Cybersecurity
Senator Pushes to Require National Cyber Director in Defense Authorization Bill
The National Cyberspace Solarium Commission recommended the position be Senate-confirmed and coordinate civilian and defense cyber operations.
Modernization
COVID-19 More Likely to Accelerate Telecom Modernization than Cause Delays, GSA Officials Say
The pandemic has delayed some agency transitions to the $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract, but those are outliers, according to program leads.
Cybersecurity
CISA Releases Top 10 Most Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities
The agency highlighted three threats targeting remote workers though other known issues date back to 2016.
Cybersecurity
GAO: DHS Needs More Oversight for Service Contracts
An appropriate balance of staff is needed to ensure contractors don’t end up making policy in mission areas including cybersecurity, auditors said.
Ideas
Learning from New Jersey: Why Government Organizations Should Cut Ties with COBOL
COBOL is an aging programming language and its workforce is no different.
Artificial Intelligence
USPTO Adds Company to $50M Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Contract
General Dynamics Information Technology joins at least 12 companies on the Patent and Trademark Office’s future-facing blanket purchase agreement.
Artificial Intelligence
Pentagon Task Force Turns to Data to Shape COVID-19 Response
The group aims to determine potential risks to the Defense Department and mission readiness through quality data and models.
Modernization
GSA Offers Techniques for Quickly Coding Policy Changes
Coders from the General Services Administration offer examples for how agencies can turn administration policy into digital computer code.
Podcasts
Critical Update: Teleworking Securely During the Pandemic
Nextgov staff recently joined the GovExec Daily podcast to discuss do's and don'ts of remote work.
Cybersecurity
U.S. Marshals Service Breach Exposed Personal Data of 387,000 Prisoners
The agency notified affected individuals this month after learning about the intrusion in December.
Emerging Tech
VA Exploring Options for a Grand Challenge to Prevent Suicide
The agency is looking for a contractor to help run a possible multi-phase competition, including outreach and potentially raising private-sector funds for the prizes.
Artificial Intelligence
Quantum Hardware Could Cut AI Power Needs
Sharing intelligence features between hardware and software would offset the energy needed for using AI in more advanced applications such as self-driving cars or discovering drugs.
Modernization
GSA Suggests Using ‘Secret Shoppers’ to Evaluate Call Centers
The contact center within GSA’s Centers of Excellence offered a template for using mystery shoppers to measure performance.
Emerging Tech
Cheetah-Inspired Soft Robot 'Gallops' with Super-Speed
The new robots can also run up steep inclines, challenging or impossible for soft robots that exert less force against the ground.
Cybersecurity
FBI Got Everything It Asked for in DNC Investigation, Refuting ‘Missing Server’ Myth
New transcripts released by the House intelligence committee shed light on Russia’s interference in 2016 election.
Cybersecurity
CISA Flags False Statements from China in COVID-19 Disinformation Warning
The agency also cautioned against dangerous suggestions—such as ingesting bleach—as cures for the disease.
Artificial Intelligence
Pentagon Wants Better Data For Its Predictive Aircraft Maintenance AI
The Pentagon’s AI center is looking to break through past challenges it has faced advancing predictive maintenance among select aircraft.
Modernization
Amazon Files Another Protest Over JEDI Contract
Microsoft responds by blasting Amazon Web Services for trying to force a do-over for the multibillion-dollar cloud contract.
Cybersecurity
Survey Suggests Businesses are Overconfident About Their Security During COVID-19
Hackers and scammers are capitalizing on increased online activity during the novel coronavirus pandemic but security officials don’t seem worried.
Modernization