Cybersecurity
VA reports success in thwarting infiltration of networked medical devices
The VA has about 65,000 medical devices on its network, and they are especially vulnerable to malware because they can last for years longer than their underlying software and operating systems.
People
GSA's Dorris honored, Ambrose moves to VA and more
News and notes from around the federal IT community.
Modernization
It's about the customers, not the stakeholders
18F pioneer Greg Godbout proclaims that his "entire career in the federal government has been disappointing stakeholders, and I see that as leading the way to success."
Cybersecurity
VA sees sharp uptick in cyberattacks
The top tech official at Veterans Affairs said the department risks being "overwhelmed" if the number of attacks continues to increase.
Acquisition
Overcoming fear of the inspector general
Kymm McCabe warns that overly aggressive oversight is costing a fortune and killing off needed communication.
Cybersecurity
The price of poor program management
Here are 1.8 billion reminders of why PM matters.
Cybersecurity
Agencies seek at least $75 million in digital service funding
Most CFO Act agencies have made budget requests to fund Digital Services teams.
Digital Government
Pentagon official: DoD-VA info sharing improving, but work remains
Real time data transactions between the VA and Pentagon are growing, and have expanded to include the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Acquisition
Warren: VISTA is here to stay
The pending move by DoD to a system based on a commercial health record system won't alter the data sharing relationship with VA, says the acting CIO.
People
Obama taps private sector exec to lead IT at VA
Laverne Horton Council will take over for Steph Warren, who has held the top IT job at VA on an acting basis for two years.
Modernization
VA misused $92.5 million on software, IG says
Money was used from non-IT accounts to pay for the Health Care Claims Processing System.
Cybersecurity
Cyber gets a boost in VA budget request
The department is seeking an increase in information security spending from $156 million in 2015 to $180.3 million for 2016.
Acquisition
VISTA-based solution eliminated from DoD health record procurement
VA CIO Steph Warren was "disappointed" that a VISTA solution would not prevail at the Pentagon.
Cybersecurity
How Congress can make cyber reforms real
Congressional oversight is essential to ensuring compliance with cybersecurity legislation. Here are three ways lawmakers can improve that oversight.
Acquisition
Air Force moves to debar FedBid
The action was sparked by a 2014 Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general investigation.
Cybersecurity
Mixed messages for VA IT
A report from Mandiant offers an upbeat assessment, but an IG report is critical of IT project management.
Acquisition
Google joins PwC's Vista-based bid for military health records
Google's addition doesn't alter PwC's offering, but its web-based private cloud and collaboration tools could improve security and speed and lower costs, the company says.
Cybersecurity
Unsecured webpage put 7,000 vets at risk for years
The website flaw has been fixed, but the VA is planning further investigation of possible exfiltration of data from its network.
Digital Government