Ideas

3 Ways Agencies Can Improve Cloud Security and Performance

It’s imperative agencies ensure their websites and hosted applications are secure and working at the expected performance levels.

Modernization

DOD, GSA to Rethink $8B DEOS Cloud Contract—Again

In the works since 2018, the Pentagon’s Defense Enterprise Office Solutions contract remains on hold.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers want answers on Juniper backdoors

Members of Congress are pressing Juniper's CEO for details of an internal probe into how modified code for a compromised NSA encryption algorithm wound up in the company's firewall products.

Cybersecurity

Union wins court case on bargaining rules

A federal judge ruled that the Federal Labor Relations Authority went too far in enforcing new working conditions at Customs and Border Protection.

Cybersecurity

Federal prison riot squads deployed to D.C.

A former union official says crisis management teams have historically been deployed for crowd control, protecting federal buildings.

Ideas

Managing User Access Is a Crucial Step in Securing Federal Organizations

Agencies must make sure they leave no security gaps when employees join or leave.

Cybersecurity

DOD Officials, Cybersecurity Accreditation Partners Struggle with the China Question

Officials are also still hammering out conflict-of-interest issues, as watchdogs flag failures in Defense acquisition practices.

Ideas

The Case for Using Commercial Tools to Allow Classified Telework

Programs like the National Security Agency’s Commercial Solutions for Classified could be a path to transmit classified information without specialized hardware.

Cybersecurity

Essye Miller: The exit interview

Essye Miller, DOD's outgoing principal deputy CIO, talks about COVID, the state of the tech workforce and the hard conversations DOD has to have to prepare personnel for the future.

Cybersecurity

DOJ Says Foreign Actors Trying to Fuel Violence at Protests Through Misinformation 

The nation’s chief law enforcement official said adversaries are using digital means to increase unrest in the United States.

Policy

Effort to Develop Open Standards for 5G Moves in Intelligence Authorization Act

The bill cleared committee with one conspicuous hold out over an unsustainable proliferation of government secrets.

Cybersecurity

Sen. Hassan digs into agency IT plans

The push comes, the New Hampshire Democrat explained, because of technology weaknesses exposed in the federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Commission: Expand Connected Device Security Bill Beyond Federal Procurement Realm  

The new recommendation comes in an annex the Cyberspace Solarium Commission released in light of the pandemic. 

Digital Government

Trump’s Attacks on Vote-by-Mail Worry Some Election Officials

For months, President Donald Trump has been one of the loudest opponents to vote by mail.

Cybersecurity

Supplier ownership should be considered in assessing supply chain risk

Many vendors lack transparency into their own supply chains. So how can vendors – as well as their government customers — be assured that their sub-tier suppliers do not pose threats or vulnerabilities?

Cybersecurity

CISA Official Sidesteps Controversy over Trump’s Voting Fraud Claims

The official said the agency is focused on protecting the voting infrastructure, not the president’s claims about mail-in voting fraud. 

Cybersecurity

DISA awards $87 million contract for classified mobile

The Defense Department’s IT support agency awarded Booz Allen Hamilton the new contract for classified mobile enterprise services for more than 4,000 users.

Cybersecurity

NIST Seeks Input on Position Navigation and Timing Services 

The agency is tasked by an executive order to develop profiles for the technology based on its cybersecurity framework to inform agencies’ procurement.