State

The Hack Roundup: State Department Cyber Office Clears Committee Amid Push for International Norms

Here are the news and updates you might have missed.

  • By Mariam Baksh

CISA Chief Says the Agency’s Global Initiative Is to Support the State Department  

International cybersecurity work of both the State and Homeland Security departments will rely on support from Congress.

  • By Mariam Baksh

State Department Wants a Small Business to Manage Its Cloud Office

The vendor will support the relatively new Cloud Program Management Office.

  • By Aaron Boyd

State’s New Cyber Office Brings Up Questions About Agency Roles

The House Homeland Security Chair and new Cybersecurity subcommittee leader say any cyber diplomacy should also tap CISA’s expertise.

  • By Mariam Baksh

The Hack Roundup: CISA Official Says 30% of Victims Didn’t Use SolarWinds

Here are the news and updates you may have missed.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Lawmakers Criticize State Department’s ‘Misguided Cyberspace Reorganization’

A bipartisan group of four lawmakers said the State Department’s proposed realignment would only serve to reinforce existing silos.

  • By Frank Konkel

State Department Approves Creation of Cyber Bureau

The Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies Bureau will address national security- and diplomatic-related tech issues.

  • By Frank Konkel

State Selects First Permanent Chief Data Officer

Matthew Graviss previously served as USCIS’ first CDO and will report to Janice deGarmo, who was recently promoted at State.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Scientists Suggest U.S. Embassies Were Hit with High-Power Microwaves – Here's How the Weapons Work

The technology behind the suspected weapons is well understood and dates back to the Cold War arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

  • By Edl Schamiloglu, The Conversation

Biden Team Highlights Cybersecurity Focus With First Cabinet Picks

Familiar faces will likely have to revisit efforts around information sharing and establishing global norms.

  • By Mariam Baksh

State Department Facing 'Significant' Information Security Issues, OIG Says

Information security and management was one of seven major management and performance issues the State Department faced in fiscal year 2020.

  • By Mila Jasper

Watchdog Highlights Need for Better Cyber Coordination Across Government

A pair of reports point to confusion about the State Department’s new cyber bureau and the vacuum left behind by the eliminated White House cyber coordinator position.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Managers Who Stay Connected to Remote Employees Could Reduce Insider Threats, State Official Says

Pandemic-related stress and isolation could push some employees over the edge.

  • By Mariam Baksh

State Department Brings Financing Partners to Help Fund Huawei Alternatives

The State Department is working with financial institutions to help close deals for Western technology providers around the globe, an official says.

  • By Mariam Baksh
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Bill Would Push State Department to Clear Passport Backlog

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the backlog of Americans waiting for passports has ballooned to at least 1.4 million people.

  • By Frank Konkel

China is Dumping Fiber Optic Cables in the Global Market, Commerce Official Says

The cables are key to the development of fifth-generation networks, and therefore a matter of national security for the Trump administration.

  • By Mariam Baksh

State Department Harnesses Data to Help Bring Americans Home Safely During the Pandemic

The agency turned to data-focused teams and products to help decision-makers prioritize options.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Critical Update: How State Department IT Was Set Up to Deal with COVID-19

State Department CIO Stuart McGuigan joins Critical Update to talk about his vision for the agency and how the department’s decentralized nature made for an easy transition to mass telework.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Federal Officials: Tackling the ‘Most Insidious’ Cyber Threat Takes Looking After Workers 

Insider threat is seen as the primary attack vector for intellectual property theft and was reportedly on the rise last year.

  • By Mariam Baksh

President’s Budget Would Axe NIST Program Meant to Help Small Businesses with Cybersecurity

Other agencies and departments would receive significant funding increases for cyber.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Encryption and a New Paradigm for Security’s Data-Centric Future

ITAR’s new encryption carve-out paves the way for secure and private collaboration.

  • By John Ackerly and Robert Monjay