Computer security considerations in federal procurements :
Barbara Guttman · 1992
Computers and information play an increasingly important role in modern society.More people use computers, more information is processed and stored by them, and our nation's dependence on computers continues to grow.Therefore, it is essential to protect computers and the information they contain.From a practical standpoint, computer viruses, white-collar crime, theft of hardware and software, unauthorized access to data, and damage and destruction of computer systems by people or nature are real threats.Computer security shows its worth in preventing loss or harm.The meaning of terms like "appropriate and cost-effective safeguards" are truly appreciated when explaining how a loss was or was not prevented.Due to the vital need to protect computer systems, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides standards and guidelines on many aspects of computer security.This document addresses the specific issue of including computer security requirements in federal information processing (FIP) procurements.A NIST-sponsored working group of government and industry representatives in computer security, information management, and FIP procurement helped to develop this document.