Cyberattack Concerns High

A survey of federal IT officials published on Tuesday by a computer security firm reports that a third of respondents in agencies tied to national security experienced a cyberattack by a foreign nation or terrorist organization over the last year.

Nearly three-quarters of the 72 respondents who work in national defense and security departments or agencies also said the possibility is "high" for a cyberattack by a foreign nation in the next year, according to officials at Lumension Security, the data protection firm that sponsored the study. Thirty-three percent of those respondents said they already have experienced such a cyberattack within the last year.

But more than half of the total 201 total respondents from security and non-security agencies expect the recent appointment of a federal cybersecurity coordinator will produce only minor policy changes.

"Unfortunately, when it comes to our infrastructure, we are already under attack and are faced with the reality of a growing and advanced persistent threat from foreign entities that are targeting our critical U.S. infrastructure," Pat Clawson, Lumension's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "The traditional government responses we've seen so far, such as naming a security coordinator, announcing a cybersecurity initiative and focusing on compliance initiatives will not alone successfully address this problem."

Meanwhile, House lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would mandate the creation of a cybersecurity director as a permanent position.

Clarus Research Group conducted the study in late February on behalf of Lumension Security.