What government regulation mandates the security of IT resources?

The correct choice identifies Section 3541 of Title 44 of the United States Code as the regulation that mandates the security of IT resources. This section is part of the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which was enacted to provide a comprehensive framework for securing government information and information systems. The legislation requires federal agencies to develop, document, and implement an information security program to protect their IT resources, thereby emphasizing the importance of securing sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of government functions.

This regulation also puts the responsibility on federal agencies to assess risks, implement security controls, and regularly monitor and report on the effectiveness of their security programs. The significance of this regulation cannot be overstated, as it laid the groundwork for the establishment of robust information security practices across the federal landscape, ensuring that IT resources are protected against various threats and vulnerabilities.

Other choices, while relevant to information security in the government context, focus on different aspects. For example, OMB Circular A-130 provides guidance on the management of federal information resources but does not specifically mandate security practices. Similarly, 5 USC 552a pertains to the privacy of personal data rather than directly addressing the security of IT resources, and NIST 800-53 is a catalog of security controls