Whether or not this is a direct result of the Snowden whistleblower affair is unclear, but the following BLS job posting just hit the tape. In brief: suddenly the Bureau of [insert favorite L and S words here] is just a little concerned about the "proper security and unauthorized disclosure" of its data and making sure it is not "vulnerable to purposeful denial-of-access or alteration by unauthorized persons." The right candidate will "participate in network and systems design to ensure incorporation and implementation of appropriate systems security controls and policies, which ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, networks, and data through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of information systems security programs, policies, procedures, and tools."
So we wonder: will the next whistleblower to emerge be from the BLS, and just what tidbits of ARIMA-X-12 "seasonal adjustments" will they unleash upon the world?
We are confident at least one of our computer savvy, if temporarily unemployed readers, would be delighted to provide their skillset to the BLS.
From the BLS [4]:
- Job Title: IT Specialist (INFOSEC)
- Department: Department Of Labor
- Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Job Announcement Number: DH-13-BLS-OT-110
- $74,872.00 to $97,333.00 / Per Year
Opportunities are Open! Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and you will help shape the workforce of tomorrow. DOL offers rewarding opportunities to contribute to a noble mission; to serve and protect American workers, prepare them for new and better jobs, and to ensure the safety and fairness of American workplaces.
The Department of Labor values its customers. Every DOL employee is responsible for delivering good customer service through accurate, courteous, efficient and effective transactions.
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business and labor. The BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the DOL.
This position is located in the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Technology and Survey Processing, Division of Network and Information Assurance. The Division of Network and Information Assurance (DNIA) is the lead authority within the BLS for ensuring computer systems owned and leased by the BLS, and the data stored or transmitted thereon, are properly secured from unauthorized disclosure and are not vulnerable to purposeful denial-of-access or alteration by unauthorized persons. This division also serves as consultants to Bureau personnel in the development, operation, and maintenance of computer systems to ensure that they are developed and operated according to policy and with regard to the most recent security guidelines available in the field of Information Technology (IT).
DUTIES:
Duties may include but are not limited to:
1. The employee participates in network and systems design to ensure incorporation and implementation of appropriate systems security controls and policies, which ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, networks, and data through the planning, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of information systems security programs, policies, procedures, and tools.
2. The employee investigates breaches and improper use of BLS computer systems; including, as appropriate, the gathering, analysis, and preservation of evidence, as well as the development and implementation of necessary countermeasures.
3. The employee participates in the execution of annual third-party security assessments. These assessments typically include the use of external experts in the field of IT security in auditing key components of the Bureau’s environment to ensure that they are configured in compliance with Federal statute and regulation.
4. The employee serves as a leading BLS technical authority/resource for IT security by providing sound guidance, comment, and advice at internal and external settings of various types, including conferences and intra-agency groups. In addition, the expertise is used in ensuring the organization’s review of all BLS proposals for new and modified IT systems and procedures to ensure and certify their adherence to required IT security requirements and best practices in the ever changing IT security field.
5. The employee assists division management in their efforts to prepare IT security policy by performing discrete tasks associated with the overall policy development process, such as evaluating and recommending adoption, non use, or use with modification of new or enhanced approaches to the operation of BLS IT systems.
6. The employee participates in the performance of security compliance reviews, risk and vulnerabilities assessments, audits and/or reviews of planned and installed IT systems to identify vulnerabilities, risks, and protection needs; and, engages in and individually investigates security infractions and incidents, such as attempted penetration of BLS systems by unauthorized parties when it includes assessing security events to determine impact and proposes corrective actions.