With modernization initiatives advancing across Federal government in areas like automation, data, and cybersecurity, moving to the cloud can be the jumping off point for all of those efforts, said Federal CIO Suzette Kent. […]
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) today announced the launch of its Ideation Challenge that aims to inform the next iteration of the program’s processes and supporting functions. […]
The Department of Justice (DoJ), along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that Facebook has agreed to pay a $5 billion fine regarding data privacy claims. The fine is the largest civil penalty ever imposed by the FTC. […]
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is looking for proposals for IT Infrastructure Support Services on a contract that could run 7.5 years and total up to $487.5 million. […]
Gary Washington, CIO at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), spoke enthusiastically today about the agency’s ongoing approach to emerging technologies – including robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain – and said the technologies have the potential to become “a very large part of our future.” […]
Following the Federal government’s settlement with Equifax regarding its 2017 data breach, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pledged to renew his push towards passing data privacy legislation. In a statement on July 22, Wyden urged the passage of his Consumer Data Protection Act, which he initially introduced in November of 2018. […]
Advancements in encryption technology could be making us less safe, Attorney General William Barr said at the International Conference on Cybersecurity today. […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) did not fully assess and authorize all of its cloud systems and did not effectively communicate with the FedRAMP program management office, leaving its cloud security at risk, according to an inspector general report published July 17. […]
The Senate on July 8 unanimously approved the Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act, which was sponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. […]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to expand its footprint in the cloud by creating direct connections to cloud service providers, according to a solicitation released July 15. Responses are due by July 29. […]
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimates that the State and Local Cybersecurity Act of 2019 (S. 1846) would cost the government $31 million to implement between 2019 and 2024. […]
Credit reporting agency Equifax said today it has agreed to pay $671 million to settle government investigations and legal actions related to a 2017 data breach that exposed information on about 147 million U.S. consumers. […]
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats announced on July 19 that Shelby Pierson will serve as the first Election Threats Executive (ETE) to oversee U.S. election security efforts. […]
Fight for the Future announced July 18 that it has launched an interactive map which tracks “where in the U.S. facial recognition technology is being used and where it is being resisted, and a tool-kit for local activists who want to help kickstart a ban in their city or state.” […]
The General Services Administration (GSA) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) have teamed up to establish an Electronic Records Management (ERM) market research tool that will allow agencies to more easily identify vendor services to meet their needs. […]
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a request for information (RFI) on July 16 for Information Assurance Compliance System (IACS) tools that can support FISMA (Federal Information Security Modernization Act) compliance checks and reporting. […]
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) uncovered a list of new information system security weaknesses at the IRS in a report released July 18. […]
Legislation introduced in the House this week by the co-chairs of the House High-Tech Caucus would order up some initial steps that could lead to the U.S. increasing its influence in creating international standards for internet of things (IoT) devices. […]
Balancing cybersecurity with modernization – as well as strategies that organically create that balance – are critical as Federal agencies work toward modernizing their IT infrastructures, said Jeanette Manfra, assistant director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), today. […]
The $380 million of Federal funds currently allocated to election security is not sufficient, and additional Federal support will be needed to secure the 2020 election, according to a new report from four nonprofit organizations. […]
The July 13 deadline for all Federal agencies to install a Chief Data Officer (CDO) has come and gone. Among the 24 CFO Act agencies, half have named a CDO and the other 12 appear to still be working on it. […]
With excitement building around automated technologies and garnering support from policymakers, Federal agencies are looking to implement better data practices, cloud computing, and cultural shifts to increase the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, Federal officials said this week. […]
Energy Department (DoE) officials and energy-sector security experts briefed House members today on a range of cybersecurity initiatives and other tech advancements they could consider as Congress works to create electric grid modernization legislation. […]
In paving the way for artificial intelligence (AI) deployment, agencies are still attempting to catch up to modern technology, and National Science Foundation CIO Dorothy Aronson said that skipping generations of technology to catch up may be the best path. […]
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) implemented a new digital human resources (HR) platform. The system automates workflow for recruiting, keeping HR team members focused on high-value activities. […]
With ever-changing threats, advances in technology, and persistent adversaries, the cybersecurity landscape for Federal IT can seem like a shootout against attackers coming from all angles. […]
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts announced July 10 that it filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and is “seeking information about how the agency uses and shares its state driver’s license database for face surveillance purposes.” […]
Acting Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee today he is concerned about the impact of potential continuing budget resolutions on the military’s cybersecurity posture. […]
Federal agency officials on July 15 shared a variety of projects and pilots their organizations are undertaking using artificial intelligence (AI) and automated technologies, offering a wider view of how the tech is being employed across government. […]
The House on July 15 approved two bills that aim to bolster Small Business Administration (SBA) cybersecurity, and help small businesses combat cyberattacks. […]