Cybersecurity

NIST Suggests Agencies Accept the Word of Software Producers Per Executive Order

The standards agency said an attestation from vendors themselves would be sufficient when screening for cybersecurity, unless an agency's risk calculus suggests otherwise.

Modernization

Air Force Chief Software Office Prepares ‘Big Questions’ for Next CSO

A bit has unfolded since the branch's first chief software officer, Nic Chaillan, left the government earlier this year.

Modernization

Dev[SecAudCom]Ops—Not Really, But Don’t Overlook Audit and Compliance as Part of Security

The acronym for integrating security and agile development cycles may have gotten out of hand, officials say, but the core values are key to producing good software.

Ideas

What Agencies Need to Do to Combat Shadow IT Driven by Cloud Sprawl  

Cloud sprawl happens when development teams spin up new cloud resources, forget about them, then move on to the next urgent task.

Modernization

Accounting for software in weapons systems

The Defense Department is still trying to figure out the best way to buy software and track that spending. But could the answer be in separating out those costs from the hardware required in major acquisitions?

Cybersecurity

NIST Seeks Feedback on Cybersecurity Labels for Software

The effort aims to create a user-friendly label to educate consumers about their purchases.

Ideas

Follow These 3 Ts for Faster, More Effective Application Development

Government agencies must optimize application development to realize digital transformation goals. Facilitating collaboration and aligning DevOps, IT, security and mission owners is crucial to this mission.

Acquisition

DIU director: Look beyond reform to keep the technological edge

Mike Brown, the director of the Defense Innovation Unit, said the acquisition reform is needed for the requirements, budgeting processes.

Modernization

Building a Cloud-Savvy Workforce May Mean Rethinking Degree Requirements

Government and industry officials question how they can keep cloud positions filled when they require various degrees and certifications.

Acquisition

VA seeks full 2022 funding for health record project, despite six-month pause

House appropriators are concerned that the Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking to fully fund its program to switch from its homegrown Vista system to Cerner's commercial electronic health record in 2022, despite having unspent funds from fiscal year 2021.

Modernization

Why the Navy Is Pivoting to Implement Enterprisewide IT Services

An official provided details about the military branch’s plan to completely reshape its technology approach.

Digital Government

A 60-year-old IRS IT system won't finish modernizing until 2030

The Internal Revenue Service's plan to modernize its key source for individual tax data has seen multiple cost and schedule changes since it started in 2009.

Cybersecurity

Health Agency CISO Looks to Increase Security in Software Transparency Requirements

Robert Wood aims to improve security while fostering faster mission execution from a DevSecOps “BatCAVE” at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Artificial Intelligence

The Air Force’s First Software Chief Stepped Down—But He Won’t Be Quiet

Nicolas Chaillan briefed Nextgov on his government exit, what’s to come, and why he believes the U.S. should ban TikTok.

Acquisition

DOD could get new software, sustainment tech oversight positions

Heidi Shyu , undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, wants to add new oversight roles for software and sustainment efforts.

Acquisition

Nominee to lead USAF acquisition names software, IT as top priorities

Improving how the service acquires software and IT systems, while making DevSecOps the norm ranks among the top priorities for Andrew Hunter, the White House nominee to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.

Ideas

Why Government Agencies Fail at DevSecOps—and How They Can Succeed 

Instead of seeking out short-term gains, agencies need to focus on the long-term benefits.

Modernization

Keeping up with software cadence at the Air Force Test Center

Maj. Gen. Evan Dertien, commander of the Air Force Test Center, said the organization wants rapid software update capabilities for the USAF fleet, but that approach won't work in every use case.