Defense Information Systems Agency Looking Into Cybersecurity-UX Interplay

Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, said Thursday at the 2022 Government Identity Security Virtual Summit that a study on the relationship between cybersecurity and user experience is underway. He explained that DISA aims to strike a balance between ease of data access and security requirements.

The study is part of an ongoing performance objective management evaluation that will inform budgeting, DefenseScoop reported Friday.

Earlier in 2022, Department of Defense officials acknowledged the need to improve agency-wide user experience after calls from employees to address slow, outdated computer hardware. A LinkedIn post by one employee highlighted how cybersecurity software had bogged down his PC.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer issued a statement listing concrete steps that were being taken to improve UX, including the removal of redundant threat scans, enhancements to remote work technology and upgrades to laptops.

The statement was cosigned by past Potomac Officers Club speakers and Wash100 awardees such as DOD CIO John Sherman, Navy CIO Aaron Weis and Air Force CIO Lauren Knausenberger.

Knausenberger recently spoke at an industry event about how cybersecurity would likely be a priority for funding under the upcoming Defense Department budget.