Cybersecurity

Under new law, NIST looks to map out vulnerability disclosure policies for government

Lawmakers in December tasked NIST with to developing processes that would ensure software vulnerability reports flow to the appropriate government offices and the issues are promptly fixed.

Cybersecurity

NIST Planning Workshop to Comply with Law on Federal IoT Procurement

Comments on draft documents required under the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act raise concerns of both fragmentation and a lack of flexibility.

Cybersecurity

Biden’s Pick For Defense Policy Chief Outlines Cyber Deterrence Position

In a contentious nomination hearing, Colin Kahl called for a whole-of-government approach to technology.

Cybersecurity

CISA Official Calls for Update of Identity Management Guidance in Wake of SolarWinds Compromise

"Identity is everything now," a technical strategist told NIST advisers in a briefing on the hacking campaign.

Modernization

CIOs’ Wishlist for New Congress and Administration IT Leadership

Three department IT leaders share their top asks from the new Congress and yet-to-be-appointed federal CIO.

Cybersecurity

Lawmaker SolarWinds Concerns Spill Over in Week of Defense Hearings

In multiple hearings, lawmakers sought solutions to pressing technology-based security issues.

Cybersecurity

CISA orders agencies to disconnect Microsoft Exchange on-prem servers

The government's leading cybersecurity agency is ordering all federal civilian agencies to provide a status report on its usage of Microsoft Exchange products by noon on Friday.

Ideas

Agencies Must Change to Support In-House Tech Talent They Need

Technologists look for environments that value them, give them challenging opportunities, help them grow their skills, and provide a path to advance their careers.

Modernization

Remote Work and Hack Mitigation Show Need for IT Modernization Funding, Lawmaker Says

Rep. Ro Khanna detailed efforts to ensure agencies have resources for legally mandated updates.

Cybersecurity

FBI Director Says Extremists Flocking to Encrypted Apps Poses New Challenges

Christopher Wray told lawmakers tech companies are the ones making policies about encryption.

Digital Government

Cybersecurity and IT Remain Top Concerns on GAO’s High-Risk List

Agencies showed some slight progress on IT issues, though cybersecurity took a step backward in the latest report.

Emerging Tech

Defense Innovation Unit Initiated 35% More Projects in 2020

The group initiated 23 new projects and transitioned 11 capabilities to Defense Department partners last year, according to its annual report. 

Cybersecurity

NSA Pushes Zero Trust Principles to Help Prevent Sophisticated Hacks

Operating under the default position that an organization has been compromised is a pain that’s worth it, the agency said.

Modernization

CBP Attempts to Mitigate Privacy Risks Created by New Customs App

CBP One will become the primary public-facing portal for a number of customs programs and services. But any new data collection effort brings privacy risks.

Digital Government

Cloud Security

Federal agencies are rethinking how they secure information as they move more mission-critical operations to the cloud.

Ideas

Securing Space: The Next Frontier of Credential-Based Attacks

Like many other sectors, the space industry needs to secure its supply chain from start to finish.

Cybersecurity

When water utilities get hacked, who should they call?

In the wake of a cybersecurity breach at a public water system, lawmakers have begun questioning what rules are in place to govern those facilities' cybersecurity and what changes may be necessary.

Cybersecurity

Mandatory breach reporting bill on deck, lawmakers say

Congress could be poised to require companies to report hacks in the wake of the massive breach linked to vulnerabilities on SolarWinds' IT management software.