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Homeland Security Filing: Secret Service IT Systems “Prone To Failures”

Written by Evan Schuman and Fred J. Aun
March 4th, 2010
Given that global cyberthief rings tend to be well-financed and use the latest in technology, it's critical that the lead federal law enforcement agency responsible for chasing them—the U.S. Secret Service—be at least as well equipped. Indeed, its Web site reports that the Secret Service "uses the latest in high-tech equipment to deter, detect and respond to criminal threats." Unfortunately, when the Secret Service went seeking technology help from the vendor community, it told a very different tale.

"Currently, 42 mission-oriented applications run on a 1980s IBM mainframe with a 68 percent performance reliability rating. Networks, data systems, applications and IT security do not meet current operational requirements," said an Oct. 16, 2009, Secret Service contracting memo. "The IT systems lack appropriate bandwidth to run multiple applications to effectively support USSS (U.S. Secret Service) offices and operational missions around the world."

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Posted in IT Strategy/Industry, Premium Content, Security/Fraud, Software
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