VA seeks security support
Department releases RFI for ways to enhance its ability to prevent and respond to cyberattacks
The Department of Veterans Affairs is asking industry for ways to enhance the department's ability to prevent and respond to cyberattacks.
The VA is asking for responses by Dec. 4 on a request for information for commercial services to support its Computer Incident Response Capability (VA-CIRC).
The RFI, released Nov. 20, seeks security support across the entire VA network — in the United States and overseas — to ensure that the department can "provide veteran services in a way that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of private information."
The department created VA-CIRC in early 2000. However, later that year, Congress and the General Accounting Office cited the VA's poor security, so in March 2001, the department hired Bruce Brody as the associate deputy assistant secretary for cybersecurity.
In addition to incident detection and response services, VA-CIRC is intended to help the VA's chief information officer determine the appropriate levels of security for VA systems, help implement solutions and help the Office of Cyber Security develop security awareness programs for agency employees.
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