NASA divides security duties

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2000/1106/web-nasa-11-09-00.asp

BY Bryant Jordan
11/09/2000

NASA has created an office to oversee security, but the new Office of
Security Management and Safeguards will assume responsibility for only
a portion of the space agencys computer operations.

Security for most of NASAs computers will remain with the agencys
chief information officer in order to ensure that systems remain
programmed for optimal mission performance.

Computer security is so closely connected with the carrying out of
information technology missions that the agency felt it could not be
separated, said a NASA source, speaking on background.

"At NASA, computers are used to accomplish missions. Security is an
aspect...like bandwidth or suitable software," he said. Pulling out
one aspect of the operation and giving its responsibility to another
entity could compromise the mission, he said.

Overcompensating for security, for example, could make it more
difficult for IT systems to work, while undercompensating could
compromise security. Therefore, officials determined that NASAs CIO
should retain responsibility for the security of the agencys computer
systems and networks. One exception is a classified computing system,
which will be the responsibility of the new security office.


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