Feds Failing File Transfer Test
Federal agencies are concerned about securely moving data from one system to another, but employees still are using unsafe transfer methods and leaving systems open to threats, according to a new <a href=http://www.meritalk.com/2010-ftpsecurityreport.php>survey</a>[registration required] from Meritalk and Axway, a security solutions provider.
Federal agencies are concerned about securely moving data from one system to another, but employees still are using unsafe transfer methods and leaving systems open to threats, according to a new survey[registration required] from Meritalk and Axway, a security solutions provider. Meritalk is a social networking site that is operated by O'Keeffe and Company, a public relations firm that represents federal information technology companies.
The report, released on Monday, found that two-thirds of federal employees use CDs, USB drives and other physical devices to transfer files, and 60 percent use their email accounts. While 80 percent of agencies say their file transfer policies, which help prevent security breaches, are sufficient, only 58 percent of agencies report that employees are aware of those protocols.
Survey respondents said that supportive and knowledgeable management is critical to effective enforcement of security policies. Governmentwide standards and an educated workforce also are important, they said.