Report: US government lacks staff, authority to protect computer networks

Report: US lacks staff, power to protect networks

WASHINGTON — A government watchdog says the federal agency in charge of securing the government’s computers systems can’t monitor the networks or analyze threats in real time and lacks the authority and staff it needs to do its job.

The Homeland Security Department’s inspector general says the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team must share information about threats and trends more quickly and in greater detail with other federal departments so they can better protect themselves.

The report lays out criticism that has long been aired by U.S. officials and outside experts who say the government’s computer systems are vulnerable to attacks and lack needed management and security standards.