Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by takyon on Monday August 03 2015, @06:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the blunt-assessment dept.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is struggling to hire computer scientists, according to a Department of Justice audit of the feeb's attempts to implement its Next Generation Cyber Initiative.

A 34-page audit report (PDF) from the DoJ notes that, while making considerable progress, the FBI has "encountered challenges in attracting external participants to its established Cyber Task Forces".

[The audit] bemoaned how hiring and retaining qualified white hats remained a challenge for the FBI, especially when competing private-sector entities pay more and have less invasive recruitment processes. The FBI reportedly did not hire 52 of the 134 computer scientists for which it was authorised, meaning 38 per cent of the workforce it requires (as per budget) is simply not there. This additionally means that five of the FBI's 56 field offices do not have even a single computer scientist assigned to their Cyber Task Force.

Back in 2011, the Office of the Inspector General gave the FBI a thorough scolding over its inability to address America's cyber-intrusion threat, for which it has become the responsible national body. The Next Generation Cyber Initiative was launched in response, essentially as a platform for funding increases in the face of a swelling number of data breaches and cyber-attacks in recent years.

This is not the first mention of the FBI's difficulties in recruiting infosec professionals. Last year, the [FBI]'s director James Comey said the company was re-examining its drugs policy as too many applicants seemed to be enjoying a doobie en route to interview.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Phoenix666 on Monday August 03 2015, @11:16PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Monday August 03 2015, @11:16PM (#217635) Journal

    Once upon a time I was a very patriotic person and wanted very much to help my country. But I had experiences similar to yours with government agencies. I have gone to the end of the process with the CIA and the Foreign Service. In both cases, I did as you did, and withdrew my application.

    In the case of the CIA, they were so morally bankrupt and so torpid that I knew it would be a colossally bad idea to put my life in the hands of people like that. Good thing, too. 6 months after I laughed in the face of my interviewer after the nth "dunh dunh dunh! scenario" I saw her picture in the New York Times, picked up by the Russians for spying. She was supposed to be the station chief for Europe and would have been my boss.

    The Foreign Service was just as pathetic in a different way. They are the last bastion of the White Man's burden. If you walked into the whitest white country club in the middle of Scarsdale, NY and picked out Brad and Buffy, they would be the ones who represent the United States to the rest of the world. They are so coddled, so entitled, and so entirely unable to relate to real Americans that it hurts your soul.

    But the thing to remember is, for all the hassle and demeaning treatment you go through to work for the Federal Government, being earnest and fully well-intentioned to do a good job and help the American people, you still have to report to a bunch of sociopaths called politicians and their appointees who will cut your throat in a heartbeat to make themselves look better or avoid making themselves look bad. The only people who would go through that and remain in government service are shells of men.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +2  
       Interesting=2, Total=2
    Extra 'Interesting' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   4