Computer Security Act of 1987

The Computer Security Law of 1987, Public Law No. 100-235 (H.R. 145), (Jan. 8, 1988), was passed by the United States Congress. It was passed to improve the security and privacy of sensitive information in Federal computer systems and to establish a minimum acceptable security practices for such systems. It requires the creation of computer security plans, and the appropriate training of system users or owners where the systems house sensitive information.

History

It has been superseded by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002

Provisions

• Assigns the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, At the time named National Bureau of Standards) to develop standards of minimum acceptable practices with the help of the NSA
• Requires establishment of security policies for Federal computer systems that contain sensitive information.
• Mandatory security awareness training for federal employees that use those systems.

References

• HR 145
• Electronic Privacy Information Center