Two-Thirds of DOD’s Major IT Projects Are Behind Schedule, GAO Found
Defense officials say lack of talent is slowing the adoption of cybersecurity best practices.
Mila Jasper
By Mila Jasper
January 5, 2021
The Defense Department’s software development approaches are helping to avoid cost increases and schedule delays for many major information technology systems, but uneven implementation of cybersecurity best practices may be introducing risk to these programs, according to a watchdog report.
In the first of a series of annual reviews of major Defense IT systems, the Government Accountability Office examined 15 business and non-business DOD IT programs and found 10 programs had schedule delays, including one 5-year delay. Eleven had decreased cost estimates as of December 2019, according to the audit, which was released to the general public just before the holidays.
While GAO didn’t make any specific recommendations in the audit, DOD in its comments said the audit “highlight
opportunities for continued improvement to acquiring IT capabilities.†The main challenge for DOD’s major IT systems is the agency’s mixed record on incorporating cybersecurity best practices.
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/01/two-thirds-dods-major-it-projects-are-behind-schedule-gao-found/171169/
