Findings by the Auditor General of Canada on: Information Technology Security in the Federal Government 6th Privacy & Security Workshop Toronto, November 3, 2005 Richard Brisebois 6th Privacy & Security Workshop Toronto, November 3, 2005 Richard Brisebois

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Objective To provide you with an insider’s perspective to the IT security report tabled in Parliament on February 15, 2005 To provide you with an update of what has occurred since the tabling of the report To provide you with an insider’s perspective to the IT security report tabled in Parliament on February 15, 2005 To provide you with an update of what has occurred since the tabling of the report

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Agenda Background/personal notes Findings of the 2002 report Main points Message from the AG Press/media reaction Events since February 2005 Questions Background/personal notes Findings of the 2002 report Main points Message from the AG Press/media reaction Events since February 2005 Questions

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Background/personal notes 1)This report is a follow-up on our 2002 report 2)Not a horror story 3)Original plan was not to do an IT security 101 audit 4)Audit approach 1)This report is a follow-up on our 2002 report 2)Not a horror story 3)Original plan was not to do an IT security 101 audit 4)Audit approach

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Findings of the 2002 report revised GSP was an improvement 2.Updated the roles and responsibilities of TBS and 10 lead entities 3.Operational standards did not exist or were outdated 4.Little baseline information on the state of IT security across government revised GSP was an improvement 2.Updated the roles and responsibilities of TBS and 10 lead entities 3.Operational standards did not exist or were outdated 4.Little baseline information on the state of IT security across government

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Main point (1) Despite encouraging signs of improvement: –« The government has made unsatisfactory progress » Despite encouraging signs of improvement: –« The government has made unsatisfactory progress »

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, « The government has made unsatisfactory progress » GSP, MITS and other standards are a good foundation. There are a number of standards that remain to be developped IT security lead agencies are cooperating well and consult regularly on security matters. More and more internal audits and VA’s are being done since 2002, but « UNSATISFACTORY PROGRESS » is based on: –TBS & OAG survey identified a general lack of compliance with GSP and MITS –Most VA’s reviewed identified several significant (HIGH) level vulnerabilities GSP, MITS and other standards are a good foundation. There are a number of standards that remain to be developped IT security lead agencies are cooperating well and consult regularly on security matters. More and more internal audits and VA’s are being done since 2002, but « UNSATISFACTORY PROGRESS » is based on: –TBS & OAG survey identified a general lack of compliance with GSP and MITS –Most VA’s reviewed identified several significant (HIGH) level vulnerabilities

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, ITS Self-Assessment Results Of the 46 departments that completed responses, 1 met Maturity Level 1 and 2 requirements and 0 met only Level 1. A guesstimate would suggest that approximately 25% of the 45 who did not achieve at least Level 1, have a substantial amount of work in progress towards achieving at least Level 1. Of the 45 departments that did not achieve at least level 1, 22 were identified as having some classified information, 13 with some Protected C information and 28 with some Protected B information. Several departments indicated that 100% of their information has no designation or classification. Of the 46 departments that completed responses, 1 met Maturity Level 1 and 2 requirements and 0 met only Level 1. A guesstimate would suggest that approximately 25% of the 45 who did not achieve at least Level 1, have a substantial amount of work in progress towards achieving at least Level 1. Of the 45 departments that did not achieve at least level 1, 22 were identified as having some classified information, 13 with some Protected C information and 28 with some Protected B information. Several departments indicated that 100% of their information has no designation or classification.

