[Infowarrior] - Secret Service computer woes

[Richard Forno]

Secret Service Computers Only Work at 60 Percent Capacity; Agency Uses  
1980s Mainframe System Is 'Fragile' and Cannot Sustain Tempo of  
Current or Future Operational Missions
By JASON RYAN
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2010—

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9945663
A classified review of the United States Secret Service's computer  
technology found that the agency's computers were fully operational  
only 60 percent of the time because of outdated systems and a reliance  
on a computer mainframe that dates to the 1980s, according to Sen. Joe  
Lieberman, I-Conn.

"We have here a premiere law enforcement organization in our country  
which is responsible for the security of the president and the vice  
president and other officials of our government, and they have to have  
better IT than they have," said Lieberman, who is chairman of the  
Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

Sources tell ABC News that the Secret Service was so plagued by  
computer problems that the agency invited the National Security Agency  
to formally review its information technology systems. The Secret  
Service's databases are outdated and users are at times unable to  
conduct searches from one system to another.

Lieberman says he's had "concern for a while" about the Secret Service  
computers. A 60 percent, fully operational average is far worse than  
"industry and government standards that are around 98 percent  
generally," Lieberman said.

Asked about the review and the NSA review of Secret Service systems,  
service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said, "At our request, NSA performed  
an independent evaluation of our existing IT network to determine if  
any deficiencies or potential vulnerabilities existed. ...Results of  
the review suggested we needed enhancements to ensure that our systems  
remained sound. A number of the recommended changes have already been  
implemented."

According to officials at the time of the review, the unofficial cost  
estimate to update the system was $187 million. The Department of  
Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Secret Service, has so far  
allocated $33 million, and requested $69 million in the department's  
most recent budget request.

The DHS budget justification for 2011 noted, "The Secret Service data  
environment is fragile and cannot sustain the tempo of current or  
future operational missions. The existing hardware infrastructure is  
more than 5 years old and is prone to failures."

The service says that its protective details have not been impacted by  
any issues with their computer systems. They note that the agency is  
responsible for protective detail as well as a vast array of  
electronic crimes, such as banking and financial fraud issues and  
cyber-security issues.

The recent scrutiny the agency faced after three individuals were able  
to attend a state dinner without being invited, were not attributable  
to any computer deficiencies at the Secret Service, according to  
officials. "The systems that impact our protective responsibilities  
are constantly monitored and potential problems are immediately  
addressed," Malcolm said.

A Secret Service contracting memo from Oct. 16, 2009, reviewed by ABC  
News found, "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.  The IT systems lack appropriate  
bandwidth to run multiple applications to effectively support USSS  
offices and operational missions around the world."


"We have managed our aged IT infrastructure well past its intended  
capability. We now have a get-well plan to resolve our IT needs and  
requirements," Malcom said.

This is not the first time that drastically out of date computer  
systems have been discovered in federal agencies. The FBI revealed it  
suffered from major computer problems following the scrutiny the  
bureau received after the 9/11 attacks.

The bureau's most embarrassing computer problem came in 2005 when the  
FBI had to scrap the $170 million Virtual Case File program, which was  
designed to help agents track cases electronically.

Since then, the FBI has been setting up a new $451 million project  
called Sentinel, which will allow agents to use a Web-based system to  
incorporate the FBI's old existing files. While the Justice Department  
inspector general has expressed some concerns that the program runs  
slowly for users and some cost overruns, it is scheduled to be  
completed later this year.

Asked why DHS was requesting less money than the initial estimate of  
$187 million, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said, "Part of it is an  
assessment of how much it would actually cost and also what can be  
purchased and what is needed on a priority basis."


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