Stephen Warren, chief information officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said keeping the security of the agency’s information systems updated and resilient should remain a key priority for the government, GovInfoSecurity.com reported Monday.
Marianne Kolbasuk McGee writes that a scenario where the public stops using online government systems and services over fears of a data leak, identity theft or fraud is a top cyberscurity concern for the VA CIO.
“I think we are coming into a pretty critical time period,” Warren was quoted as saying at a recent VA media briefing.
“If the public loses confidence in whether they can safely do… digital commerce, we’ve got a serious problem because it’s been an engine of innovation and change.â€
Warren indicated that the VA has programs and resources directed toward increasing veteran awareness, although only a small percentage avail of the service.
According to GovInfo Security, the department has also ramped up desktop and laptop encryption, medical device access control and cyber defense efforts in recent years.
“We have to keep doing more, and that’s what we do—we don’t rest on our laurels,” Warren told reporters.
“The threat environment keeps increasing, the sophistication of the threats keep growing.â€
