Federal Information Security Modernization Act Audit for Fiscal Year 2020

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
20-01927-104
VA Office
Information and Technology (OIT)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Report Topic
FISMA
Recommendations
26
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) requires annual evaluations of the information security program at each federal agency. The Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget review the results, which are part of a report to Congress on agencies’ compliance with FISMA. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) contracted with an independent public accounting firm to assess VA’s information security program for fiscal year (FY) 2020. CliftonLarsonAllen LLP evaluated 48 major applications and general support systems hosted at 24 VA sites that support VA’s three administrations. The firm concluded that VA continues to face significant challenges meeting FISMA requirements and made 26 recommendations for improving VA’s information security program. Specifically, VA should address security-related issues that contributed to the information technology material weakness reported in the FY 2020 audit of VA’s consolidated financial statements, improve deployment of security patches, system upgrades, and system configurations that will mitigate significant security vulnerabilities and enforce a consistent process across all field offices. The firm also recommended VA improve performance monitoring to ensure controls are operating as intended at all facilities and communicate identified security deficiencies so the appropriate personnel can mitigate significant risks. Two recommendations from previous years were closed, and three new recommendations were added. Some recommendations were modified or not closed because relevant information security control deficiencies were repeated. Despite VA’s commitment that the recommendations would be closed, some of them have been repeated for multiple years. CliftonLarsonAllen LLP will follow up on the outstanding recommendations in the FY 2021 audit of VA’s information security program. The OIG remains concerned that continuing delays in effectively addressing the recommendations could contribute to reporting a material weakness in VA’s information technology security controls during the FY 2021 audit of the department’s consolidated financial statements.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology consistently implement an improved continuous monitoring program in accordance with the NIST Risk Management Framework. Specifically, implement an independent security control assessment process to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls prior to granting authorization decisions.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved mechanisms to ensure system stewards and information system security officers follow procedures for establishing, tracking, and updating Plans of Action and Milestones for all known risks and weaknesses including those identified during security control assessments.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement controls to ensure that system stewards and responsible officials obtain appropriate documentation prior to closing Plans of Action and Milestones.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology develop mechanisms to ensure system security plans reflect current operational environments, include an accurate status of the implementation of system security controls, and all applicable security controls are properly evaluated.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology Implement improved processes for reviewing and updating key security documents such as security plans, risk assessments, and interconnection agreements on an annual basis and ensure the information accurately reflects the current environment.
No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved processes to ensure compliance with VA password policy and security standards on domain controls, operating systems, databases, applications, and network devices.
No. 7
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement periodic reviews to minimize access by system users with incompatible roles, permissions in excess of required functional responsibilities, and unauthorized accounts.
No. 8
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology enable system audit logs on all critical systems and platforms and conduct centralized reviews of security violations across the enterprise.
No. 9
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Office of Personnel Security strengthen processes to ensure appropriate levels of background investigations are completed for applicable VA employees and contractors and applicable investigation data is accurately tracked within the authoritative system of record.
No. 10
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Office of Personnel Security formalize the Position Descriptions and methodology used within the Human Resource business processes to ensure that employees with similar positions are required to have the same level of background investigation.
No. 11
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement more effective automated mechanisms to continuously identify and remediate security deficiencies on VA’s network infrastructure, database platforms, and web application servers.
No. 12
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement a more effective patch and vulnerability management program to address security deficiencies identified during our assessments of VA’s web applications, database platforms, network infrastructure, and workstations.
No. 13
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology maintain a complete and accurate security baseline configuration for all platforms and ensure all baselines are appropriately implemented for compliance with established VA security standards.
No. 14
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved network access controls that restrict medical devices from systems hosted on the general network.
No. 15
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology consolidate the security responsibilities for networks not managed by the Office of Information and Technology, under a common control for each site and ensure vulnerabilities are remediated in a timely manner.
No. 16
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved processes to ensure that all devices and platforms are evaluated using credentialed vulnerability assessments.
No. 17
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved procedures to enforce standardized system development and change control processes that integrates information security throughout the life cycle of each system.
No. 18
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology review system boundaries, recovery priorities, system components, and system interdependencies and implement appropriate mechanisms to ensure that established system recovery objectives are met.
No. 19
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology ensure contingency plans for all systems and applications are updated and tested in accordance with VA requirements.
No. 20
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement more effective agency-wide incident response procedures to ensure timely notification, reporting, updating, and resolution of computer security incidents in accordance with VA standards.
No. 21
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology ensure that VA’s Cybersecurity Operations Center has full access to all security incident data to facilitate an agency-wide awareness of information security events.
No. 22
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved safeguards to identify and prevent unauthorized vulnerability scans on VA networks.
No. 23
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved measures to ensure that all security controls are assessed in accordance with VA policy and that identified issues or weaknesses are adequately documented and tracked within POA&Ms.
No. 24
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology fully develop a comprehensive list of approved and unapproved software and implement continuous monitoring processes to prevent the use of prohibited software on agency devices.
No. 25
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology develop a comprehensive inventory process to identify connected hardware, software, and firmware used to support VA programs and operations.
No. 26
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Information and Technology (OIT)
We recommended the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement improved procedures for monitoring contractor-managed systems and services and ensure information security controls adequately protect VA sensitive systems and data.