Cybersecurity

OMB, DHS outline data security best practices

A new paper lists 10 common mistakes agencies make in securing data and ways to fix them.

People

Poor management keeps governments from goals, report finds

IT can help the public sector improve performance, but poor management and lack of skills hinder progress, according to a report by KMPG International.

People

Walker: Redefine 'inherently governmental'

Public employees and private-sector contractors have become almost indistinguishable, the comptroller general said.

People

GAO: Senior-level turnover at DHS double that of other agencies

The report follows findings the House Homeland Security Committee released last week stating that 24 percent of the department's executive resource positions are unfilled.

Cybersecurity

It's hand-holding time

Employees facing background checks will need reassurance and training to help them adjust to the new smart cards.

Cybersecurity

The new door openers

Defense Department officials used HSPD-12 smart cards in 10 trial runs to test their feasibility for providing improved building access security.

People

New curriculum empowers leaders

IRM College prepares leaders for roles in transforming their organizations.

People

Circuit

FCW@20: They said it; Back to today: AFFIRM’s new leaders.

People

Buzz of the Week

Quixotic battles

People

OFPP reviewing acquisition workforce's skills gaps

More than 6,000 contracting officers responded to a survey asking them what is lacking.

People

EVM: A dash of cold water

Social Security Administration officials found that earned value management data is valuable only if it’s widely shared — so they publish EVM data on the agency’s intranet.

People

OPM wants a few good tech-savvy vets

The agency is seeking veterans who can help fill the positions of retiring civil servants.

People

DHS' latest red flag: Job holes

Problems could become acute with the change of administration in 2008.

People

Personal e-mail sparks fire between Davis, Bloch

Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) wants access to correspondence Special Counsel Scott Bloch sent about Lurita Doan's Hatch Act violations and hearings.

People

Army leaders weigh quickened growth rate

The Army could have a difficult time recruiting enough people to meet a compressed growth schedule, one military official said.

People

OMB controller to retire

Under Linda Combs, agencies reduced their improper payments by $8 billion, increased the number of clean audits and shortened the reporting time for their financial statements from five months to 45 days.

People

Senators join call for IGs' independence

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee plans to mark up legislation this year, its chairman said.

Cybersecurity

VA to expand encryption to in-house removable storage

The decision follows a data breach at the department's medical center in Birmingham, Ala., that put millions of people's personal information at risk.

People

State to look for more passport help

The department wants IT and administrative support to handle the increase in passport applications.

People

Hands-off approach helps e-commerce flourish, panel says

A lack of government regulation has enabled e-commerce to grow far beyond expectations, panelists said.