House bill requiring cyber audits by NIST could overhaul agency's role

Having the National Institute of Standards and Technology audit other federal agencies' cybersecurity practices is not a matter of NIST “stepping up” its game, as House Science Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) said this week – rather it would be a matter of dramatically redefining NIST's role and relationship with other federal entities.

The Science panel's bill – which Smith insisted is within the committee's jurisdiction – would require an audit of federal agencies' cybersecurity practices by the National Institute of...