The Government Accountability Office has found that the Department of Homeland Security implemented multiple initiatives to protect federal systems from cyber intrusions and attacks.
GAO said in a report published Tuesday that DHS introduced the National Cybersecurity Protection System in a move to detect and mitigate malicious network traffic.
DHS also runs a continuous diagnostics and mitigation program to provide agencies with tools designed to identify potential cyber vulnerabilities within a network as well as evaluate and correlate security information and automate network monitoring tasks.
The department also offers CyberStat reviews, monthly operational bulletins and cyber exercises designed to help agencies secure federal systems.
GAO recommended that DHS expand the NCPS’Â capacity to detect cyber attacks, notify clients of potential incidents, offer analytic services and disseminate cyber information among agencies.
The congressional watchdog said that the implementation of the CDM program can address cybersecurity vulnerabilities that may expose agency information systems to evolving threats.
“As recent cyberattacks have illustrated, the need for robust and effective cybersecurity has never been greater,” said Gregory Wilshusen, GAO director of information security issues.
Wilshusen added that GAO report utilized information from DHS on actions conducted in response to previous recommendations.
