FCW Insider: March 9

TMF set to receive $1B infusion in COVID relief bill

Former federal IT leaders told FCW that the boost for the Technology Modernization Fund is welcome, but the big money may necessitate process changes.

Hafnium hack poses new long-term threat for already overtaxed cyber workers

Federal agencies still reeling from the effects of a massive hack involving SolarWinds may face a new challenge of evicting any adversaries that breached their networks through recently discovered vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Exchange software.

Vague contract language hampers cybersecurity for weapons systems, GAO says

The Government Accountability Office found that missing or vague cybersecurity requirements in acquisitions contracts for weapons systems often led to DOD getting a system that didn't meet its security needs.

Biden looks to expand time off for feds to vote

An executive order issued Sunday on voting access includes a directive to the Office of Personnel Management to support federal employees looking to vote or serve as poll workers or observers during elections.

Comment: Why the network compass is obsolete

Old labels for network traffic are out of date with government users connecting from devices outside traditional perimeters, but TIC 3.0 offers a new map.

Quick Hits

*** The congressionally chartered National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence submitted its final report on March 1. In the introduction, chairman Eric Schmidt and vice chairman Robert Work caution about the rise of lethal AI among U.S. adversaries and argues that "we will not be able to defend against AI-enabled threats without ubiquitous AI capabilities and new warfighting paradigms."

*** The General Services Administration announced a share of a Bitcoin will be part of an upcoming auction. The sale marks the first time GSA counted a cryptocurrency product among its auction items.