IT security still a challenge

Federal IT security improvements are coming too slowly, lawmakers said at a June 24 hearing of the House Government Reform subcommittee on technology, information policy, intergovernmental relations and the census.

"There is very little indication that anyone takes the threat seriously," said Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., chairman of the subcommittee.

Agency executives said progress is being made, but the focus on security is new.

"IT security was simply not on the radar screen" before the Government Information Security Reform Act [of 2000], said Commerce Department Inspector General Johnnie Frazier.