Category Archives: government data breach

Voting Data Base Hacks. 3 States Working with Federal Government to Protect Election Results

Add Kansas to the list of states working with the FBI to protect state voting machines from hackers.

Other states seeking federal protection for voting machines:

  • Illinois
  • Arizona
  • Kansas
  • North Carolina

Governing | Kansas Works With Feds to Protect Elections From Hackers

Governing | North Carolina Asks Feds to Assess Its Elections Cybersecurity

 

Hacking Voting Machines. 4 key Pieces of Informed Intel.

Why are voting machines an easy target for hackers? Most voting machines operate on Windows XP, which has not had a security patch from Microsoft since 2014

A hack isn’t the only way to cause voting chaos? Slowing the machines down can be enough to turn people away from the polls

Is this a real, existing problem? Yes, it is. “Virginia decertified thousands of insecure WinVote machines”

The best way to control for electronic voting machine intereference? Auditing the vote. 

Wired…

Pensions & Data Security. 6 Issues Identified.

  • Performing due diligence on all data and security protocols when selecting and monitoring vendors;

  • Developing privacy provisions for contracts with TPAs and other service providers over and above standard confidentiality agreements;

  • Limiting access to sensitive information to necessary personnel;

  • Training personnel on the law and the fiduciary responsibilities;

  • Developing written policies and procedures detailing for personnel the applicable state and federal…

INTERIM. LegeTrend: State Moves to Cloud Computing. Data Security. New Procurement Opportunities.

Your informed intel:

Which state is making a move to cloud computing that is triggering data security issues and new procurement opportunities? Arizona

What procurement opportunities does the move trigger? 

  • Opportunities for cloud based computing storage
  • Opportunities for data security firms

Which data security standards will be required? All new procurement contracts and state data centers will have to meet standards contained in:

  •  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability…

INTERIM. Health Care Data Security Bill. 4 Takeaways.

What 4 Ways does the Health & Human Services Data Protection Act protect health care data?

  • Creates the  Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) within HHS
  • Creates a data protection arrangement between the new CISO, the HHS General Counsel, & the HHS CIO
  • Keeps information technology & information security separate to ensure the highest level of security
  • Incentivizes better security to protect health care data

Health IT Security | Healthcare Cybersecurity Bill Introduced…

Poll: 54% Trust Tech Companies More Than Government

A poll commissioned by The App Association reveals a distrust of government on data security issues.

The informed intel:

  • 54% trust tech companies to secure their personal information
  • 21% trust the government to secure their personal information
  • 7 in 10 believe hacking is increasing

The Hill | Poll: Voters trust tech companies ahead of FBI on data security

INTERIM. Lege Trend: Data Security by Modernizing Government Computer Systems. 4 Key Informed Intel + Procurement.

Which legislative body is considering data security from the angle of improving existing computer infrastructure in government? Congress

What’s the cost associated with modernizing government computers? $ 3.1 Billion.

Bonjour procurement opportunities.

What’s the argument supporting infrastructure investment? “If we do not invest in our technology and cybersecurity now, we will have no one to blame for the next data breach but ourselves,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)

How will the…

INTERIM. Millions in Costs for Data Breach in Dallas County

When did Dallas County have a data breach? In December 2015, it came to light that Dallas County had left personally identifiable information from 10s of 1000s accessible online for more than a decade.

How much does an average data breech cost to remediate? $80 per record. If it exposed 50,000 records that is a $4 million remediation minimum.

How does the remediation cost cover for Dallas County?

  • information technology experts to investigate, repair, and secure data (Procurement…

West Coast State New Data Security Agency. Key Informed Intel. Read the Legislation. Find Procurement Opportunities for Texas.

  • The Bill creating the Washington State’s new Office of Privacy and Data Protection: Washington State House Bill 2875
  • What will be the purpose of the new Office of Privacy & Data Protection?
    • ​Determine what information state agencies are collecting
      • Do we know in Texas? No
    • Work with agencies to reduce the amount of consumer data being collected
    • Monitor & assist wit citizen complaints
    • Annual privacy review of state data collection
    • Educate Washington State residents about…