Digital Government
Ransoming data: The new weapon of choice for cyber criminals?
Christian Science Monitor
Modernization
DHS launches second test of biometric exit processes
Officials are determining whether Customs and Border agents or airport screeners are better positioned to collect information from visitors leaving the country.
Digital Government
EDS' Failure to Wipe
EDS, which runs the Navy Marine Corps Intranet under a 10 year, $10 billon contract, serves about 650,000 folks. Users turn in, on an annual basis, about 120,000 old computers for new ones. The company failed to magnetically wipe (the technical term is <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degaussing>degaussing</a>) at least 12 hard drives containing secret information, according to a snippet from a Navy inspector general report, which made its way here to Whats central in Las Vegas, N.M.
Ideas
Looking for Leap-Ahead Tech
The Homeland Security Department's Directorate for Science & Technology, which is the primary research and development arm of the Homeland Security Department, requested an increase of $5.4 million for cybersecurity in President Obama's fiscal 2010 budget.
Digital Government
Web 2.0 as an HR Strategy
Companies have increased their reliance on Web 2.0 technologies such as social networking, blogs and webcasts to communicate with and engage their employees, especially as the economic downturn has shrunk funding for human resources, according to the <a href="http://www.watsonwyatt.com/research/resrender.asp?id=NA-2009-1242&page=1">2009 HR Technology Trends report</a> by consulting firm Watson Wyatt.
Digital Government
Twitter, Facebook and CB Radios
Chuck Raasch wrote an interesting piece on USAToday.com on Monday comparing Twitter and Facebook to the CB radio fad of the 1970s. My parents basically met one another over CB radio, so I can see some truth in defining the medium as the social network of that decade.
Digital Government
Rotational Cyber Assignments
The cybersecurity report released by the Obama administration on May 29 includes a few important recommendations for the federal IT workforce. The recommendations include the usual suspects: determine how to improve the government's ability to attract and retain IT employees within the federal service and streamline the lengthy security clearance process to offset lost opportunities. But the report also includes one recommendation that I found interesting and somewhat ambitious, at least for now:
People
Soundoff: Obama foes pour the hate on FCW
Federal Computer Week, it would seem, is the tool of a fascist government, if not an agency of the government itself.
Cybersecurity
Gates: Cybersecurity is a high priority for DOD
Cybersecurity threats are a growing problem for the Defense Department, say Defense Secretary Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen.
People
Why contracting officers get no respect (or do they?)
In response to a recent article, several acquisition officials wrote in to share their experiences in federal government.
Cybersecurity
DNI: Public trust important for cybersecurity
The Director of National Intelligence said the public needs to be convinced that cybersecurity programs will protect civil liberties.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity, E-Verify are big winners in DHS budget
A House subcommittee has approved a $42.6 billion spending bill for the Homeland Security Department that increases the amount allocated to cybersecurity efforts.
People
Martha Johnson wins nod from Senate panel for GSA post
Johnson told the panel GSA is dealing with the challenges of a changing market and shifting customer demands.
People
House passes bills on technology, science
The House has approved bills designed to strengthen federal agencies' cooperation on international science and technology research and on domestic science education.
People
Germain named GSA's chief of staff
Danielle Germain was director of the Collaboration Project at the National Academy of Public Administration. Also, a Senate committee approved Martha Johnson to be GSA administrator.
People