Modernization

Congress requires Homeland Security's data center to go green

In passing fiscal 2010 funding, the House stipulates that more than half of the center's budget be set aside until DHS develops ways to ensure there is enough electricity.

Digital Government

Military retiree launches virtual Army Family Support Center

Virtual world offers links to information and a chat room for relatives of service members.

Cybersecurity

NASA systems and data vulnerable to hackers, malicious employees

Some centers did not always restrict access to sensitive files and information, putting space missions at risk, GAO reports.

Ideas

A Short Route to Gov 2.0

<a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091015_3756.php?oref=topnews">My story</a> on Thursday about the creation of <a href="http://go.usa.gov/">go.usa.gov</a>, the official government link shortener, is probably not going to dominate the headlines on the day when Recovery.gov is rolling out the first wave of recipient-reported data. But it's a small example of the type of innovation that can only help the government increase its ability to serve the American public online.

Digital Government

Contractors Wag Defense Watchdog

Want some outrage today? Take out your pay stub, look at the gaping hole the Internal Revenue Service has made in your income and then read this Government Accountability Office <a href=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10163t.pdf>testimony</a>. It details how contractors have managed to defang the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the outfit that's supposed to protect the public purse from looters called federal contractors.

Cybersecurity

Cyber warfare: Sound the alarm or move ahead in stride?

Military leaders and analysts say evolving cyber threats, which some believe could produce a "digital Hurricane Katrina," will require the Defense Department to work more closely with experts in industry.

Modernization

Adapting to cloud requires agility, flexibility

Speakers from the Transportation Department, FedEx and Manpower Inc. offer insights about cloud implementations.

People

DEA counsel wants to buy new case management system

The Drug Enforcement Administration's Office of Chief Counsel is looking for an off-the-shelf software application that could track and manage cases for 102 attorneys.

Cybersecurity

Some key events in the history of cyber warfare

Track the timeline of significant cybersecurity attacks.

People

Agencies spent billions of stimulus money on noncompetitive contracts

Federal agencies have awarded $7.8 billion on noncompetitive, non-fixed-price contracts under the economic stimulus law, a government Web site says.

Digital Government

No COLA Increase in 2010

Federal retirees will receive no cost-of-living adjustment in their pension checks in 2010, the government announced Thursday.

Digital Government

Telework Best Practices

Telework Exchange conducted a <a href="http://www.teleworkexchange.com/establishedprogram/A%20View%20from%20the%20Top%20Presentation_FINAL.pdf">Webinar</a> on Wednesday that looked at some telework best practices at federal agencies. Representatives from the Patent and Trademark Office, the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Virginia state government and Cisco each provided advice on the keys to a successful telework program, including how to measure its effectiveness

Acquisition

4 lessons in rapid acquisition learned from DOD's new ATVs

DOD's purchase of all-terrain vehicles reinforces lessons about buying quickly and offers insights for improving rapid acquisitions, experts say.

Modernization

Recommended reading: Robots, Luddites and social media

Security gets scarier still; When IT workers are Luddites; Get to know your Nobel winners; How to win friends in social media

Modernization

Does 'early and often' work for software?

A growing number of agencies are using agile development techniques to produce better software faster, but some question whether the approach can succeed in an environment that favors certainty.

Modernization

Software development smorgasbord

There are several variations when it comes to alternative software development approaches. Here are definitions of some of them and other key concepts.