Digital Government

VistA, 'Gold Standard' of EHRs

That's what Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department, told a House VA committee hearing on Tuesday. So, if this is the view of the boss, why, oh why, is VA so intent on ripping out the Gold Standard Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) electronic health record system for a new-fangled deal called Health eVet.

Ideas

It's Here: The Security Comic Strip

How funny can data theft, data loss, fraud and identity theft be? Pretty funny, according to portable storage device (read flash drives) <a href="http://www.cososys.com/">CoSoSys</a>. IN a press release sent out this morning, the company said it launched "a series of comic strips intended to educate the public regarding the embedded threats of portable and lifestyle devices."

Cybersecurity

Kwon: More collaboration needed

The director of US-CERT urged more collaboration today between policy-makers and those who respond to cyber incidents.

Modernization

Official: Federal Web 2.0 tools should evolve

Evaluating ideas in the same place where collaboration happens could lead to better information getting to the people who need it faster, said Chris Rasmussen of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Modernization

Recommended reading: Effective e-mail, Conflicker and cloud computing

Here is a round up of some good reads from around the Web this week.

Cybersecurity

DHS appoints cybersecurity official

Philip Reitinger will be the new deputy undersecretary of DHS' National Protection and Programs Directorate.

People

Law freezes competitive sourcing

The fiscal 2009 spending law includes a moratorium on new competitive sourcing projects.

Modernization

OMB: Stimulus grant applications may overwhelm portal

Grants.gov is already struggling to keep up with the increase in demand, and agencies must find other methods for accepting economic recovery grant applications and submit plans to OMB by March 13.

Modernization

DHS getting better at communications, state officials say

State homeland security directors say communications with the Homeland Security Department have improved, according to a new survey.

Digital Government

OMB directs agencies to review grants management systems immediately

The government's central Web portal for processing grants is not equipped to handle influx of stimulus-related applications, says budget director.

Cybersecurity

Panelists call for White House to lead cybersecurity efforts

The Homeland Security Department is best-suited for a coordinating role, GAO and industry officials tell lawmakers.