Emerging Tech

Many Feds Still Uneasy About Cloud Use

A new report found that 44 percent of polled government tech gurus remain “uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” turning IT services and applications over to cloud service providers.

Digital Government

The 'Privacy Coalition' That Wants to Trim Data Regulations for Telecom Giants

The 21st Century Privacy Coalition is funded by companies including Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon.

Digital Government

'Irish cynics' talk big data's good, bad and ugly

Behind the buzzwords and pointless analytics lie real potential, but agencies and the private sector still struggle to use big data effectively.

Ideas

10 Facts about Federal Websites

How many sites are reachable via HTTPS and how many are powered by open source?

Digital Government

Open Internet controversy could imperil FCC IT modernization

In aiming to curtail any "net neutrality" proposals, appropriators might nick the agency's IT spending.

Cybersecurity

Debating the Sino-Russian cyber pact

Mike Rogers, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, weighed in on the growing Russian and Chinese threats to U.S. assets in cyberspace.

People

White House taps Princeton prof as deputy CTO

Ed Felten was named to the No. 2 CTO spot at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

People

What worries private sector CIOs, and why it matters to feds

Consternation about rapid change demonstrates the "mega shift" underway in technology, says a new survey of CIOs.

Cybersecurity

Post-Snowden, NSA Crafts New Plan to Protect National Secrets

The spy agency's framework could help employees assess, and potentially mitigate, the risk of sharing sensitive information.

Digital Government

Technology Popular Theme in Agency Competitions

Agencies held twice as many contests and challenges in 2014 as they did in 2012, and the number of prizes also rose over those two years.

Modernization

The Chinese Military Is Afraid Wearables Will Reveal its Secrets

China’s military released an ominous warning May 10, telling troops and the wider public that network-connected wearable devices pose a national security risk when used by military personnel.

Digital Government

NSA Critic Named No. 2 White House Tech Official

After ribbing on NSA and the White House cyber czar, Princeton researcher Ed Felten was appointed U.S. deputy chief technology officer.

Digital Government

Rand Paul Threatens Filibuster Over NSA Spying

The GOP presidential hopeful joins Democrat Ron Wyden in threatening to block a bill reauthorizing the Patriot Act without NSA reforms.

Modernization

Amazon Drone Delivery Will Track Customers Down No Matter Where They Are

The retail giant has outlined a plan for its proposed delivery drones to get packages to you in half an hour, regardless of location.

Cybersecurity

Geodata brokers, spear-phishing feds, a Data Act playbook and more

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Emerging Tech

15 Technologies NASA Is Funding to Make Science Fiction a Reality

Each year, the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program awards funding to a set of research projects on the bleeding edge of technology.

Digital Government

Does the Patriot Act Justify NSA Surveillance? Law in Uncharted Territory as Deadlines Approaches

Will the Patriot Act mean something different if lawmakers renew it now that they know the full extent of NSA's spying?

Digital Government

The disappearance of TaxmanKeith

Reddit's favorite 'IRS Employee' has deleted his account. His case demonstrates a demand for social media engagement that IRS policy isn't prepared to meet.

Ideas

4 Things to Consider when Revamping Agency Processes

As agencies continue to balance budget constraints with increasing mission scope, continued optimization of business processes may prove a fruitful path.