OIG: Report Highlights How DHS Partners Did Not Always Use DHS Technology to Obtain Emerging Threat Information

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a report titled “DHS Partners Did Not Always Use DHS Technology to Obtain Emerging Threat Information.” The report sheds light on how DHS partners—ranging from state and local governments to private sector stakeholders—often underutilize DHS’s primary threat-sharing platform, the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), and instead rely on their own systems or commercially available solutions.

Key Findings from the Report

1. Low Usage of HSIN: Despite having 55,609 active account holders, more than half did not log into HSIN between March 22 and September 15, 2023. This raises concerns about the efficacy of DHS’s communication and threat-sharing tools during critical periods of national security concern.
2. Dependence on Alternative Systems: Fusion centers and other DHS partners, including private sector stakeholders, often preferred their own systems or commercial platforms over HSIN, citing ease of use and timely access to critical threat information. For example, fusion centers had their own social media monitoring contracts and relied on alternative real-time communication tools like email and messaging platforms to share important data.
3. System Functionality Issues: One of the primary barriers to using HSIN was the system’s functionality and ease of use. Many respondents referred to the platform as “clunky” and difficult to navigate, with a search function that was often unreliable. Additionally, HSIN’s mobile platform and log-in process were noted as problematic, further discouraging its use. Some users indicated that accessing information required multiple logins, which hampered efficiency during critical moments.
4. Lack of Awareness of Modernization Efforts: Despite ongoing modernization efforts, including plans to invest over $26 million by 2025 to improve HSIN’s platform, 80% of active users surveyed were unaware of these upgrades. This lack of awareness hindered the adoption and usage of HSIN, as many partners remained disconnected from improvements meant to enhance the system’s user experience and functionality.
5. Timeliness of Information Sharing: Partners also noted that while they received information from DHS, it was often delayed or not actionable by the time it was shared. This delayed communication sometimes meant that partners were obtaining the same information through other sources, such as the media, before DHS could disseminate it through HSIN.

Recommendations

The OIG report includes four key recommendations to address these challenges:
– Improve Engagement: DHS should increase engagement with partners through regular feedback loops and outreach efforts to better tailor the HSIN platform to user needs. This includes addressing feedback on system usability and functionality.

– Enhance Training and Awareness: DHS needs to ensure that its partners are informed about ongoing modernization efforts and that they have access to relevant training resources. Increasing awareness of available features and improvements is critical to increasing adoption.

– Cost-Benefit Analysis: The report recommends that DHS conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the continued modernization of HSIN, evaluating the system’s use relative to the investment being made. This assessment would help determine whether modernization efforts align with partner needs and whether DHS should pursue alternative solutions.

– Outreach to Other Partners: DHS should expand its outreach to fusion centers and other external partners to promote the capabilities of DHS technologies, including the virtual situation room (vSITROOM) and common operating picture (COP) features.

Moving Forward

The OIG report highlights the importance of real-time, actionable information sharing in protecting national security. However, the underuse of DHS technologies like HSIN raises significant concerns about the readiness of DHS and its partners to respond to emerging threats. The recommendations provided are aimed at improving the functionality, engagement, and training surrounding these critical platforms to ensure that DHS’s vast network of partners can operate cohesively in times of need.

For more details on this report and the OIG’s recommendations, click here to read the full report.