Modernization

Technology: The problem and solution for Postal Service's $238 billion shortfall

USPS says improved Web presence and mobile apps are key initiatives in its strategy to climb out of the red.

Cybersecurity

Monitoring federal networks, global supply chain part of cyber initiative

Among information the administration declassified is a call for acquisition reform to make sure technology products have not been developed to infiltrate networks and steal data.

Digital Government

Nation's cybersecurity suffers from a lack of information sharing

Lack of trust between the government and private sectors still inhibits information sharing needed to defend against rapidly evolving cyberthreats.

Ideas

Facebook No Show at Hearing

A senator chastised the social-networking service Facebook on Tuesday for refusing to attend his subcommittee hearing on global Internet freedom, while simultaneously seeking the government's help in resolving Internet blockages overseas.

Ideas

Is Cybersecurity All Hype?

Wired's Ryan Singel wrote a long <a href=http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/cyber-war-hype/>post</a> in the site's Threat Level blog arguing that much of the concern over the security of the Internet is being fueled by federal contractors, which would benefit financially from the government pursuing policies to lock it down and to track 'Net users.

Digital Government

Social Media: Is Defense Unique?

The Defense Department on Friday <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100226_3264.php">unveiled</a> its new policy allowing military members and civilians to access social media Web sites from the agency's unclassified network. Price B. Floyd, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for public affairs, said last week that the new policy is an attempt to change the culture at the department, particularly as young people, many of whom have grown up using social media sites like Facebook, join the military, the American Forces Press Service <a href="http://www.defense.gov//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=58135">reports</a>.

Digital Government

Piling on iPhone, Android Military Apps

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said on Monday it wants individuals and industry to develop military iPhone and Android applications "that can be used today with little or no additional research and development expenses."

Digital Government

White House lifts the veil on Bush cybersecurity initiative

National cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt announced at the RSA Security Conference that, beginning today, newly declassified portions of the CNCI will be available online.

People

From the federal blogoshere...

A made-for-TV mystery, a new Navy blog, and TSA says "relax."

Acquisition

Will contracting savings plans translate into budget cuts?

Blogger Steve Kelman believes that OMB should avoid inadvertently penalizing agencies that come up with aggressive plans for saving contracting dollars.

People

Who's lurking on that social network?

Do you like to learn your peers' perceptions but don't want to share your own shards of wisdom? Then you may just be a social network lurker.

People

What Does Craig Newmark Recommend?

The founder and chief customer service rep of Craigslist is also a 2010 Federal 100 award winner for his work in helping agencies with citizen outreach.

Cybersecurity

Recommended Reading

DARPA gets proactive about cybersecurity; Hollywood has a long history of making movies about hackers; and it might be time to rethink your approach to employee evaluations.

Acquisition

SBA tries again to help women-owned businesses get contracts

The Small Business Administration today proposed a procurement set-aside rule that would give women business-owners more opportunities in federal contracting.

Ideas

Service Academy Apps Go Paperless

Applying for nomination to West Point just got a little faster and more environmentally friendly. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday announced the launch of an <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden/academy-nominations>online application</a> for several U.S. service academies.

Digital Government

Military still gives thumbs down to thumb drives

Despite relaxing the all out ban on using portable storage devices on Defense Department computer systems, it appears thumb drives will not return to the military services anytime soon.

Digital Government

Feds, cybersecurity, cloud security take center stage at RSA 2010

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt and FBI chief Robert Mueller will all be taking the keynote stage at annual RSA Security Conference and Expo.

Digital Government

E-health record system certification requests rise sharply

Since Feb. 12, 46 vendors have applied for certification of their digital record systems from the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.

Digital Government

Salvation from the 7 deadly sins of cloud computing

The Cloud Security Alliance released the first version of its "Top Threats to Cloud Computing" report today at the RSA Security Conference.