Cybersecurity and Information Technology: Federal Agencies Need to Strengthen Efforts to Address High-Risk Areas

In March 2021, GAO issued its high-risk series update and emphasized that federal agencies’ needed to implement numerous critical actions to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity and information technology (IT) management efforts. In the update, GAO reiterated the importance of agencies addressing four major cybersecurity challenges facing the nation: (1) establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and performing effective oversight, (2) securing federal systems and information, (3) protecting cyber critical infrastructure, and (4) protecting privacy and sensitive data. Overall, the federal government has to move with a greater sense of urgency to fully address key cybersecurity challenges.