Cybersecurity

DHS stands up new excepted service for cyber talent

The new human resources system, which is launching seven years after legislation authorizing special pay for cybersecurity specialists, is a complete move away from traditional federal HR practices, the agency said.

Cybersecurity

New Solarium report highlights policy strides, funding stumbling blocks

Much of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendations are "on track" to being implemented, but funding issues loom for some.

Cybersecurity

Agency zero trust does not start from point zero

The good news is that consistent IT policy spanning previous presidential administrations has allowed the federal government to slowly put the necessary building blocks in place for the inevitable zero trust architecture journey.

Cybersecurity

CISA launches new initiative to combat ransomware

The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) will allow the federal government and corporate partners share information to combat ransomware.

Cybersecurity

New report details America's water infrastructure cyber vulnerabilities

Water utilities across the country are plagued by a lack of cybersecurity funding and qualified personnel, a ThreatLocker report warns, as officials work to create new guidelines on securing critical infrastructure.

Cybersecurity

CISA debuts vulnerability disclosure platform

Federal civilian agencies can tap a bug reporting system fielded as a shared service by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to gather information on potential website and software vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity

DHS recent hiring sprint shows promise, but lawmakers still see gaps in the federal cybersecurity workforce

The federal government continues to face challenges in recruiting a skilled cybersecurity workforce, amid heavy private sector demand and obstacles built into the hiring process, but there are some recent signs that longstanding efforts to improve the situation are starting to pay off.

Cybersecurity

Senate breach disclosure bill targets agencies, contractors, infrastructure

A bipartisan bill introduced by the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee sets up a 24-hour deadline for infrastructure operators, federal contractors and federal agencies to report confirmed cybersecurity breaches and ransomware attacks.

Cybersecurity

TSA imposes new cyber rules on pipeline operators

The new mitigation requirements come as the U.S. attributes a past effort to hack U.S. pipeline infrastructure to a Chinese state-sponsored group.

Cybersecurity

DHS workforce sprint brings in nearly 300 cyber employees

Cybersecurity vacancies totaled about 2,000 at the start of the hiring sprint in May.

Cybersecurity

CISA predicts cyber EO will drive progress on zero trust

Most agencies are just getting started creating plans around zero trust, but tight deadlines featured in President Joe Biden's cybersecurity executive order and a wave of new guidance, may speed up implementation across the entire government.

Cybersecurity

NIST defines 'critical software' under the cyber EO

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's new definition of "critical software" is foundational to new federal efforts to exert more control over the code supply chain.

Cybersecurity

CISA still in the dark about agency network defense plans

In the wake of the SolarWinds campaign, the agency in charge of federal agency cyber defense acknowledges some gaps in both its data collection and network monitoring capabilities.

Cybersecurity

Survey: Many water utilities lack data on IT, OT assets

The new survey data from an information sharing and analysis center was published on the same day a news outlet reported a water treatment facility in California was easily breached by an individual who possessed a former employee's credentials.

Cybersecurity

DHS poised to remake federal hiring in September to confront cybersecurity gap

The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Talent Management System has been years in the making, but officials say it will finally come online this fall.

Cybersecurity

Warner previews breach notification bill

The chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said he will introduce legislation to mandate that companies notify the government to major cybersecurity breaches, a promise several lawmakers have made this year.

Cybersecurity

Biden's top cyber nominees face the Senate as the country reels from cyberattacks

Jen Easterly, selected to head the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Chris Inglis, the former National Security Agency deputy director picked to fill the new national cyber director role, faced lawmakers concerned about the spike in ransomware attacks.

Cybersecurity

Colonial Pipeline CEO talks ransom with lawmakers

House lawmakers on Wednesday were keen to ask Colonial Pipeline's chief executive officer what he knew about the ramifications of making a ransom payment and how it might affect the company's finances.

Cybersecurity

Colonial CEO defends $4.3M ransomware payment

Joseph Blount, the chief executive officer of Colonial Pipeline, on Tuesday defended the company's ransom payment to the criminal group Darkside and said Colonial is continuing to work with law enforcement and cybersecurity consultants to restore their business systems.