Cybersecurity
White House urges streamlined cyber rules following industry feedback
Private sector input from an August 2023 information request signals a need to harmonize cybersecurity regulations, said ONCD chief Harry Coker.
Cybersecurity
FTC-industry talks over possible Microsoft probe raised recent hacking incidents
Chinese and Russian cyber infiltrations into agencies’ Microsoft email systems came up in discussions over a possible antitrust investigation into the company, people familiar say.
Cybersecurity
Former NSA head feels ‘really good’ about election security come November
Paul Nakasone, the recently retired head of NSA and CYBERCOM, said the intelligence community has everything it needs to combat election interference attempts later this year.
Defense
Defense Digital Service directors tapped unauthorized tech without proper waivers, watchdog finds
The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General found that former Defense Digital Service heads had “exposed DOD information to additional cybersecurity risk and increased the risk of compromise.”
Ideas
Strategies for sustainable, low-carbon federal data centers
COMMENTARY | Reducing emissions and energy consumption will allow agencies to model best practices for allied nations while future-proofing infrastructure against exponential data demands.
Artificial Intelligence
Allied troops, drones and AI are already fighting in simulated Ukrainian environments
Pitched battles are taking place in highly realistic but virtualized spaces.
Digital Government
HHS launches online tool to identify communities hit hardest by extreme heat
The heat and health index tool provides zip code level data to flag neighborhoods that are the most at risk of experiencing harmful health outcomes as a result of high temperatures.
Cybersecurity
NIST taps Analygence to help fix vulnerability database backlog
The standards agency has been unable to keep up with the inflow of system vulnerabilities being reported to its database.
Ideas
Why it's past time to modernize the FITARA scorecard
COMMENTARY | Another reset is needed to keep the FITARA scorecard relevant in driving IT management best practices across federal agencies
People
VA's tech training program for vets is up for renewal, but backers want more accountability
A provision in a recently introduced legislative package would extend VA’s VET-TEC training program through September 2026 while seeking to address employment disparities.
Defense
Across the Army, units lean into drone experimentation
In division after division, soldiers are learning to use a rising wave of robots and other unmanned systems.
Acquisition
Interior awards 7 seats on $2B cloud license contract
This second iteration of the program focuses on the development of a cloud-based production environment and application migration.
Digital Government
Agencies are on the clock to improve their digital accessibility — here’s how they’re doing so far
Guidance issued last fall set standards and benchmarks for agencies to improve their many public-facing websites.
Cybersecurity
Senator calls for federal probes of UnitedHealth for negligent cyber practices
Hackers broke into Change Healthcare systems due to a lack of multifactor authentication.
Breaking News
Digital Government
IRS makes Direct File permanent
The tool piloted during the recent tax season helped certain taxpayers file online with the government for free.
Emerging Tech
NOAA looks to sharpen solar storm forecasts with new satellite
The agency’s GOES-U satellite, scheduled to launch next month, will include an advanced instrument, called a compact coronagraph, to provide scientists with faster, more reliable data about solar storms.
Digital Government
DOD OIG-hosted Ukraine oversight webpage gets an upgrade
A group of inspectors general made three new changes to the site that provides transparency into ongoing federal operations in Ukraine.
Ideas
Overcoming technical debt and accelerating modernization
COMMENTARY | High performance in IT requires an ability to adapt, preparing the organization to seize future opportunities and tackle upcoming challenges efficiently.
Cybersecurity
US disables global cybercrime network that enabled theft of billions in fraud schemes
The botnet infected some 19 million IP addresses, with over 600,000 of them based in U.S. locations. Government fraud losses reached some $6 billion from the operations.
Cybersecurity