Ideas
Three Years to Rebuild the Internet or Lose the AI Race
COMMENTARY | The nation that builds Cloud 2.0 first will shape the innovation economy for decades.
Emerging Tech
AWS to invest $50B in AI and supercomputing infrastructure for government customers
Amazon Web Services is granting government expanded access to its tech products offerings while scaling the infrastructure required to support it.
Acquisition
GSA launches second phase of FedRAMP 20x backed by OMB
This next step in overhauling the federal government’s cloud security authorization program will pilot authorizations at the Moderate security level.
Modernization
GSA doubles FedRAMP authorizations compared to last year
GSA overhauled FedRAMP in the spring to streamline the process and introduce more automation.
Defense
Pentagon will ‘open the door’ to more companies for next major cloud contract
The Pentagon’s tech chief said JWCC Next will look a little different than its $9 billion predecessor.
Ideas
Streamlining the Path to FedRAMP High
COMMENTARY | Achieving FedRAMP High Authorization doesn't need to be so laborious.
Artificial Intelligence
AWS GovCloud gets high-level security approvals for Anthropic and Meta AI models
Select versions of the Claude and Llama foundation models will be available for public sector customers via the AWS GovCloud.
Acquisition
AWS launches second secret cloud region for defense, intel customers
The company intends to have the new region live by the end of the year.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers warn that UK’s Apple backdoor demand ‘sets a dangerous precedent’
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said "forcing companies to circumvent their own encrypted services in the name of security is the beginning of a dangerous slippery slope."
Cybersecurity
China-linked ‘Silk Typhoon’ hackers accessed Commvault cloud environments, person familiar says
The hacking unit previously infiltrated Treasury Department networks and compromised some of the agency’s most sensitive systems.
Modernization
House bill wants VA to pilot cloud-based medical supply management system
The bipartisan proposal from Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., would direct the agency to test the system at one VA medical facility before potentially expanding it out further.
Artificial Intelligence
The Army has rolled out a generative AI workspace to improve daily operations
And because those tools guzzle cloud compute, the service is also looking at ways to cut costs and maintain efficiency.
Acquisition
Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI authorized for IL6 Defense operations
Microsoft’s artificial intelligence offerings are now available at the highest impact level classification for the Department of Defense.
Modernization
GSA launches FedRAMP revamp
One major goal of the changes is to speed up the timeframe for agencies to get access to the latest technology quickly, “not months or years down the road,” the agency’s acting administrator said.
Modernization
FedRAMP to announce major overhaul next week
The initiative would seek to automate much of the cloud security program’s approval workflow and shift more control to the private sector.
Acquisition
Google eyes security growth in planned $32B Wiz acquisition
The global tech giant undertakes its largest-ever purchase as cloud and artificial intelligence threats evolve.
Defense
The Pentagon’s next major cloud contract is in the works
It may be even bigger than its $9 billion predecessor.
Cybersecurity
US lawmakers ask UK court for transparency into Apple backdoor order
The court order issued by the United Kingdom centers on the UK’s 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, which was invoked to demand Apple provide a backdoor into users’ encrypted iCloud backups.
People
Veterans Affairs loses cybersecurity migration project lead after DOGE layoffs
Another project co-lead is among the 21 legacy USDS staffers who chose to leave civil service this week rather than work with DOGE.
Digital Government