Cybersecurity

DHS still pondering biometric air exit system

The Homeland Security Department is still considering whether -- and how -- to proceed with a system to electronically collect fingerprints from non-U.S. visitors as they leave the United States by aircraft.

People

DOE launches smart grid Web portal

The Energy Department has started a new Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse Web site in beta form to provide a forum for information sharing on smart grid technologies.

Digital Government

Correction: Federal judiciary funds IT war chest 8 cents at a time

This article was corrected July 8 to clarify the sponsorship of Law.gov

Cybersecurity

Be a Good Security Analyst

How deep is your <a href="http://www.it.ufl.edu/policies/security/uf-it-sec-incident-response.html">incident and response tracking</a>? There are a number of ways to track and log incidents. I recommend keeping copies of any relevant logs in an incident entry notebook. Every virus detection goes into this incident database, including malware incident details and usually the website access logs within the context of the antivirus incident.

Digital Government

Cyber shield for private sector sparks Big Brother fears

The National Security Agency's new program to shield the networks of privately owned utilities and other critical infrastructure companies has some people worried that it's a step toward a surveillance state or a government power grab.

People

How contests can improve government performance (and procurement)

Blogger Steve Kelman believes public contests are a great way to generate ideas to improve government operations and cut costs.

Modernization

Open-gov reviews devalue social media

For government agencies, the Defense Department has attracted above-average participation to its social media presence. But that doesn't impress the White House's open-government leaders.

Acquisition

Executive, legislative branches' insourcing edicts send mixed messages

The White House and Congress are beaming decrees across the government about insourcing federal work, but the messages they're sending to agencies and departments are mixed.

Digital Government

Batman and Robin's new secret hideout: DARPA's labs

The boffins at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency may be planning to study the science in the proposed new programs, but the wonks who devise acronyms -- we think it's a super-secret bureau nestled in the deep recesses of a secret agency -- must have worked overtime on the names.

People

Twitter nears the gov 2.0 tipping point

We are beginning to see increased adoption of tools such as Twitter into more formal roles to help meet agency missions, writes commentator Steve Lunceford.

Modernization

Recommended reading

Unmasking anonymous posters; The coming cloud disaster; The future of IT

People

The best of the federal blogosphere

This week's highlights: dangerous Popsicle makers; Transportation's real star; paper-based Web testing; a Twitter town hall.

People

Telework: Report tells tale of operational benefits, management resistance

The government is not expanding or promoting flexible work arrangements across the federal sphere, despite the benefit of government being able to operate in the event of a disruption to a physical facility, according to a new report.

Digital Government

Finding Choices at Healthcare.gov

<em>This post was written by Aliya Sternstein.</em> The administration this week posted information intended to help patients choose the safest hospitals on a new website aimed at granting consumers more control over their health care - and curbing federal spending.

Modernization

TSA reverses Web site censorship policy

The Transportation Security Administration has retracted its week-old policy of blocking employees' work computer access to Web sites with "controversial opinion."

Digital Government

Soundbytes: Rotten Smells and Feeding Wolves

A weekly roundup of comments from Nextgov.com. All comments are presented in their original, unedited form.

Cybersecurity

Official calls securing critical infrastructure against cyberattack impractical

An Energy intelligence official says utilities and companies operating major industries cannot afford to check all technology products for vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity

U.S. nuke agency announces new data, physical security controls

Officials at the National Nuclear Security Administration say the policies should balance efficiency and safety.