{"id":26274,"date":"2023-02-10T17:08:44","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T17:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/02\/10\/most-hud-computers-missed-security-checkups-amid-pandemic-telework-ig\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:00:16","slug":"most-hud-computers-missed-security-checkups-amid-pandemic-telework-ig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/federal-oversight\/watchdogs\/2023\/02\/10\/most-hud-computers-missed-security-checkups-amid-pandemic-telework-ig\/","title":{"rendered":"Most HUD computers missed security checkups amid pandemic telework: IG"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s IT infrastructure stumbled under pandemic telework, leaving nearly two-thirds of employees\u2019 computers without security checkups for more than 200 days, an internal watchdog<\/a> found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Significant delays in computer security updates, months of network issues and lack of enforcement of password expiration policy collectively made the agency more prone to cyber attacks and beleaguered its tech help desk, HUD\u2019s inspector general said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough HUD experienced challenges during mandatory telework, HUD continued its operations; increased network capacity; and plans to make additional network improvements … and potentially replace its help desk system,\u201d the IG said in a report. \u201cHUD encourages and supports the use of telework to enhance its work and the work and life of its employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agency joined others in deploying mandatory telework for its employees in March 2020 following the White House\u2019s declaration of a national emergency in response to rising cases of the coronavirus. To aid with the sudden transition, Congress passed the CARES Act, which provided $35 million to HUD in support of IT and telework needs, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the transition catalyzed by the pandemic, the agency reported 20% of its employees regularly teleworked three or more days per week and 26% teleworked one to two days. But once the 7,000-large agency moved to a near full-time telework schedule,<\/a> more employees than before needed simultaneous remote access to HUD\u2019s network, \u201cwhich presented unique risks and security requirements,\u201d the OIG report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the challenges was that the agency\u2019s virtual private network bandwidth was not able to accommodate the increase, leading to employees having difficulty maintaining connections, sending emails, accessing systems and taking on daily tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\t