Cybersecurity
Paris attacks revive 'going dark' concerns
The terrorist attacks in Paris have rekindled a debate in the United States about law enforcement access to end-to-end encryption on mobile devices.
Cybersecurity
Here's An Account of Security Holes at the $1 Trillion Education Dept. Bank
Government watchdogs at a Tuesday congressional hearing counted the ways in which the department is putting the identities and finances of students and their parents in jeopardy.
Digital Government
Commerce hires first chief data scientist
Jeffrey Chen is helping to spin up a new data service at the Commerce Department.
Cybersecurity
For Microsoft, Government Data Breaches a Chance to Pivot into Cyber
In a keynote for federal customers in Washington, CEO Satya Nadella attempted to distance the company from security vulnerabilities.
Digital Government
US Government Is Working on Making Implantable Memory Chips so We Don’t Forget Anything Ever Again
DARPA has already tested out implants in people suffering from brain injuries to improve their memory.
Cybersecurity
Administration bows out of classified Hill briefing on OPM hack
A scheduled Capitol Hill briefing on the Office of Personnel Management hack didn't happen because of a dispute over transcription.
Cybersecurity
OPM, DHS, White House Declined to Brief House Armed Services Panel on Historic Hack
The conversation would have been documented for the record.
Digital Government
Obama Administration Unveils $100 Million IT Jobs Grant
The TechHire initiative will award grants to fund tech training, recruitment and hiring to help fill more than half a million open IT jobs across the country.
Modernization
DISA to issue multiple Level 5 cloud authorizations
In the next 18 months, the Defense Information Systems Agency will issue four to five provisional authorizations for commercial cloud providers to handle sensitive Level 5 government data, according to a DISA official.
People
Is the 25-year-old CFO Act ready for the future?
The CFO Act has solved many of the problems it was intended to fix, but top federal financial managers are often too busy with compliance to deal with higher-level challenges, according to a new report.
Modernization
IBM adds resellers to its federal cloud portfolio
The vendor has added partners with federal IT experience to help government clients migrate systems to the cloud.
Modernization
Hurd: Feds' cloud security concerns are overblown
Agencies wary of moving to the cloud should look to the CIA's example, congressman says. And "server-huggers will have an uncomfortable time" in front of Congress.
People
White House offering $100M in grants for IT job training
The Obama administration on Nov. 17 announced new efforts to boost IT-sector employment; 30-40 grants are expected.
Digital Government
Brennan: Paris Is a 'Wakeup Call' to Europe on Encryption
The ability to shield communications from anyone but the intended recipient via encryption and other digital means will now face unprecedented challenges.
Emerging Tech
NIST Testing out Passwordless Smart Home
The agency has awarded a $1.86 million grant to save consumers from "password fatigue."
Cybersecurity
Computer Scientists in Short Supply at FBI, Watchdog Warns
Cyber teams at five FBI field offices across the country don't have a single computer scientist on staff.
Modernization
Reminder: Mobile Payments Are More Secure Than Traditional Credit Cards
That strip of plastic is riskier than you think.
Emerging Tech
Could a New Center Help the US in Global Supercomputing Rankings?
The Energy Department's new energy-efficient facility will include an innovative supercomputing center and an extremely fast network so researchers can tackle countrywide challenges.
Modernization
Why legacy IT is a government time bomb
Antiquated computer systems based on legacy code are a problem for government not just because they are hard to secure, but because it is hard to find people to run them.
Cybersecurity