WEAPON SYSTEMS CYBERSECURITY: DOD Just Beginning to Grapple with Scale of Vulnerabilities

Abstract

DOD plans to spend about $1.66 trillion to develop its current portfolio of major weapon systems. Potential adversaries have developed advanced cyber-espionage and cyber-attack capabilities that target DOD systems. Cybersecuritythe process of protecting information and information systemscan reduce the likelihood that attackers are able to access our systems and limit the damage if they do. GAO was asked to review the state of DOD weapon systems cybersecurity. This report addresses (1) factors that contribute to the current state of DODweapon systems cybersecurity, (2) vulnerabilities in weapons that are under development, and (3) steps DOD is taking to develop more cyberresilient weapon systems. To do this work, GAO analyzed weapon systems cybersecurity test reports, policies, and guidance. GAO interviewed officials from key defense organizations with weapon systems cybersecurity responsibilities as well as program officials from a nongeneralizable sample of nine major defense acquisition program offices. GAO is not making any recommendations at this time. GAO will continue to evaluate this issue.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1156881

Entities

People

  • Brandon M Booth
  • Cristina T. Chaplain
  • Jacqueline Wade
  • James Tallon
  • Katherine Pfeiffer
  • L T Holliday
  • Laura Greifner
  • Raj Chitikila
  • Robin Wilson

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Commerce
  • Computer Security Techniques
  • Control Systems
  • Cyber Defense Techniques
  • Cyber Threats
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cybersecurity
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Governments
  • Industrial Control Systems
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Systems
  • National Security
  • Social Media
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber