Soundbytes: Lost BlackBerries and Employees as a Security Threat

A weekly roundup of comments from Nextgov.com. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.

On Lost VA BlackBerrys Redux

Ahhh, but the loss isn't as important as what is contained within. As was the state of affairs in the previous veterans administration, and actually spread in the agencies under the previous administration, taking extremely personal data home, or at least that which it was stored on, showed more of the incompetence in that government, especially with the private contractors! From James S

I think the loss rate for this agency is deplorable! Are the 'lost' devices being replaced with new devices? Are there any repurcussions to the loser for the loss? (I don't want you to think, by calling them 'losers', that I'm referring to their integrity; Oh no. But, I can't refer to them as 'owners' since they don't own the device any more - they lost it. Therefore they are losers. Read more from BR

On E-recycling program might not be achieving its full potential

I applaud the green emphasis and would like to see the Federal Government leading the charge! From chapkenmat

On Advocates worry White House changes could hurt transparency

The White House, like Congress, prefers to make rules for others. This president makes up numbers. From blowmedown

On Employees still pose biggest security threat, survey finds

If my memory serves, most of the data breaches we've seen came from people who felt that they were 'above' the rules. People who have data files at home, or who leave a USG laptop computer on the car seat, or who park a van with fire arms and munitions at a Diner while they eat lunch. Perhaps we need a climate where access is more limited and folks are aware that THEY matter. Remember, loose lips sink ships. From George

But an even bigger threat is the offline computer systems maintained by various govt contractors including our govt financed health plans such as Medicare. Read more from lindajoyadams

I for one am not so sure that the insider threat in government is the biggest threat exposure, but realize that it is a significant one. The weakness of the government network infrastructure IMPO seems to me to be the single biggest threat exposure. From Jeffrey A. Williams

On Missile Defense Agency chief wants fewer sole-source contracts

I alway love it when these Government bureaucrats act as if complying with a requirement is an invention of theirs. The FAR states that the requirements of a sole source contract cannot continue forever, competetion eventually needs to take place when the exceptions are no longer valid and that exceptions should not last forever. Read more from TDKI

On IT chief could shift funds for agencies' internal tech projects

Once again, Mr Kundra continues to perservere in his dogged pursuit of changing the IT culture in the federal govenment, certainly in the VA. As one of those little people working on major VA IT systems, I have experienced directly the unwillingness of one project group with separate budget to communicate, let alone, collaborate, outside their silo. Read more from VA IT Employee