Cyber Security Audit: Washington Agencies Not In Full Compliance

The state of Washington has good cyber security standards, but state agencies don’t always adhere to those standards.

That’s the finding of a performance audit released Monday.

Cyber security has emerged as a leading threat to the U.S government and corporate America. Sony Pictures is the latest high-profile victim, but state and local governments are also potential targets.

A new performance audit by the Washington State Auditor’s Office found areas of “non-compliance” and “security weakness.” Five state agencies were assessed for their hacking vulnerability. Holes in the state’s cyber security blanket include inadequate use of encryption and a failure to store backup data at offsite locations.

Overall, the audit praises Washington’s cyber security standards, but also says there’s a need for better monitoring and oversight of compliance.

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