WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced it has hired a senior cyber and information technology advisor to help the agency against cybersecurity threats following a massive breach of millions of personnel’s records.
"Today’s announcement of hiring Clif [Triplett] builds on the growing capacity here at the Office of Personnel Management and underscores our relentless dedication to protecting this agency’s valuable IT systems and information," Acting Director Beth Cobert said in a statement on Wednesday.
In April, the US government acknowledged that a massive cyberattack on OPM networks had compromised personal information of over 21 million former and current federal employees. The agency also admitted that the fingerprint data of some 5.6 million people had also been stolen.
Triplett transitions to the OPM with some 30 years of experience in the private sector as well as in the US military.
The OPM added that in order to strengthen the agency’s "cybersecurity posture" and provide help to individuals affected by the recent cyber intrusions, "We must recruit and retain a variety of highly motivated and qualified individuals."
Although Washington has yet to determine the exact culprit of the OPM hack, US officials have blamed Chinese hackers for the attack. Beijing has repeatedly denied the claim.
