Cybersecurity
New bill looks to centralize CISA's role in ICS threat response
Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) cited the recent cybersecurity incident at a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Fla., as the impetus for the legislation.
Emerging Tech
FAA, Choctaw Nation to Conduct Drone Studies
The partnership will investigate moving goods at low altitudes and traits of human operators.
People
Biden signs Rescue bill, boosting TMF and adding pandemic leave for feds
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law on Thursday. In addition to a massive influx of funding to support Americans harmed by the economic fallout of the pandemic, there is funding available for IT modernization and provision to help the federal workforce cope with COVID-19.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: March 12, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Cybersecurity
DARPA Building Special Chips for Data Privacy Protection
Fully Homomorphic Encryption is considered the “holy grail” of encryption. But right now it takes too much compute power to be used widely.
Ideas
Practical Steps to Managing Supply Chain Risk
Like with any new agency initiative, nothing moves forward without executive sponsorship.
Digital Government
Special Report: IT Modernization Priorities for 2021
Many of the new administration’s early executive orders, memos and plans included a technology component, but have yet to address the underlying issues with government IT.
Acquisition
Will DOD keep collaborating after CVR?
Commercial Virtual Remote, spun up last year to support pandemic telework, goes away this summer. DISA is working to ensure the cloud collaboration continues.
Emerging Tech
NIST’s Working to Support Interagency Blockchain Use
Interested partners are invited to respond to a new notice.
Cybersecurity
CISA, FBI Link Exploitation of Microsoft Exchange to Nation-State Actors
The agencies also warned of impending commoditization by criminal groups of access gained through vulnerabilities in the email and calendar service.
People
VA watchdog cautions on pandemic hires
Temporary waivers to speed hiring at VA medical facilities have helped fill workforce gaps, but the agency's Inspector General warns on security risks of putting off certain security checks.
Cybersecurity
CMMC board's training lead resigns
Ben Tchoubineh, the CMMC accreditation body's chair for training and CMMC board member Nicole Dean, the chief information security officer for Accenture, have voluntarily resigned, FCW has learned.
Emerging Tech
VA Doctor Dispels Myths that 5G Could Make People Sick
He also offered a look into several government-centered deployments.
Cybersecurity
CISA: No Federal Agencies Compromised Through Microsoft Exchange Servers
Investigations remain ongoing, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency leaders said at a hearing on modernizing the federal government’s approach to cybersecurity.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: March 11, 2021
The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.
Acquisition
New House task force focuses on supply chain vulnerabilities
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), co-chair of the Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force, said "sometimes the marketplace just doesn't get it right and we, without intending to, create real national security vulnerabilities for ourselves."
Digital Government
Central IT Modernization Fund Gets $1B in COVID Stimulus
The major infusion of cash will mean more modernization projects, which might require a new funding model.
Digital Government