Modernization
MCI, DOD explore security issues in upcoming BT buy
In anticipation of its announced purchase by British Telecommunications PLC MCI's Government Markets division has been working with the Defense Investigative Service to ensure that the company's guidelines for protecting federal classified communications meet the standards established by the Defens
Digital Government
A Glossary of Intranet Terms
BOOTP Bootstrap Protocol A protocol that allows a machine to get its IP address dynamically. DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration System. Based on BOOTP this protocol also provides for dynamic address allocation in assigning IP address to workstations on a network. DNS Domain Naming System. This
Digital Government
Virus prompts partial EPA shutdown
last week a computer virus wiped out files in an estimated 600 workstations in the midAtlantic region of the Environmental Protection Agency and disabled up to two dozen other computers causing the agency to shut down its network operations in the region on Thursday. Jim Newsom deputy associate re
Digital Government
DES set for overhaul
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is preparing to change for the first time in almost 20 years the required federal standard for the protection of all encrypted government data characterized as sensitive but unclassified. NIST is preparing a Federal Register request for an algorith
Digital Government
Agencies Secure Intranets with Firewalls
Although Internet security awareness is growing the security of internal networks has been 'abysmal " according to Richard Power an analyst with the Computer Security Institute San Francisco. This shortcoming is more serious than it used to be because organizations 'are now conducting missioncrit
Digital Government
Intercepts
New info war ops center. DISA has created a Global Operations and Security Center to provide centralized management for all IWD (information warfaredefend) operations for DOD. Air Force Col. James Sweeder who previously headed NSA's Customer Engineering Support Division will run the new center. S
Digital Government
Tools for Building an Internet/Intranet
Whether an organization is building an Internet or an intranet setup the technology is basically the same. Vendors have made it increasingly easy to create both types of applications. Some vendors are offering intranet 'bundles" that include the necessary hardware software and peripherals. Overall
Digital Government
Browsing the virtual bookshelf
Tired of accessing online publishers that tease with titillating titles but provide only a portion of a publication's text? Then point your browser to www.nap.edu for immediate access to more than 1 000 fulltext health science and technology publications housed at the new Web site of the National
Digital Government
ORD links network to EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development (ORD) one of the most fragmented offices in an agency often criticized for its stovepipe approach to information management is rolling out a new network that will link it for the first time to the rest of the EPA. With the
Digital Government
Army Corps of Engineers
At a Glance Project Objective: Replace cable plant and create intranet to improve data access within organization. Status: A new cable plant has been installed and several intranet applications are up and running. Investment: $1 millionplus (including new cabling). Contractors: The Corps of Engine
People
Survey asks agencies to calculate costs
Spooked by the amount of money agencies may be spending on building and maintaining Internet systems Congress has ordered a governmentwide survey of such costs. The survey which the General Accounting Office sent to agencies Nov. 1 has sparked some fear of a future crackdown on Internet use. Congre
Digital Government
NASA official looks to the stars and back home again
Robert Price always had a keen interest in science but it was the ferocious late1950s space race between the United States and the Soviet Union that honed his path to what has become a 29year career at NASA. When Price was in high school the two superpowers were maneuvering to be the first to sen
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HP, Tektronix carve new niches
HewlettPackard Co. and Tektronix Inc. today announced new printer lines aiming to carve out niches in the growing market for workgroup and departmental printers. HP debuted a network printer that the company is positioning as an alternative to the photocopier. HP has dubbed its product a 'mopier '
Digital Government
SET-ASIDES
CIOs back proposed changes to FAR Part 15 contracting rules T he Chief Information Officers Council has agreed to endorse proposed revisions to Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation which governs negotiated contracts. Al Pesachowitz CIO at the Environmental Protection Agency and vice chairm
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National Institutes of Health
At a Glance Project Objective: Create an intranet that provides controlled access to sensitive information and at the same time permits groups to collaborate on projects. Status: The intranet infrastructure is up and running and the division continues to add new capabilities. Investment: Because th
Digital Government
INDUSTRY WATCH
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.'s 150 MHz Pentium laptops are headed for federal contracts. The Tecra 730 CDT is now available through AmeriData Federal Systems' notebook blanket purchase agreement with the Navy. The Tecra's price for 16M of RAM a 6X CDROM drive and a 12.1inch TFT displa
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Naval Sea Systems Command
Project Objective: Navsea headquarters sought an intranet to enhance communications flow while Newport focused on database access. Status: Both projects are works in progress with enhancements continually being made. Investment: Use of existing network infrastructure and commercial offtheshelf so
Digital Government
Agencies eye commercial birds as interest in satellites grows
Satellites have played a minor role in government communications for some time but drastic cuts in the costs of transmission and hardware are bringing the medium a much larger profile in federal plans. This boost in the use of satellite time will give commercial providers a bigger slice of governme
Digital Government
Electronic Turf Warfare
Jerry Paul information systems manager for Salinas Calif. predicted the city's computing future.
Digital Government