Digital Government

Needed: A Security Tune Up

As the nation's health industry embraces electronic health records, one area that certainly will become a hot topic -- even more so than now -- is the security of those records. If history is any indication, the digitized medical files will be just as susceptible to hackers and unauthorized users' prying eyes as most other electronic files stored on every network nationwide.

Cybersecurity

Feds Failing File Transfer Test

Federal agencies are concerned about securely moving data from one system to another, but employees still are using unsafe transfer methods and leaving systems open to threats, according to a new <a href=http://www.meritalk.com/2010-ftpsecurityreport.php>survey</a>[registration required] from Meritalk and Axway, a security solutions provider.

Ideas

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Box

A new online inbox to solicit anonymous comments from service members and their family members about the impact of reversing the ban on openly gay soldiers in the military went live this month.

Digital Government

Are Generational Stereotypes Useful?

Tom Fox of the Partnership for Public Service tackles the question of whether generational stereotypes are real in Monday's <a href="http://views.washingtonpost.com/leadership/fedcoach/2010/05/generational-differences.html">Federal Coach column</a>. Fox argues that there may be real differences among the four generations in the federal workforce today, but conventional wisdom may not always be accurate. As a result, federal leaders should spend time asking questions and getting to know each member of the team in order to gain perspective on what motivates each employee, regardless of their generation. Leaders also should make sure they're looking for talent that matches the needs of today, rather than seeking traits that already exist, Fox advises.

Modernization

Measure would require agencies to put all public records online

New legislation would mandate that agencies make public records permanently available online.

Digital Government

Baker responds to VA VistA report

Roger Baker, assistant secretary for information and technology at the VA, thanks the VistA advisory committee for its "exhaustive" report.

Cybersecurity

A House insider's view of U.S. cybersecurity policy

Rep. Yvette Clarke, the chairwoman of House Homeland Security subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Cybersecurity, discusses the difficulty of legislating an issue that constantly changes.

Modernization

Mobile SSA statistics: Agency wants an app for that

The Social Security Administration surveys vendors about creating iPhone applications.

Digital Government

Cybersecurity buzz could be a bubble

The cybersecurity market is booming, but how long will that continue?

Acquisition

HUD CIO seeks help with IT investment system

The Housing and Urban Development Department asks small-business contractors to bid on supporting HUD's IT Investment Management system.

Digital Government

White House dismisses cyberattack as culprit in Dow Jones plunge

White House Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan said he has no indication that a cyberattack was behind the Dow's 1,000-point plunge last week.

Digital Government

Joint Chiefs chairman opts for richer social media to get the word out

Defense Department official shifts away from static forms of communication and toward more interactive types, according to a news report.

People

The buzz factor

These were the most-read stories on FCW.com during the past two weeks.

Digital Government

The FCC vs. Broadband investors

Wall Street Journal