Verizon unit to pay $4 million US penalty to resolve cybersecurity claims

WASHINGTON: Verizon Business Network Services, a unit of the telecom giant, agreed to pay $4.1 million to resolve U.S. allegations that it failed to follow required cybersecurity standards, the U.S. Justice Department said.

The settlement resolves allegations that a Verizon service which provides federal agencies with secure internet connections and other external networks did not completely satisfy three required cybersecurity controls in contracts from 2017 to 2021.

“When government contractors fail to follow required cybersecurity standards, they may jeopardize the security of sensitive government information and information systems,” Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston said in a statement.