Author Archive
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers Warn of Cyber Threat Posed by Beijing, Moscow to Energy Sector
Enhancing collaboration and information sharing with industry partners can help mitigate threats, but concerns remain about the extent to which foreign-made equipment is embedded within the U.S. electric grid.
Cybersecurity
Collaboration Over Self-Preservation Highlighted in Latest Guide to Cyber Oversight
CISA Director Jen Easterly said that the updated cyber-risk oversight handbook aligns with the agency’s goal of “advancing corporate cyber responsibility.”
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers Propose Civilian Cyber Reserve to Bolster DOD and DHS
The bipartisan package of two bills would address the government’s shortage of skilled cyber personnel by allowing DOD and DHS “to recruit qualified civilian cybersecurity personnel to serve in reserve capacities.”
Emerging Tech
‘Alarming Content’ from AI Chatbots Raises Child Safety Concerns, Senator Says
In a letter to the CEOs of five tech companies, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., criticized using kids and teenagers in the “social experiment” of generative AI testing.
Data
Treasury's System Tracking Federal Debt Still Needs Security Improvements, GAO Says
The watchdog found continued “information system control deficiencies,” despite Treasury’s progress on prior recommendations.
Emerging Tech
Recent Market Volatility Shows Value of Government Funding, DOD Official Says
Despite economic uncertainty, the head of the Pentagon’s office that connects promising tech companies with private capital said they will “continue to advance these technologies and support DOD operations.”
News
Veteran Deaths Lead Lawmakers to Call for VA to Renegotiate Oracle EHR Contract
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester said that VA should “negotiate an entirely new contract” with Oracle Cerner following the revelation that the EHR system has resulted in the deaths of four veterans.
Cybersecurity
Biden Administration Seeks $26B in Cyber Funding for FY 2024
President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget aligns with the recently released national cybersecurity strategy by “investing in a whole-of-nation approach,” according to the acting national cyber director.
Policy
US Needs Deeper Global Partnerships to Assert Tech Leadership, Report Argues
A report from the German Marshall Fund calls for “a new foreign policy of technology” that allows the U.S. to maintain its tech leadership on the global stage by working more closely with democratic nations.
Cybersecurity
CISA Launches Ransomware Warning Pilot for Critical Infrastructure
The new pilot program will enable “timely risk reduction” by alerting critical infrastructure owners and operators of vulnerabilities within their systems that are susceptible to ransomware attacks.
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Office Tracking National Security Impact of Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
The director of the Pentagon’s office tasked with connecting relevant tech companies with private capital said in an email that the office is “monitoring national security-related impacts” stemming from the prominent startup lender’s demise.
Emerging Tech
Army Making Progress on Implementation of Online Real Estate Tool, IG Says
The U.S. Army is on track to deploy a new online application “to identify the existing inventory of space available” at select military installations as part of a pilot program.
Cybersecurity
Report: Increased Remote Work for Many Governments Also Raises Cyber Risks
Roughly one-third of government employees believe “their actions don’t matter when it comes to security,” according to a new survey.
News
White House Budget Seeks to Bolster US Tech Development, Modernize Standards
The Biden administration’s fiscal year 2024 budget request would, in part, boost federal spending to address “the ongoing cyber threat” and “modernize services” across government.
IT Modernization
Official: VA’s Legacy EHR Must Be Maintained, But Not a Long-Term Solution
The official cautioned that “modernization would require VistA be rewritten almost from scratch.”
Cybersecurity
USCYBERCOM’s Operations Have Strengthened Allies, Agency Lead Says
Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the agency’s cyber partnerships have helped to build “tremendous confidence between nations.”
Cybersecurity
State Should Evaluate Global Anti-Cybercrime Efforts, GAO Says
A watchdog report said the State Department should take the lead in determining the effectiveness of federal agencies’ partnerships with international allies to combat digital crimes.
Cybersecurity
Ransomware Payments Decreased in 2022 as Criminals Used Other Extortion Tactics
A report from Recorded Future found that, even as ransomware continues to pose a global challenge for individuals and organizations, threat actors are increasingly using other methods to steal sensitive data and demand payments from victims.
Cybersecurity
National Cyber Strategy Seeks to Shift Burden from Consumers to Tech Firms
The strategy calls for Congress to pass legislation that would “shift liability onto those entities that fail to take reasonable precautions to secure their software.”
IT Modernization