had taken away every ounce of self-esteem I had.  But I got me and my son out. 

I do want you to be happy and excited about the steps you are taking, but I don't want you to forget where you were just a few short days ago.  It is very easy to fall back into the same old routine.  I heard many, many promises from my ex, and I stayed with him only for things to always go back to the terrible.  If you hang on to where you just came from, you won't allow yourself to go back there again.

Good luck.

I was married for 13 years and we never left the offspring with a babysitter (husband=European)

..and so I read somewhere WAY BACK THEN.....that if he doesn't want to leave the kids with a babysitter, you make plans with your friends and STILL GO out with them.....the article indicated that while the husband may not be happy with that, he will respect you.

I divorced him after 13 years of his CONTROLLING passive-aggressive ways....the fact that his things were always more important than our things...me being an equalist.  I want a man in my life, not in my house full time.  I will NEVER marry again by choice.  *lol*  Joni Mitchell (singer back in the 1970s) once sang a line "We love our lovin, but not like we love our FREEDOM!!!!!"

So you go on out and have a GREAT time and DON'T FEEL GUILTY......you deserve time on your own away from everyone at home.  I don't even know you and can tell you that with CERTAINTY!!

ENJOY YOUR EVENING.....and hopefully you won't come home to the THIRD DEGREE (questions).  *LOL*