Emerging Tech

Medical Consortium Aims to Create Network of Virtual Critical Care Wards

The group seeks to support patients in need of critical care in hospitals and other ad-hoc locations using cloud-based communication technology.

Ideas

Ensuring Continuity with Your Internal Customers in a Virtual World

Focus on internal customers, even during a pandemic.

Ideas

The Pandemic Is a Clarion Call to Remove Barriers to Innovation

The COVID-19 crisis presents an opportunity to put in place solutions that will benefit us all, now and in the future.

Modernization

Groups Urge Congress to Fund Federal Tech Upgrades in Next COVID Stimulus Bill

Six federal technology advocacy groups offered four principles for legislators to consider.

Ideas

Is the Fourth Industrial Revolution a Silver Lining? 

Dramatic disruptions like the coronavirus pandemic can lead to permanent shifts in how we work.

Digital Government

Need Help With Covid-19 Tech? This Nonprofit Connects Volunteers with Governments

The U.S. Digital Response, a new nonprofit, dispatches tech-sector volunteers to assist governments with coronavirus-related projects.

Digital Government

Spike in Federal COVID-19 Spending Flattens as Total Nears $3B

A separate analysis shows some IT modernization efforts booming while others are put on hold during the pandemic.

Modernization

Pentagon IG Can’t Rule Out White House Influence on JEDI Cloud Contract

A 300-page IG investigation reveals multiple ethics violations and refusal by Defense Department General Counsel to let senior officials comment on communications with the White House.

Modernization

DOD watchdog can't prove White House interference in $10B JEDI award

An oversight report found several missteps and cases of ethical misconduct, but could not substantiate allegations of White House interference in the award of the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract to Microsoft.

Cybersecurity

GAO to Pentagon: Practice the Cyber Policies You Preach

The Defense Department has yet to fully implement multiple initiatives to improve basic cyber hygiene.

Digital Government

Use of VA’s Telehealth, Virtual Mental Health Services Skyrocket

VA is adapting new ways to treat patients during the pandemic.

Modernization

ICE CIO gives Zoom the cold shoulder

The top tech official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement is instructing employees to avoid installing Zoom for video conferencing and use instead Skype, MS Teams and WebEx.

Modernization

NIST Invites Comment on Guidance for Who Gets to Access What in the Cloud 

Cloud services facilitate resource and data sharing but that introduces security vulnerabilities.

Emerging Tech

Wi-Fi Peeks into Buildings to Check Social Distancing

Mapping the Wi-Fi strength of mobile devices can reveal how people move and gather.

Modernization

In a crisis, America turns to….COBOL programmers and fax machines

The coronavirus pandemic illustrates how far the federal government and states has to go to support an agile, 21st century public sector workforce.

Cybersecurity

CISA Offers Ways to Lessen Lag for Teleworkers Without Sacrificing Security

The temporary guidance outlines options and best practices for agencies to follow during the coronavirus pandemic.

Modernization

VA Delays Major IT Programs to Focus on COVID-19

The initial rollout of the new electronic health records system will be pushed out—again—as well as pilots for the new scheduling system. A third, integral effort remains on track.

Cybersecurity

The Pentagon Is Using Zoom. Is it Safe?

Experts say the ubiquitous videoconferencing tools bear some risk of accidentally exposing mundane details, and even inviting a new wave of deep fakes. But the risks can be managed.

Podcasts

Critical Update: How CISA Defines ‘Trust’ in the Trusted Internet Connection Policy

Nextgov offers a deep dive into TIC 3 and the purported conflict between CISA’s trust zones and zero-trust security.

Modernization

How will DOD’s workforce shift post-COVID-19?

What will working in DOD look like on the other side of the COVID-19 curve?