Cybersecurity

CISA Chief Unveils Vision for Federal Cybersecurity

Civilian agencies shouldn’t all be forced to manage their own cyber risks, Chris Krebs said.

Cybersecurity

Senators Question Traffic Safety Agency About Cyber Dangers Posed by Internet-Connected Cars

Sens. Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal want to know why investors have been made more aware of the potential cyber risks than the general public.

Modernization

CISA Awards GDIT a $325 Million Emergency Communications Contract

Under the contract, the company will support the systems federal leaders and others use to coordinate responses to during natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other crises.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Reskilling Grads Gained Valuable Skills But Not New Jobs Yet

Two graduates from the first class of the new Cyber Reskilling Academy said the program changed the way they see technology and their current jobs but won’t be changing their job titles anytime soon.

Cybersecurity

Playing Defense Against Chinese Tech Threats ‘Will Only Get Us So Far,’ Lawmaker Says 

Rep. Mike Gallagher said the government needs to take a more active role in curbing the global rise of Huawei and other Chinese tech companies.

Modernization

Agencies May Not Meet EIS Deadline, But Future Extensions Aren’t in Sight

GSA’s Office of Telecommunication Services director offered an update on the contract vehicle’s progress.

Cybersecurity

Coordinated Ransomware Attack in Texas Seen as Escalation From Prior Hacks

Twenty-three local governments were attacked over the weekend. The willingness of city governments to pay ransoms may be emboldening opportunistic hackers, security experts warn.

Cybersecurity

Twitter, Facebook Turn Off Hundreds of Accounts Linked to Chinese Disinformation about Hong Kong Protests

In simultaneous press releases, the social-media companies say they have shut down large amounts of Beijing-controlled activity.

Artificial Intelligence

Pilots, Bias Important Considerations Ahead of Deploying AI

Cloud technology makes piloting artificial intelligence efforts easier than ever, but hard decisions around bias need to be confronted.

Emerging Tech

DHS is Collecting Biometrics on Thousands of Refugees Who Will Never Enter the U.S.

Most refugees who apply for asylum in the U.S. never set foot in the country, but under an agreement with the United Nations, DHS and its partners can still build biometric profiles on them.

Cybersecurity

How petabytes are crushing the security classification system

The official in charge of overseeing the federal government's information classification policy is warning that the current system is beginning to break – and he wants help and money to fix it.

Cybersecurity

Agencies Faced 31,000 Cyber Incidents Last Year, But Gave Up No Major Breaches

The total number of incidents the government experienced last year dropped 12% from 2017, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

Cybersecurity

Commerce Gives U.S. Companies an Extra 90 Days to Cut Ties with Huawei

“Some of the rural companies are dependent on Huawei, so we’re giving them a little more time to wean themselves off,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Cybersecurity

The Army is Falling Behind on Staffing Cyber Units, GAO Says

As of March, the cyber and electronic warfare units the Army deployed last year had less than 40% of their combined positions filled.

Cybersecurity

Navy elevates CIO role

The Navy is establishing a new special assistant to the secretary for information management/CIO to enforce cybersecurity standards, have a say in IT acquisition and develop data and digital strategies.

Cybersecurity

It’s Official: Defense Department Will Use Other Agencies’ Cloud Security Assessments

The department’s IT office issued a provisional rule to accept other agencies’ FedRAMP ATOs without the need for written approval.

Cybersecurity

Watchdog: Hiring freeze increased cyber risk at State

An extended hiring freeze at the Department of State delayed key cybersecurity initiatives and placed highly classified information at risk, according to a watchdog report.

Cybersecurity

Battle lines forming over surveillance authority

Advocates for eliminating or curtailing one of the government's main Patriot Act surveillance authorities are gearing up for battle, but questions remain whether Congress will be receptive to the message.

Emerging Tech

DISA, HHS Brainstorming Behavioral-Based Identity Pilot

The end goal would be a device that recognizes the user based on hundreds of behaviors.