2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Sideways, 1 Step Back – The New Background Check System

We kind of expected news of a new background check system would be coming soon due to OPM’s failure to protect it in years past. There will be a more secure system for storing the data, a DoD effort to provide security for any data gathered, and a new organization — the “National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB)” led by a presidential appointed director — in charge of conducting the background checks. Although a bit of this sounds like security theater or just making changes to show they are doing something, it looks like some progress will be made.

But the big question is deciding where in the government the new NBIB organization will be placed. And the answer is … wait for it … good ‘ol OPM. Two steps forward (hopefully), one step sideways, and one step back. At least it’s a bit of forward progress.

via SecurityWeek.com

A new government entity will be created to conduct the checks, and the Department of Defense will provide security for the data gathered in the process, officials said.

The announcement came in response to disclosures last year that hackers accessed some 20 million personnel records for US government employees and contractors, including sensitive personal data in some cases gathered from background checks.

Several analysts have linked the hack to China, but US officials have avoided directly blaming Beijing for the breach. The new background check system will take over many functions from the Office of Personnel Management, which was roundly criticized for weak security following news of the breach.

Continued here.

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Today’s post pic is from from WikiMedia.org. See ya!