FCW Insider: Feb. 21
The latest news, analysis and other updates from FCW's reporters and editors.
The Department of Homeland Security is looking for industry advice about how to best consolidate its two main enterprise computing data centers and modernize with a more cloud-based infrastructure. Derek B. Johnson has more.
As the number of online my Social Security account users has shot up, the percentage of users who access their statements online has plummeted. Congress is looking to the agency – and to the data – to decide how much snail mail the agency needs to send. Chase Gunter reports.
Tech from Sandia National Lab spies on would-be cyber adversaries in real time. Mark Rockwell explains how data and analytics are powering Sanda's supercharged honeypot.
Cyber reskilling programs may make sense for human resources, but not as a strategy for defending critical networks, argues James Hadley, CEO of Immersive Labs, in this FCW commentary.
Quick Hits
*** The Small Business Administration established a working capital fund as authorized by the Modernizing Government Technology Act. The fund is capped at about $8 million, according to report language in the recently passed funding bill.
*** The U.S. Army is tapping the NITAAC CIO-SP3 contract vehicle to obtain support services for a new unified ERP capability. NITAAC is run by the National Institutes of Health. The Army had planned to use some governmentwide vehicle for the contract, but only specified CIO-SP3 on Feb. 20. The unified ERP capability covers support on five existing systems: Logistics Modernization Program, Army Enterprise System Integration, Global Combat Support System-Army, General Fund Enterprise Business System and the sensitive activities system of GFEBS.
*** The Department of Homeland Security is looking to extend and expand its ability to prioritize communications during emergencies. The Priority Telecommunications Service is a White House program that supports call completion among first responders and others when networks are overstressed. Some aspects of the program are fully deployed and need maintenance and support. DHS is also looking to roll out new capabilities. The program covers voice services on wireless and VoIP and is expanding to cover wireline and data and video.