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Main point (2) Senior management is often not aware of IT security risks

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Senior management is often not aware of IT security risks 55% of departments surveyed had not completed a TRA of their systems. 44% of departments had not performed VA’s 55% had not done an audit of their ITS You cannot fix what you do not know. OAG message goes mainly to senior management: They have to be made aware of the risks and then decide if they want to spend the resources to address them Each dept will be required to prepare an action plan, to be approved by the Deputy Head, and TBS will follow-up Cannot wait for a major disaster to occur to think of IT security 55% of departments surveyed had not completed a TRA of their systems. 44% of departments had not performed VA’s 55% had not done an audit of their ITS You cannot fix what you do not know. OAG message goes mainly to senior management: They have to be made aware of the risks and then decide if they want to spend the resources to address them Each dept will be required to prepare an action plan, to be approved by the Deputy Head, and TBS will follow-up Cannot wait for a major disaster to occur to think of IT security

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Main point (3) TBS has not completely fulfilled its oversight role

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, TBS has not completely fulfilled its oversight role TBS has received only 10 of the 37 internal reports dealing with ITS TBS has no formal process to obtain these internal ITS report or to analyse their security findings TBS has not yet prepared the mid term GSP report which was due in the summer of TBS has received only 10 of the 37 internal reports dealing with ITS TBS has no formal process to obtain these internal ITS report or to analyse their security findings TBS has not yet prepared the mid term GSP report which was due in the summer of 2004.

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Message from the AG Overall, she was disapointed with the lack of progress Purpose is not to point fingers and issue stern rebukes She recognizes the difficulty and complexity of the task Personally, she will continue to use online services Overall, she was disapointed with the lack of progress Purpose is not to point fingers and issue stern rebukes She recognizes the difficulty and complexity of the task Personally, she will continue to use online services

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Press/media reaction 1.We spend lots of efforts to ensure accurate coverage 2.Significant coverage 3.Except for titles, reporting was generally accurate 4.Constant attempts to find details 5.There is a continuing interest in the chapter 1.We spend lots of efforts to ensure accurate coverage 2.Significant coverage 3.Except for titles, reporting was generally accurate 4.Constant attempts to find details 5.There is a continuing interest in the chapter

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Examples of Newspaper titles Security lapses open public data to hackers Security gaps in federal computers leave personal data vulnerable FEDS 'VULNERABLE' TO CYBER-ATTACKS: AG FEDS' COMPUTER SYSTEM IN PERIL FEDS ARE TARGET OF HACKERS Hacker heaven LAX COMPUTER SECURITY NO SURPRISE: HACKER Government not protecting data Security lapses open public data to hackers Security gaps in federal computers leave personal data vulnerable FEDS 'VULNERABLE' TO CYBER-ATTACKS: AG FEDS' COMPUTER SYSTEM IN PERIL FEDS ARE TARGET OF HACKERS Hacker heaven LAX COMPUTER SECURITY NO SURPRISE: HACKER Government not protecting data

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Events since February Public Accounts Committee (March 23, 2005) 2.Letter to Deputy Ministers on MITS Action Plans (May 11, 2005) 3.MITS Action Plans submitted to TBS (Aug 26, 2005) 4.Response from the Government to PAC (Sept 21, 2005) 5.TBS action plan to PAC (Sept 30, 2005) 1.Public Accounts Committee (March 23, 2005) 2.Letter to Deputy Ministers on MITS Action Plans (May 11, 2005) 3.MITS Action Plans submitted to TBS (Aug 26, 2005) 4.Response from the Government to PAC (Sept 21, 2005) 5.TBS action plan to PAC (Sept 30, 2005)

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Conclusion It is disappointing that the government does not meet its own minimum standards for IT security, even though they have been known for over a decade. Government systems and the sensitive data they hold are vulnerable to security breaches. As more and more government services are offered on-line, individuals and businesses need to have confidence that the information they share will be protected It is disappointing that the government does not meet its own minimum standards for IT security, even though they have been known for over a decade. Government systems and the sensitive data they hold are vulnerable to security breaches. As more and more government services are offered on-line, individuals and businesses need to have confidence that the information they share will be protected

Richard Brisebois - 6th Privacy & Security Workshop – November 3, Questions? Richard Brisebois Principal, IT Audit Services Office of the Auditor General of Canada Tel: (613) ext Fax: (613) Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0G6 Richard Brisebois Principal, IT Audit Services Office of the Auditor General of Canada Tel: (613) ext Fax: (613) Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0G6