Acquisition
Palo Alto Networks offers discounted cybersecurity solutions to agencies through OneGov deal
Federal agencies can access discounts of as much as 60% for select security offerings as part of the agreement.
Cybersecurity
FCC votes to reverse telecom security rulemaking issued under Biden
The vote has drawn significant concern from congressional Democrats, who say it will weaken the security posture of telecom systems. The initial measure was enacted in response to Chinese hacks of U.S. telecom providers discovered last year.
Cybersecurity
National cyber strategy coming ‘as quickly as possible,’ official says
“It’s going to be a short statement of intent and policy, and then it will be paired very quickly with action items and deliverables under that,” National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross explained.
Cybersecurity
CyberCorps talent pipeline buckles under Trump hiring freezes
The cornerstone program for training and placing student talent into government cybersecurity positions has been hobbled by recent federal employment logjams, jeopardizing workforce pipelines and leaving many recruits burdened by debt.
Cybersecurity
UN cybercrime treaty enables authoritarian regimes, top think tank argues
The agreement is scheduled to be signed in Vietnam next week, but the concept has raised concerns for some time.
Cybersecurity
US cyber policy goals have regressed during Trump 2.0 in ‘unprecedented setback,’ landmark report says
Cuts to various agencies and the politicization of disinfo-tracking work have slowed implementation goals set out five years ago by a congressionally authorized cybersecurity policy group.
Cybersecurity
CISA wants more international involvement in cyber vulnerability catalog, official says
Nick Andersen, the agency’s assistant executive director for cybersecurity, says the CVE project would benefit from a "more holistic look" with international partners.
Cybersecurity
US can focus on both offensive and defensive cyber, top NSC official says
Offensive measures are “an important tool of the toolbox that we’ll be unafraid to use,” Alexei Bulazel said. “But that’s not to say we don’t need to do normal blocking-and-tackling cyber defense.”
Cybersecurity
White House cyber office calls for ‘whole of nation’ effort to deter nation-state hackers
Newly-confirmed ONCD director Sean Cairncross wants to work with the private sector to develop a toolkit for stopping foreign hackers and boosting U.S. cyberdefenses.
Ideas
The federal government’s data protection depends on resilience — not just cybersecurity
COMMENTARY | An increasingly AI-driven threat landscape demands a resilience-first mindset across federal agencies.
People
Noem terminates 24 FEMA workers for failing to address cyber vulnerabilities
An internal FEMA email obtained by Nextgov/FCW ordered all agency employees to change their passwords “due to recent cybersecurity incidents and threats.”
Cybersecurity
Wyden calls for review of US court systems’ cyber posture after case system hack
Since the incident, several district courts have instructed filers not to submit sealed documents, amid risks that the systems protecting them may not be secure.
Emerging Tech
Microsoft announces plan to transition to quantum resilience by 2033
Microsoft is taking a phased approach to ensuring its products meet a post-quantum cryptography standard.
Cybersecurity
Government layoffs are making us less safe in cyberspace, experts fear
There’s been a mass exodus of government cyber expertise during the Trump administration.
Cybersecurity
Basic cybersecurity lapses are leaving US infrastructure exposed, top experts warn
To make U.S. networks more “toxic” to adversaries, “we need to have an ability for authentication to have some meaning,” former NSA director Gen. Paul Nakasone said.
Cybersecurity
Operational tech is ‘underprioritized’ in cyberdefense, experts tell Congress
Witnesses' calls for better investment in securing such systems come just two months before a key cybersecurity information-sharing law is set to expire.
Cybersecurity
OMB draft memo sets agency and vendor quantum security standards
The Office of Management and Budget is drafting a new memorandum to outline steps for the federal government’s migration to a post-quantum cryptographic standard.
Ideas
How the federal government can tackle its on-prem sensitive data dilemma
COMMENTARY | The new cyber battleground isn’t just in the cloud — it’s also in legacy on-prem servers teeming with forgotten data that are ripe for exploitation.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
Former Biden cyber chief defends Cyber Trust Mark in the face of FCC review
Anne Neuberger told Nextgov/FCW the Cyber Trust Mark, as it stands, is the most effective path to labeling secure devices and reducing reliance on insecure tech from China.
Cybersecurity