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Although use of CyberScope, a mandatory new system for reporting on information security in federal agencies, is required by Nov. 15, fewer than one in five federal information technology chiefs have tried using the program.

According to a survey of chief information officers from 34-Cabinet level departments and other agencies by MeriTalk, 15 percent of CIOs had tried CyberScope, with the large majority of those who had not used it doubtful of its purpose and "suspicious of its effectiveness," The Washington Times reported.

More than 70 percent of those surveyed said they do not have a clear understanding of the program's missions and goals and 69 percent said they were unsure how the change would improve security, the newspaper reported.

Nearly half of those surveyed - 55 percent - said they feared the system, which aims to improve the functioning of the 2002 Federal Information Security Management Act, would increase costs, the article said.