FCW Insider: Dec. 16
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
While the cloud security program FedRAMP is more popular than ever, federal agencies are still going rogue when it comes to bringing in cloud apps and services, an oversight report found. Derek B. Johnson has the story.
As the Defense Department works to improve data sharing across the enterprise, easier, experts at the fore of chemical, biological and nuclear threat detection detail a range of current obstacles. Lauren C. Williams explains.
The Technology Modernization Fund – the $125 million pool of no-year money appropriated to fast-track technology upgrades – has some potential operational problems, according to the Government Accountability Office. But officials in charge of TMF say the report is misleading on multiple fronts. Adam Mazmanian has more.
The Federal Aviation Administration is turning to unmanned aircraft manufacturers, retailers and others in the commercial supply chain to help it develop an electronic platform to support a drone owner safety testing capability. Mark Rockwell reports.
Quick Hits
*** Defense Secretary Mark Esper teed up coming changes to defense acquisition policy and practices at a Dec. 13 appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations. In response to a question about the pace of technological change and how it relates to procurement, Esper discussed efforts he helped launch in the Army to accelerate adoption of hypersonics, robotics, artificial intelligence, unmanned vehicles and weapons and more.
"We're very risk adverse in terms of how we design, build and procure equipment. We've got to clean up all those processes. And, in fact, we're going to have a major rewrite of our DOD regulations coming out here pretty soon on that piece," Esper said.
*** The Defense Digital Service is looking to improve the way it recruits and hires term employees for stints in the Defense Department's internal geek squad. DDS is looking to industry for a hiring platform that helps "create a candidate experience that reflects the dynamic, technical, and innovative environment in which we work."
*** The General Services Administration is looking to its user base for advice on how to make FedRAMP instructions more clear and usable.