Modernization
Help wanted with 7 million lines of COBOL
The Railroad Retirement Board is looking to update its legacy IT systems.
Cybersecurity
Why insider threats keep succeeding
Outdated security models rarely address insider threats, argues John Sellers, and perimeter defense and background checks are not going to keep attackers out.
Ideas
DATA Act at Year 1: In Need of a Growth Hormone
For the first time, the DATA Act has made it someone's job to define, and later enforce, common standards that will allow users to match and search across financial, budget and award reports.
People
Rep. Connolly wants you to tell him a story
The Virginia Democrat is soliciting success stories about federal employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Modernization
HealthCare.gov flaws, DARPA drones, OSTP prizes and the Datanauts' debut
News and notes from around the federal IT community.
Cybersecurity
Senators question Thrift Savings Plan's security
The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee want to know more about TSP's cybersecurity.
Emerging Tech
Many Projects in Pentagon’s Emerging Tech Program Still Stuck in Development
Only about half of projects GAO examined had been transitioned to a government acquisition program, a military user, a prime contractor or eventually commercialized.
Modernization
Government’s Mobile Sites, Apps Rated More Highly Than Many Companies’
Almost a quarter of federal website traffic now comes from mobile devices.
Cybersecurity
NSA surveillance and an HHS nomination
News and notes from around the federal IT community.
Digital Government
White House Dispatches Digital Squad to Salvage Electronic Immigration System
The Obama administration has dispatched the U.S. Digital Service to study deep-seated problems and experiment with new development techniques for the new system.
Emerging Tech
Can Analytics Save US Soldiers from Suicide?
The Army is in the midst of a five-year effort that aims to identify factors that protect or put at risk a soldier’s mental health.
Digital Government
Video: Innovation in Data-driven Government
Why open data will help build a better society.
Emerging Tech
NASA Technology Located Four Trapped Earthquake Victims in Nepal, by Detecting Their Heartbeats
FINDER is a radar machine that sends a continuous microwave signal through the rubble, and can detect a human’s breathing or heartbeat (and distinguish it from the movement of an animal).
Modernization
Police Can Track Your Cellphone Without a Warrant -- For Now
Two federal appeals courts have upheld warrantless cellphone tracking. Will the Supreme Court step in?
Ideas
Agency CIOs Need to Be Aware of the Dangers of Consumer Tech
Agency CIOs must be cautious when procuring IT products developed for consumers.
Acquisition
GSA IG concerned about transactional data plan
The central concern is that the changes could affect pricing protections that can't be replaced by the benefits of transactional data.
Digital Government
Federal Appeals Court Rules NSA Spying Illegal
The phone data collection program “exceeds the scope of what Congress has authorized," a judge ruled Thursday.
Digital Government
5 ways to turn big data into better government
USDS's Mina Hsiang says big data offers simple solutions to the vast majority of customer complaints.
Emerging Tech