Election Security Vendors Feel Positive, but Experts Remain Cautious on Election Security Jan 10, 2020 | 11:33 am In a nearly three hour hearing, the Committee on House Administration heard expert testimony regarding U.S. election security, with a specific focus on voting system security. […]
Bryan Ware Named CISA Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Jan 9, 2020 | 11:08 am President Trump appointed Bryan Ware as new assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Jan. 8. […]
CISA Researching Web-Based Vulnerability Disclosure Platform Jan 7, 2020 | 11:55 am The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is conducting market research for potential vendors and industry feedback on a governmentwide vulnerability disclosure platform (VDP). […]
U.S.-Iran Tensions Spark Renewed CISA Call for Cyber Vigilance Jan 6, 2020 | 2:22 pm Rising political and military tensions between the United States and Iran have led to renewed calls for securing government and private-sector critical systems in the event that the conflict leads to malicious cyber activity against U.S. assets. […]
CDM Shared Services Privacy Assessment Raises No Big Flags Jan 2, 2020 | 4:29 pm A privacy impact assessment of the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program’s Shared Service Platform has raised no big privacy concerns, according to a report dated Dec. 19, 2019, and reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Acting Chief Privacy Officer. […]
DHS Updates NCPS Architecture to Capture Cloud Data Jan 2, 2020 | 10:20 am The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released volume one of its draft Cloud Interface Reference Architecture for the National Cybersecurity Protection System (NCPS) on December 12, aimed at enabling greater cloud adoption while keeping security concerns at the forefront. […]
CISA Releases Draft TIC Guidance Documents Dec 20, 2019 | 3:46 pm The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released several draft guidance documents for version 3.0 of its Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) initiative today, taking a less prescriptive and less boundary-focused approach in its updated policies. […]
Bryan Ware Tapped to Fill Top DHS Cyber Position Dec 19, 2019 | 11:18 am President Trump intends to appoint Bryan Ware as the next assistant director for cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to a Dec. 18 White House announcement. […]
CISA Unveils New ICT Supply Chain Working Group Dec 19, 2019 | 11:07 am The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) Task Force approved a new working group to develop SCRM frameworks and best practices. […]
Senate Bill Would Give CISA Limited Subpoena Power Dec 17, 2019 | 1:02 pm A bill backed by members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would give the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) the power to issue administrative subpoenas to internet service providers (ISPs) in order to identify vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. […]
CISA Names First President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition Winner Dec 16, 2019 | 3:29 pm The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has announced the winning team of the agency’s first annual President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition. […]
New Bill Would Push CISA to Help State, Local Governments More Dec 13, 2019 | 9:05 am A new bill introduced in the House – the Strengthening State and Local Cybersecurity Defenses Act (H.R. 5394) – would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to offer more outreach and support to state and local governments. […]
GAO Urges Further Agency Efforts on IT Improvements, FITARA Goals Dec 12, 2019 | 4:38 pm Federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) need to continue notching progress on IT acquisitions, operations, and cybersecurity necessary to meeting FITARA (Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act) requirements, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said. […]
House Oversight’s FITARA 9.0 Hearing to Feature NASA, DHS CIOs Dec 9, 2019 | 6:01 pm Chief information officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and NASA are scheduled to testify at the House Government Operations Subcommittee’s hearing on Dec. 11 to discuss results of the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s ninth FITARA (Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act) Scorecard, MeriTalk has learned. […]
CBP Pulls Support for Broader Facial Recognition Use Dec 6, 2019 | 11:54 am The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operation has pulled its support for a mandatory biometric entry-exit system that would require facial recognition scans for all travelers – including U.S. citizens – entering or departing the United States, according to a Dec. 5 press release from Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. […]
Coast Guard Intel Looking for Help on Cloud Dec 4, 2019 | 3:16 pm The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is looking to leverage the cloud for its intelligence unit as the demands of cyber combat and maritime activities are pushing the unit to embrace technology, according to a request for information released November 22. Responses are due by December 20. […]
DHS Seeks Feedback on Cyber Talent Personnel System Dec 2, 2019 | 12:32 pm The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking feedback on program objectives for implementation of a new cybersecurity-focused personnel system. […]
OIG Report: CBP Lacked Tech to Account for Separated Migrant Families Dec 2, 2019 | 9:20 am The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) lacked the IT systems necessary to accurately track migrant families separated under the agency’s Zero Tolerance Policy, according to a DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report released on Nov. 25. […]
CISA Releases Draft BOD on Vulnerability Disclosure Nov 29, 2019 | 9:25 am The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a draft version of Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 20-01, which would require Federal agencies to establish a vulnerability disclosure policy for internet-connected systems. […]
DOTGOV Implementation Cost Estimated Close to Nil, CBO Says Nov 27, 2019 | 8:00 am The Congressional Budget Office estimated in a Nov. 21 report that the DOTGOV Online Trust in Government Act would cost very little to implement. […]
CISA Piloting Election Security Auditing Tool Ahead of 2020 Nov 25, 2019 | 10:35 am The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced Nov. 21 that it is developing and piloting a new open-source post-election auditing tool for use in the 2020 elections. […]
House Panel Advances Federal 5G Security Strategy Bill Nov 22, 2019 | 10:13 am A bipartisan bill to develop a next-generation mobile communications strategy cleared the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C) via a voice vote on Nov. 20. […]
House E&C Approves Supply Chain Threat-Sharing Bill Nov 21, 2019 | 1:13 pm The Network Security Information Sharing Act of 2019 cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee via a voice vote on Nov. 20. […]
Senior Cyber Official Jeanette Manfra to Depart CISA Nov 21, 2019 | 11:18 am Jeanette Manfra, assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is leaving CISA at the end of the year, an agency official confirmed to MeriTalk. […]
DHS Flagged for IT Control Weaknesses in Outside Audit Nov 20, 2019 | 2:45 pm A required outside audit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) yielded a “clean” opinion of the agency’s financial statements for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019, but also a finding of “material weaknesses” in the areas of financial controls, and IT controls and financial systems. […]
DHS OIG Annual Report Flags Leadership, Cyber Issues Nov 19, 2019 | 3:08 pm An annual report issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) flags leadership stability and cybersecurity issues among the “most serious management and performance challenges” facing the agency currently. […]
Senators Speak Out About ISAC Budget Pitfalls Nov 19, 2019 | 3:01 pm Sens. Margaret Wood Hassan, D-N.H., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., signed a letter requesting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provide full funding to two key Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISAC). […]
Fed Employees Must Improve ‘Basic’ Cybersecurity Measures Nov 19, 2019 | 2:43 pm To improve the future of cybersecurity posture for the United States, experts agree that improving on basic security measures and shifting culture to compete with industry in the workforce are essential elements. […]
DHS Reveals Small Business Innovation Research Topics Nov 18, 2019 | 11:22 am The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its list of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics for FY20. […]
DHS CIO John Zangardi Resigns Nov 15, 2019 | 4:01 pm John Zangardi, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) CIO since 2017, resigned from the agency effective Nov. 15, according to an internal email obtained by Federal News Network. […]