Tech-sector reaction to the White House’s sweeping cybersecurity executive order issued May 12 came in largely positive today, with security technology makers particularly applauding the urgency of the administration’s plans, the enterprise-wide view that the order takes for improving security, and its actions to hasten the movement of Federal agencies to cloud services. […]
Acting Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Brandon Wales said today the government is concerned that the nation is witnessing the prelude to broader-based cyber attacks, and he called on Congress to take action on legislation that would require reporting of cyber incidents to the Federal government. […]
If President Biden’s requested $6.5 billion to launch the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) receives approval from Congress in Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation, the new agency will use such funding to “accelerate” transformational innovation in health research with a focus on diseases, according to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. […]
Increased cloud service adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to speed agency migration to new Continuous Diagnostic and Mitigation (CDM) Program dashboards. […]
The White House’s much-anticipated cybersecurity executive order (EO) made public late Wednesday takes an ambitious swing at forcing general improvements to cybersecurity nationwide, but issues its most authoritative directions to the Federal government to modernize IT infrastructure and security concepts and practices. […]
Expanding and investing in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Pipeline Cybersecurity Initiative could address cybersecurity risks and prevent future cyberattacks on United States pipeline infrastructure, such as the recent Colonial Pipeline hack, according to Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y. […]
Education Department CISO Steven Hernandez joined MeriTalk’s CDM Central: the Age of the Cyber Defenders virtual conference on May 12 to discuss how the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program and automation are impacting the agency. […]
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working on a “hardened” cloud environment that it can evaluate through pilots with Federal agencies, CISA Acting Director Brandon Wales told senators on May 11. […]
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is looking to publish by the end of June an internal AI Oversight framework that will be a first step in a “trust, but verify” development of AI solutions across the agency. […]
As Federal agencies and organizations are looking to make the move to zero trust security architectures, the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) program should help guide that transformation, Sean Connelly, TIC program manager for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said May 12 at MeriTalk’s CDM Central: the Age of the Cyber Defender virtual conference. […]
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking to purchase another cloud-based fully integrated phenotyping field rover. […]
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, FedRAMP announced that it is now allowing remote testing of data centers. […]
In the wake of recent high-profile cyberattacks, IT experts gathered at MeriTalk’s CDM Central: The Age of Cyber Defenders virtual event on May 12 agreed that the Federal government needs to accelerate innovation when it comes to cybersecurity, and that includes implementing the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program, along with zero trust security concepts. […]
Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program manager Kevin Cox delivered an upbeat assessment of the program’s progress in helping Federal agencies fortify their networks against cyber attacks at MeriTalk’s CDM Central: the Age of the Cyber Defenders virtual conference on May 12. […]
Federal Chief Information Security Officer Chris DeRusha explained today that the foundational elements of the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program are fundamental to moving Federal government network security to zero trust concepts and that implementation of the program only becomes more important as cyber threats increase. […]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted the final rules to implement the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which will help schools and libraries purchase the technology needed to close the homework gap. […]
The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said today they are interested in changing the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) to make sure that Congress gets timely notifications about major cyberattacks that have a national impact. […]
The Department of Homeland Security has named its next chief data officer (CDO), elevating senior advisor Mike Horton to the position. Horton took over in April, according to his LinkedIn, for Carlene Ileto, who had served as acting CDO since October 2020. […]
Federal agency chief information security officers (CISOs) told a Senate panel today that the security payoffs yielded by the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program are well worth the challenges that agencies have faced in implementing the program run by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). […]
Agencies have made cloud progress over the past year – identifying workloads they can move to the cloud, reducing costs, increasing data availability, and supporting maximum telework. At the same time, over the past year – we’ve seen growing awareness that procurement modernization is possible and can help to transform Federal IT infrastructure. […]
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially withdrawn a rule proposed during the Trump administration that would have required anyone associated with an immigration benefit or request – including United States citizens – to appear for biometrics data collection. […]
In a move to better serve individuals with hearing and speech disabilities, the General Services Administration (GSA) is transitioning to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), GSA announced May 10. […]
In a May 5 memo, the Department of Defense stated it needs improve the DoD Data Strategy’s focus areas by applying five “DoD Data Decrees.” […]
As the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into processes becomes more and more the norm, issues of privacy, bias, and accessibility all must be taken into account when considering what is ethical use of AI, a National Institute of Health (NIH) official said today. […]
Perryn Ashmore is stepping down as CIO of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) later this month and is retiring from government service after long stints in senior IT management roles at HHS and several other Federal agencies, HHS confirmed to MeriTalk. […]
The United States and the United Kingdom have issued a joint cyber advisory on Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) tactics, techniques, and procedures. […]
Reps. Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Joe Wilson, R-S.C., introduced bipartisan legislation on May 4 that would strengthen states’ cybersecurity readiness and allow governors to deploy their state’s National Guard to respond to cybersecurity threats. […]
The Treasury Department is seeking a tool to help trace cryptocurrency that may be linked to parties placed on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. […]
The United States Defense Digital Service (DDS) will change leadership next month, with Director Brett Goldstein stepping down in June and deputy director Katie Olson stepping in as acting director, DDS confirmed to MeriTalk today. […]
Numerous Federal agencies are springing into action in response to the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline Company, a major supplier of fuel to the northeastern U.S. that temporarily shut down pipeline operations after disclosing the attack on May 7. […]