§ 3535. Annual independent evaluation
(a)
(1)
Each year each agency shall have performed an independent evaluation of the information security program and practices of that agency to determine the effectiveness of such program and practices.
(2)
Each evaluation by an agency under this section shall include—
(A)
testing of the effectiveness of information security policies, procedures, and practices of a representative subset of the agency’s information systems;
(b)
Subject to subsection (c)—
(1)
for each agency with an Inspector General appointed under the Inspector General Act of 1978 or any other law, the annual evaluation required by this section shall be performed by the Inspector General or by an independent external auditor, as determined by the Inspector General of the agency; and
(c)
For each agency operating or exercising control of a national security system, that portion of the evaluation required by this section directly relating to a national security system shall be performed—
(e)
Each year, not later than such date established by the Director, the head of each agency shall submit to the Director the results of the evaluation required under this section.
(f)
Agencies and evaluators shall take appropriate steps to ensure the protection of information which, if disclosed, may adversely affect information security. Such protections shall be commensurate with the risk and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
(g)
(1)
The Director shall summarize the results of the evaluations conducted under this section in the report to Congress required under section
3533
(a)(8).
(2)
The Director’s report to Congress under this subsection shall summarize information regarding information security relating to national security systems in such a manner as to ensure appropriate protection for information associated with any information security vulnerability in such system commensurate with the risk and in accordance with all applicable laws.
(3)
Evaluations and any other descriptions of information systems under the authority and control of the Director of Central Intelligence or of National Foreign Intelligence Programs systems under the authority and control of the Secretary of Defense shall be made available to Congress only through the appropriate oversight committees of Congress, in accordance with applicable laws.