Modernization
Interoperable radio issues still hound DHS
Almost 14 years after the September 11 attacks, radio interoperability remains a dream deferred.
Digital Government
Can universal security controls prevent the next big breach?
Never let a good crisis go to waste -- now is the time to push data security standards for more than just federal agencies.
Emerging Tech
Video: These High-Tech Kiosks Can Speed You Through Customs in Minutes
Good news for frequent travelers.
Cybersecurity
McCain touts DOD/Silicon Valley ties, RAND ponders cyber reputations, and more
News and notes from around the federal IT community.
Emerging Tech
Tattoo Algorithms Could Soon Help Identify Criminals
A newer system might use image recognition, instead of verbal descriptions of tattoo designs, to identify individuals or find patterns.
People
How flexible should FITARA be?
The federal CIO told House watchdogs that IT reform would be implemented with strict oversight, but there are already rumblings inside agencies about possible exceptions.
Digital Government
US Will Delay Plan to Give Up Internet Powers
The head of ICANN says his group needs more time to free itself from U.S. control.
Modernization
Agencies Spend Big on Cloud This Year
Federal cloud contract awards have already surpassed last year, according to a recently released study by market research firm Deltek.
Digital Government
Oversight ‘Urgently Needed’ as Agencies Implement IT Reform Law, Watchdog Says
The former DHS CIO will tell Congress some agencies will likely struggle to fully implement the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, known as FITARA.
Cybersecurity
Senators: End sequester to pay for cybersecurity
OPM's fiscal 2016 request of $272 million includes $21 million for finishing network upgrades begun in fiscal 2014.
Ideas
OPM Hack: Why Email Notification Makes a Bad Situation Even Worse
By using a third party to manage data breach communication, OPM has now, in essence, provided phishers with a blueprint for creating an attack.
Modernization
Of garden hoses, tennis bracelets and FedRAMP
"Not every application is meant for the cloud," says the director of the GSA program that certifies cloud security.
Cybersecurity
Army fights a two-front cyber war
The Army has been testing weapon systems for sophisticated cyber threats, but it was an attack on its public website that underscored the breadth of the challenge facing defense agencies.
Digital Government
IGs want computer-matching rules eased
Restrictions on accessing records across agencies are hamstringing government watchdogs -- but there's hope for a change.
Digital Government
EPA CIO Wants her Tech Team to Take Smart Risks
Though she left private industry six years ago, Ann Dunkin is still evangelizing agile practices -- and encouraging her staff to take risks.
Cybersecurity
How OPM Can Find Its Missing Data on the Dark Web
The best way to recover from breaches is to assume that they’re inevitable — and start looking for your data before you know it’s gone.
Cybersecurity
It's Costing OPM $20 Million to Contact Hacked Feds
OPM issued a solicitation to identity theft protection companies a week before disclosing a hack that exposed private information on millions of current and former federal employees.
Cybersecurity
McConnell to Pair Cybersecurity Measure With Defense Bill
Privacy advocates still fear the information-sharing bill could lead to more NSA spying.
Digital Government