Cybersecurity

GSA Introduces Vendor Risk Assessment Program in Draft Solicitation

The SolarWinds hack seems to be breathing new life into the supply chain security effort.

Cybersecurity

CISA: SolarWinds Hackers Got Into Networks by Guessing Passwords

The agency also highlighted new indicators of compromise and recommendations for mitigating follow on activity involving Microsoft Cloud users.

Cybersecurity

Trump Plan for Maritime Cybersecurity Would Introduce Procurement Requirements

The outgoing administration added items to federal agencies’ to-do lists, noting rising threats to the sector.

Cybersecurity

Russia ‘Likely’ Behind Widespread Hack, Cyber Response Agencies Say

The Cyber Unified Coordination Group believes fewer than ten government agencies were compromised in what is an ongoing intelligence operation.

Cybersecurity

Government Watchdogs Launch Cyber-Threat Sharing Assessment

In the wake of the recent hack, Microsoft President Brad Smith said contractual obligations hurt cross-government sharing following breaches.

Cybersecurity

CMMC: The Dramatic Year of the Pentagon’s Contractor Cybersecurity Program

The Defense Department’s main effort to protect its supply chain from cyber threats charged ahead through the pandemic but not without controversy.  

Emerging Tech

The Army Aims to Be Less Dependent on Contractors for Software

The command of the military branch in charge of looking ahead is soliciting prototypes for a major knowledge-transfer initiative.

Cybersecurity

Hack Spurs Call for Greater—but Measured—Supply Chain Scrutiny 

Operational cybersecurity hygiene is one thing, criteria for using open-source code is another, one expert says. 

Cybersecurity

Former Presidential Adviser Advocates Tougher Software Vendor Standards After Breach

The environment where updates for the company’s software were developed was reportedly protected by a password anyone could guess.

Cybersecurity

Biden Disputes Trump’s Claim that Hack is Under Control

The president-elect called for an official attribution to Russia but said a damage assessment is necessary before discussing the appropriate response.

Cybersecurity

Presidential Advisers Make the Case for a New Cybersecurity Center for Sharing Threats

Current federal efforts to help mitigate threats against privately operated critical infrastructure fall short, according to a National Infrastructure Advisory Council report.

Cybersecurity

FBI, CISA, State Leaders Warn Schools About Ransomware Threats

The percentage of ransomware attacks perpetrated against schools more than doubled in 2020.

Cybersecurity

FCC Adopts Order to Rip and Replace Huawei, ZTE Equipment Amid 5G Security Challenges

The senior Democrat on the commission noted China’s continued leadership of global 5G standards development in urging further action.

Cybersecurity

Why Certain Cybersecurity Provisions Made it into the NDAA and Others Didn’t  

An effort to establish a public-private collaboration environment was cut from the final bill but a controversial insurance provision was retained. 

Cybersecurity

With NDAA Exclusion, Proponents of FedRAMP Modification Are Down But Not Out

One supporter notes Congress is not the only path to success and is also counting on an incoming Biden administration to reshape the program.

Cybersecurity

NSA Warns That Russian Hackers Are Targeting Virtual Workspaces

The agency urges administrators to prioritize mitigation of a vulnerability affecting six VMware products.