Cybersecurity
How Cybercriminals Turn Paper Checks Stolen from Mailboxes into Bitcoin
Mailboxes are increasingly becoming the scene of a crime.
People
Appeals court deals another blow to Biden's contractor vaccine mandate
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit said in a Wednesday decision that Biden's mandate likely goes beyond authority given in the Procurement Act and denied the administration's request that an injunction in three states be lifted.
Emerging Tech
Privacy Advocates Connect Capitol Attack to Need for Data Protection Legislation
Sen. Ron Wyden joined citizen groups calling for limits on data collection as a way around an impasse over regulating free speech.
Modernization
In IT Modernization And Cloud Adoption, Don’t Overlook Employee Training
Training helps keep employees up to date on the latest tech and keep them engaged, according to GSA Cloud Optimization Director Thomas Santucci.
Digital Government
Streamlining delivery at USDA
Rebecca Piazza, former 18F acting executive director, is working at USDA on customer experience in food and nutrition benefits. The hope is that the work could increase participation in programs by taking away administrative burdens.
Emerging Tech
Army to Deploy Virtual Reality Capabilities to Combat Sexual Assault
Lessons on regulatory guidance and more will be provided through the potential new training.
Emerging Tech
Alexa, Webex headed to the moon
Custom-built versions of Amazon's Alexa digital voice assistant and Cisco's Webex video collaboration software will be tested on NASA's unmanned Orion spacecraft as it travels to the moon and back.
Acquisition
GAO uses uses covert testing scheme to assess SBA screening processes
The Government Accountability Office sent applications from four fake firms to the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program to see whether SBA had made progress addressing long-standing oversight issues.
Cybersecurity
Federal agencies highlight security improvements a year after Capitol attack
The Homeland Security Department said officials do not “have information indicating any specific or credible threats related to the anniversary.”
Cybersecurity
One Year After Jan. 6 Attack, Push For Quick Reaction Force Is Dead On Capitol Hill
Experts also warn changes at DOD won’t speed up how quickly Guardsmen could respond to future incidents.
Modernization
The ‘Mayor of SAMgov’ Leaves Government After 15 Years of Public Service
Judith Zawatsky talks to Nextgov about her time at the General Services Administration and how building government services has changed over the years.
Digital Government
‘Sheer Madness:’ Agencies Scramble to Implement New Policies for COVID-Positive Employees
With staffing shortages arriving or anticipated, agencies look to adapt their quarantine and isolation guidelines.
Cybersecurity
New CMMC Training to Align with Certification Changes
Look for trainers working on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program to realign their efforts to support recent changes to the certification process in 2022.
Artificial Intelligence
Defense Official: Talent Tops Tools for Executing Data Strategy
The DOD’s chief data officer emphasized the importance of personnel over equipment for how the military is trying to obtain a data advantage over adversaries like China.
Cybersecurity
DOD looks to expand its data partnerships with allies
The Defense Department’s chief data officer, David Spirk, talked about the growing community of data leaders among allies and how the partnerships can pay off.
Cybersecurity
FTC warns of legal risks of failing on Log4j mitigation
The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning this week urging companies to take "reasonable steps" to mitigate known software vulnerabilities or face potential legal consequences, recalling the $700 million settlement Equifax paid for a major breach in 2017.
Modernization
Army Intel Division Aiming For Wide-Reaching IT Overhaul
The Intelligence and Security Command unit published a solicitation looking for a contractor to modernize its IT infrastructure, focusing on secure network and automation capabilities.
Ideas
AI-Powered Automation Can Be Both a Part of the Problem and Part of the Solution
There are real security concerns that should be addressed ahead of further government adoption of a truly automated future.
People
OPM disputes 2021 court ruling on firing feds for poor performance
Comments from the Office of Personnel Management in a recent rulemaking could change how agencies approach performance improvement plans and termination for cause.
Modernization