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Energy Dept. Overseer Raps Los Alamos Security
A U.S. Energy Department review of a recent data security lapse at Los Alamos National Laboratory has found the incident “especially troubling” because the facility has devoted so much money and effort in recent years to correcting past security failures, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported today (see GSN, Nov. 6). The most recent review was spurred by the October discovery of classified information in the home of a former contract worker at the laboratory. The worker had copied documents onto a portable computer data device which she took to her home intending to work from there, according to her attorney. She also removed paper documents from the laboratory, according to news reports. “We found that the security framework relating to this incident was seriously flawed,” says a report from department Inspector General Gregory Friedman. “Specifically, our review disclosed that: In a number of key areas, security policy was non-existent, applied inconsistently, or not followed; critical cyber security internal controls and safeguards were not functioning as intended; and, monitoring by both laboratory and federal officials was inadequate.” “This was especially troubling since the department and the National Nuclear Security Administration have expended tens of millions of dollars upgrading various components of the laboratory's security apparatus, including vast expenditures on cyber security,” the report says (Andy Lenderman, Santa Fe New Mexican, Nov. 29). Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said in a statement yesterday that Friedman’s review described “some serious deficiencies and vulnerabilities.” “Unfortunately, we cannot correct the errors of the past,” Bodman said. “But we will learn from this incident and we will do better” (Deborah Baker, Associated Press/Forbes.com, Nov. 29)
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