FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2008
Contact: OMB Communications, 202-395-7254
AGENCIES REDUCE SECURITY VULNERABILITIES UNDER
THE TRUSTED INTERNET CONNECTION INITIATIVE
Washington, DC — Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) Initiative Statement of Capability Evaluation Report highlighting the Federal government’s rapid progress toward strengthening IT security. This was achieved by reducing external connections, including Internet points of presence from over 4,300 reported in January 2008, to a target of less than one hundred.
The overall purpose of the TIC Initiative as outlined in OMB memorandum M-08-05, “Implementation of Trusted Internet Connections (TIC),” is to optimize and standardize individual external network connections, including connections to the Internet currently used by the Federal government. This common solution facilitates the Federal government’s reduction of external connections, including Internet points of presence. Originally, the target number was 50 access points; however, in reviewing the agencies’ statements of capability, OMB is revising the target to less than one hundred. OMB intends to monitor and evaluate the government’s needs and will adjust based on business and mission needs.
“Agencies have provided resources to assist the successful implementation of the TIC Initiative and made information systems security a priority in their strategic plans,” said Karen Evans, Administrator for E-Government and IT. “Fewer external connections, means fewer vulnerabilities and better secured networks.”
The Evaluation Report summarizes the activities for the TIC Initiative from December 2007 through June 2008 and includes the development of technical and business model capabilities required for all TIC Access Providers and culminates with the evaluations of agency Statement of Capability proposals for how each intends to achieve the requirements of the TIC Initiative.
As highlighted, agencies have already demonstrated progress, per agency reported data:
- Existing Connections in January 2008 = Over 4,300
- Existing Connections in May 2008 = 2,758
- Target Connections Established in June 2008 = Less than 100
The TIC Initiative Statement of Capability Evaluation Report states that there are:
- Two Multi-Agency Service Providers with 7 potential TICs
- Sixteen Single Service Providers with 72 potential TICs
- NETWORX Providers with approximately 10 potential TICs
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