Cybersecurity

How to shift CMMC for the future

While the goal of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is to establish a unified standard for cybersecurity practices across the DOD, it does not directly address specific control expectations or risks associated with organization-specific threat actors.

Digital Government

FCW Insider: Sept. 28

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Cybersecurity

CMMC clears key regulatory hurdle

The White House approved an interim rule to mandate defense contractors prove they adhere to existing cybersecurity standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Cybersecurity

Hackers Take Data for Further Reconnaissance in Breach of Federal Agency

Initial access to the agency’s system was possibly due to failure to fix a known VPN vulnerability, a patch for which was released in April 2019.

Emerging Tech

Lawmakers Propose $1M to Examine How Mis- And Disinformation Impacted COVID-19 Response

In particular, they’d like to know more about foreign and domestic sources propagating false information.

Emerging Tech

Oak Ridge Considers Supplementing In-House Cybersecurity Operations, CISO Says

Oak Ridge National Lab's top information security official told Nextgov he’s looking at moving to managed threat detection and response services.

Digital Government

HHS to Start Testing Your Poop for COVID-19

Testing will cover approximately 10% of Americans within the next eight weeks, with an option to expand that to 30% within another nine weeks.

Cybersecurity

DHS watchdog weighs in on 2019 biometrics leak

Customs and Border Protection didn't adequately safeguard data that eventually leaked by subcontractor, a recent Inspector General report states.

Ideas

Addressing Insider Threats with Event Triggers 

An insider threat program that incorporates financial triggers can help identify at-risk individuals.

Modernization

Bipartisan bill looks to claw back executive power over telecom

World War II-era legislation, meant to counter radio transmissions to the enemy in wartime, now gives the president 'kill-switch' authority over the internet and telecommunications.

Digital Government

Quick Hits

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Digital Government

FCW Insider: Sept. 25

The latest news and analysis from FCW's reporters and editors.

Cybersecurity

FBI Director: Feeding DOD’s Cyber Offense Operations Is Crucial to New Strategy

Senator says legislation is moving forward to thwart intellectual property theft from China and defend federal networks from cyberattacks.

Digital Government

Federal Chief Data Officers Need More Resources, Well-Defined Role, Survey Says

The Foundations for Evidence Based Policymaking Act required agencies to install chief data officers. But what exactly that role should look like remains an open question. 

Digital Government

How the Government Shifted Its Onboarding Strategy During the Pandemic

Despite a largely remote workforce, the government hasn’t stopped hiring employees, especially those performing critical mission functions.

Artificial Intelligence

CIA’s New Innovation Lab Could Mean Big Paydays for Federal Scientists

The agency is investing in cutting-edge technology and offering officials a chance to profit off their developments.

Cybersecurity

IG: CBP Responsible for 2019 Biometrics Breach, Though No Federal Networks Were Compromised

A ransomware attack on a Customs and Border Protection vendor leaked facial images on more than 184,000 travelers—something agency security and policy should have prevented.

Modernization

NARA looks to multi-cloud

The federal government's archive drafting a multi-cloud storage acquisition strategy to accommodate other agencies' digital data.

People

Cancel culture: Tales from the U.S. and China

Steve Kelman looks at how a tale of cancel culture in the U.S. was misunderstood in China.