Modernization

Spectrum auction yields billions, CFPB signs IT deal, TIGER turns 25 and more

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Modernization

Why Is Apple Gobbling Up a Quarter of the World’s Sapphire Supply?

The sapphire is used to cover the iPhone’s camera lens and fingerprint reader.

Modernization

A public cloud for NOAA

The agency is seeking information on solutions that can provide virtualization, storage services, network bandwidth, and management tools and capabilities.

Modernization

Are Federal Agencies Ready for Apple Pay?

In 2015, mobile payments will accelerate and constituents will expect federal agencies to support these alternative payment options.

Cybersecurity

Governmentwide Login Portal Connect.gov Unaffected by Hack

Breached Postal Service is weeks away from activating universal passwords for citizens.

Modernization

State Department tech sputters back to life

Employees at Foggy Bottom can now send and receive external emails, something they could not do Nov. 17, but still cannot access the Internet.

Emerging Tech

Is Facebook Doomed?

The social network's future dominance is far from assured.

Modernization

Federal cloud spending projected to soar -- just not quite yet

Deltek's latest report forecasts a sharp increase in cloud investments by FY 2019, but lingering concerns will likely hinder spending until FY 2016.

Modernization

Using IT to address the federal talent shortage

Better systems and talent science can help agencies fill vacancies faster -- and avoid making the wrong hires.

Modernization

More Cloud Data Breaches ‘Inevitable’ in 2015, Forrester Says

The findings should raise eyebrows particularly for government customers, who put a premium on protecting sensitive information.

Modernization

The FCC Plans to Increase Your Phone Bill to Build Better Internet in Schools

Federal regulators want to spend an extra $1.5 billion every year to boost Internet speeds. But consumers will have to pay for it.

Modernization

Why We Need an ‘M-Government’ Movement

The time has come for governments globally to take a hard look at their capacity to provide effective mobile-oriented services.

Modernization

State Department shuts down unclassified email network

A breach at the State Department reportedly occurred in early October, around the same time as an attack on the White House's unclassified computer network.

Modernization

NSA Turns to the Cloud to Help Manage Data Deluge

In 2010, NSA decided to pursue cloud as a “common space” where analysts could look across the agency’s entire river of collected information.

Modernization

Amazon's Cloud Chief: Government Data Centers Will Be a Thing of the Past

Think of it as government service by the gigabyte, with cloud replacing today's federal data centers.

Modernization

NOAA hopes to find data security in the cloud

As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pushes more of its massive trove of data out to the public, securing that information becomes a greater concern.

Modernization

Policing the Cloud: We Should Expect More from Law Enforcement Cloud Providers

What controls exist to protect privacy and secure records from unauthorized access?

Modernization

Of Asteroids and ETs: How Cloud Innovation is Driving Space Exploration

In just a few years, cloud computing could help aid the search for extraterrestrial life.

Modernization

The iPhone Case That Can Call the Police

A startup in Pittsburgh has designed a smartphone case and app to deter assault and help catch the attackers.

Modernization

China Poised to Dominate E-Commerce by 2018

One of the factors that helps drive rising e-commerce sales is consumer confidence.