Cybersecurity

Plan to Dumb-Down the Power Grid In Name of Cybersecurity Passes Senate

The bill would establish and fund a public-private partnership to look at retro, analog options for securing the nation’s electric grid from digital threats.

Emerging Tech

DHS Seeks National Security Tech from Small Businesses

Officials finalized the 10 focus areas for groups participating in next year’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

Modernization

Pentagon to Connect Experimental Background Check App To Other Systems By Year’s End

The Defense Department is testing its nascent app on 1,000 security clearance applicants ahead of an October deadline to take over all investigations work.

Artificial Intelligence

Homeland Security Delegation Visits Asia for Emerging Tech Ideas

An agency group is going abroad for ideas about 5G, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cybersecurity.

Artificial Intelligence

Report: Tech Shops Don't See Themselves Driving Change

Nearly 60 percent of civilian tech specialists cited insufficient funding as a major barrier to IT modernization.

Modernization

Transportation Is Consolidating Its IT Contracts into a Single Vehicle

The Enterprise IT Shared Services contract will be available departmentwide but task orders will have to flow through the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Modernization

Updated Trusted Internet Connection Draft Lays Framework For Flexible Policy

The draft policy puts it on the Homeland Security Department to develop use case examples for how agencies can ensure safe connections wherever and however feds are working.

Cybersecurity

Poor Security Could Leave U.S. Defenseless Against Missile Attacks

The details of the nation’s ballistic missile defense system are vulnerable to inside and outside threats, the Defense Department inspector general found.

Ideas

Fighting Deepfakes Will Require More Than Technology

When technology is part of the problem, can you count on it to be part of the solution?

Modernization

Federal CIO Previews 2019 Priorities

OMB will roll out more reskilling programs, tweak FITARA scoring and is looking at standards for automated decision-making, Suzette Kent said.

Modernization

White House Expects to Stand Up GEAR Center in 2019

But most other key aspects of the modernization research center are up in the air.

Modernization

GSA Wants More Feedback on E-Commerce Portals

The General Services Administration urged industry partners to comment before the holidays if they have input for the proof-of-concept stage.

Modernization

GAO Dismisses IBM’s JEDI Protest

With the U.S. Court of Federal Claims addressing a similar case, the Government Accountability Office dismissed IBM’s protest.

Modernization

FITARA Scores Are Up But More Work Lies Ahead

Lawmakers warned agencies not to rest on their laurels.

Modernization

Congress Votes For Better Government Websites, Digital Services

The Senate passed the 21st Century IDEA Act, giving agencies one year to improve citizens’ digital experiences.

Cybersecurity

How DHS is Trying to Separate Quality Cyber Tools from Snake Oil

The department is investing in ways to do apples-to-apples comparisons of the many cyber solutions on the market.