Final answer:
The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) is the U.S. law that defines security standards exclusively for federal agencies, ensuring protection against cyber threats and securing sensitive information through required annual security program reviews.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. law that defines security standards exclusively for federal agencies is FISMA, the Federal Information Security Management Act. This law is part of the E-Government Act of 2002 and it requires each federal agency to develop, document, and implement an agency-wide program to provide information security for the information and information systems that support the operations and assets of the agency, including those provided or managed by another agency, contractor, or other source.
FISMA was enacted to protect government information, operations, and assets against natural or man-made threats. The act was in response to the increasing awareness of cybersecurity risks and the need to ensure the security of federal information systems. It mandates annual reviews of information security programs to keep risks at a minimum level. FISMA is integral in ensuring that federal agencies have robust safeguards to defend against cyber threats and secure sensitive information, reflecting the ongoing shift towards a more secure and regulated government data management infrastructure.