The state of Washington has good cyber security standards, but state agencies don’t always adhere to those standards, according to the findings of a performance audit released Monday.
Cyber security has emerged as a leading threat to the U.S government and corporate America. Sony Pictures is the latest high-profile victim, but state and local governments are also potential targets.
A new performance audit by the Washington State Auditor’s Office found areas of “non-compliance” and “security weakness.” Five state agencies were assessed for their hacking vulnerability. Holes in the state’s cyber security blanket include inadequate use of encryption and a failure to store backup data at offsite locations.
Overall, the audit praises Washington’s cyber security standards, but also says there’s a need for better monitoring and oversight of compliance.
