WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government is relying on archaic, leaky and broken computers systems to protect reams of critical data from cyberattacks, President Barack Obama warned Tuesday as he announced a new, centralized effort to boost cybersecurity.
Obama, asking Congress for more dollars for cybersecurity, said some software systems are downright ancient, with the Social Security Administration relying on systems from the 1960s. Though he conceded government doesn’t have all the answers, he said fixing the problem would require retiring outdated systems that are vulnerable to attacks.
“That’s going to have to change,” Obama said, flanked by top national security advisers in the Roosevelt Room. Thanks to the explosion of the Internet and widespread access to technology, he said, “We’re going to have to play some catch-up.”
The note of caution came as the White House announced it was creating a new high-level federal official to coordinate cybersecurity across civilian agencies and to work with military and intelligence counterparts, as part of its 2017 budget proposal unveiled Tuesday. Obama is asking Congress for a $19-billion boost in cybersecurity funding across all government agencies – an increase of more than from 35 percent from last year.
Dubbed the “Cybersecurity National Action Plan,” the effort is being touted by the White House as the “capstone” of seven years of often faltering attempts to build a cohesive, broad federal cybersecurity response. Obama said some problems could be fixed relatively quickly, but added he was directing his advisers to focus also on anticipating future threats so that cybersecurity protections can adapt.