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Where Was The Sense Of Urgency After The VA Theft?
Chris Crum
Staff Writer
2006-07-12
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You've probably read something about the laptop stolen from the department of Veterans Affairs back in May.
An employee took it home and the laptop, which contained the Social Security numbers and other personal info of nearly 26.5 million people, was stolen when the employee's home was burglarized. The laptop was eventually recovered.
The Department is still taking some heat on the matter. A report was released yesterday pointing a finger at VA supervisors for not displaying a good enough sense of urgency following the theft.
VA Inspector General George J. Opfer is holding them accountable. The Washington Post reports:
In a 68-page report, VA Inspector General George J. Opfer recommended that VA Secretary Jim Nicholson "take whatever administrative action deemed appropriate" to punish officials who were slow to report and investigate the May 3 theft of a laptop computer and an external hard drive from the analyst's Aspen Hill home.
Opfer wrote that new security measures since the theft are "a positive step" but are inadequate. Nicholson should establish "one clear, concise VA policy on safeguarding protected information," he wrote.
The report came on the heels of an investigation that lasted almost two months. The guy who took the laptop home has been fired.
Tags: veterans affairs
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About the Author:
Chris Crum is a staff writer for SecurityProNews and WebProNews.
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