A big issue for many farmers and ranchers, when it comes to NAIS, is privacy. Before you sign up, be sure to ask this question, “Will my information be secure?” If you look at the USDA website on NAIS, there is a frequently asked question about this very thing.

Q. Will my private information be protected?
A. Federal law protects individuals’ private information and confidential business information from disclosure. Furthermore, USDA maintains only limited premises registration information and will not have direct access to animal identification or movement records. If USDA needs animal movement and location information to respond to an animal health emergency, data will be requested from the private and State databases where it is held.

This answer seems adequate for most people. However, why don’t we look at how well our government secures its’ data? The Cyber Security Industry Alliance recently published their Federal Progress Report for 2006.

The report gave the following grades:

• Security of Sensitive Information – D
• Security & Resiliency of Critical Information Infrastructure – D
• Federal Information Assurance – D

What do you think of that report card? Are straight Ds acceptable for your private information security? You can view the detailed report here.