Cybersecurity

Biden’s Nominee to Lead CISA Interested in Reforming FISMA

Members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee pressed Jen Easterly and other key nominees on supply chain security and workforce challenges.

Modernization

DHS Faces Rising Costs as Planned Biometrics Cloud Gets Pushed Back

Three years behind schedule, the move from legacy IDENT to the new Amazon-hosted HART system is now slated for the end of 2021.

Cybersecurity

Colonial Pipeline CEO: Cybersecurity Mandates From TSA Might Help

Hackers breached the company after gaining access to a virtual private network not protected by multifactor authentication.

Cybersecurity

IG: CISA-Run Monitoring Program Has Not Improved DHS’ Cybersecurity Posture

The department’s inspector general also found vulnerabilities in the department’s technology due to poorly defined patch management roles and configuration settings.

Cybersecurity

Pipeline Companies Have One Week to Identify Cybersecurity Coordinators Under TSA Directive

The directive now mandates incident reporting and reviews described in the administration’s voluntary guidelines for the sector.

Artificial Intelligence

Agencies Are Getting Good at Buying AI But Still Have Trouble Securing It

A Homeland Security Department procurement official said securing and fielding advanced technologies is “not going to get any easier.”

Cybersecurity

Cryptocurrency Crackdown Won’t Stop Ransomware, CISA Official Says

Cybersecurity professionals stress the importance of proactive defense to combat the growing number of attacks.

Emerging Tech

DHS Plans Next Rally to Advance Facial Recognition Tech

Modern systems are getting good at verifying people who are wearing face masks—and DHS wants to make them better.

Cybersecurity

House Panel Passes Bill to Explore Bringing State and Local Cybersecurity Workers into CISA

The Homeland Security Committee cleared several bills to address cybersecurity following the attack on Colonial Pipeline.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Response Bill Advances in Senate

The legislation includes a fund to help impacted organizations pay for remediation efforts.

Emerging Tech

DHS Drops Proposal to Expand Immigration-Related Biometrics Collection

The Biden administration withdrew the controversial rule, which garnered more than 5,000 comments when it was proposed last fall.

Emerging Tech

TSA Wants New Ideas to Speed Up Checkpoints

The agency is looking for established technologies that could eliminate physical pat-downs and shoe removals.

Cybersecurity

NSA to Defense Sector: Think Twice Before Connecting Operational Technology to the Internet

The agency recognized benefits such as enabling remote work but notes the inherent risks and costs of putting industrial control system components online.

Cybersecurity

Homeland Security Secretary Backs Call for Mandatory Disclosure of Ransomware Payments

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the department will work with a task force developed by the private sector on ways to tamp down the increase in ransomware attacks. 

Cybersecurity

Feds Eliminate Fee for '.Gov' Web Addresses

Smaller localities in particular have said that the $400 annual cost was a barrier to adopting the government-specific URL.

Emerging Tech

Coast Guard Wants Better User Experience for Communications Tech Used on Ships

The Coast Guard is proposing a cooperative research and development agreement to test alternative equipment or architectures that might improve mobile network connectivity.

Cybersecurity

House Solarium Commission Members Press for More CISA Funding

“Congress was right to give the agency new authorities that allow it to better defend our interests in cyberspace, but without requisite funding, we’re setting CISA up for failure," the lawmakers wrote.