Modernization

Hurd: Feds' cloud security concerns are overblown

Agencies wary of moving to the cloud should look to the CIA's example, congressman says. And "server-huggers will have an uncomfortable time" in front of Congress.

Acquisition

OPM broke the rules with its breach cleanup contract, says agency watchdog

A forthcoming inspector general report will delve into how the IG says OPM violated procurement regulations with its $20 million post-breach services award to Winvale.

Cybersecurity

So many chiefs, so little coordination

The growing number of roles with "chief" in the title are complicating governance and security efforts, especially when they bypass the CIO.

Digital Government

GAO sounds alarm bells on IRS financial systems

From basic functions to security protections, IRS' financial systems are subpar and threaten the agency's mission, according to a new audit.

Digital Government

IG knocks State's handling of $3.5B contract

A State Department office charged with overseeing a $3.5 billion contract failed to validate certain performance metrics while the department paid incentive fees to contractors on the project, according to a new report.

Cybersecurity

IG's oppose records proposal, Congress concerned about car hacks and more

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

People

Hiring astronauts on USAJobs, undersea cable worries and more

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Modernization

House panel hands out failing grades for FITARA implementation

Agencies aren't living up to expectations in key areas of IT acquisition reform legislation, according to a congressional report card.

Modernization

Dodging 'fatal errors' for Census 2020 tech

With an agile, iterative testing model, the Census Bureau is hoping to avoid repeating the mobile meltdown of 2010 as it tries to technologically streamline -- and secure -- the 2020 count.

Digital Government

Agricultural data is a new cash crop, but who reaps the harvest?

Farmers and businesses need to hash out property rights and privacy issues as big data pervades American agriculture -- especially if they want to avoid regulation by Congress.

Digital Government

Nontechnical problems doomed joint VA/DOD health record, top official says

Chris Miller, the Pentagon's point man on electronic health records, offers some real talk on why interoperability between DOD and Veterans Affairs is proving so difficult.

Cybersecurity

BIS dinged on cyber posture by Commerce IG

The Bureau of Industry and Security lacks a full inventory of network-connected devices and isn't doing all it can to protect against cyberattack, according to a new report.

Cybersecurity

$37 million in emergency OPM funding left out of CISA

The Senate's information-sharing cybersecurity bill cleared a procedural hurdle Oct. 22, but conspicuously absent from the bill was an amendment for $37 million in funding for the Office of Personnel Management's IT modernization efforts.

Digital Government

Could proposed legislation make cars MORE susceptible to hackers?

A bill intended to protect vehicles against cyberattacks could have the exact opposite effect, FTC and NHTSA officials warn legislators.

Cybersecurity

After USPS Phishing Hack, Audit Shows Postal Workers Still Click on Links

Aquarter of agency employees fell for a simulated email scheme, according to an internal watchdog.

Ideas

4 Steps to Boost Records Management Practices

Federal employees and managers aren't confident about what actually constitutes a record.

Cybersecurity

Whistleblower worries, FEMA's personnel data and DARPA's cyber competition

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Digital Government

Kinder, gentler... sort of

FCW's cartoonist comments on Congress' new IT overseers.

Cybersecurity

IC falling behind on plans for continuous evaluation of cleared personnel

The exact size of the security clearance re-check backlog is closely held by the government, but it could affect more than 1.1 million individuals.

People

GAO: What Congress' watchdogs are thinking

Meet the leaders behind all those audits.