Digital Government

The Gospel of Gov 2.0

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Cybersecurity

DHS authorized to hire up to 1,000 cybersecurity specialists

The department doesn't expect to hire that many, but the authorization will streamline recruitment efforts, said a department official.

Digital Government

Homeland Security kicks off final strategy dialogue

Comments and suggestions submitted through a Web portal will be incorporated into a report due to Congress by the end of the year.

Digital Government

DHS fails to justify funding for emergency network, stalling program

Department should develop a plan outlining an acquisition approach based on available technologies, realistic cost estimates and how it will reduce project risks, GAO says.

Ideas

TSA continues airport investments

Coinciding with the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Transportation Security Administration has filtered millions of fiscal 2009 funds to airport surveillance and cargo screening throughout the last month. On Friday, TSA announced two awards for enhanced airport surveillance at Dallas/Fort Worth and San Francisco international airports.

Cybersecurity

NIST releases more development standards for smart electric grid

Requirements focus on cybersecurity and interoperability issues to improve technical capabilities, energy management and data exchange.

Digital Government

IRS continues to pay millions to process paper tax returns

Agency should invest in scanning technology to convert documents to an electronic format, and mandate e-filing by tax preparers, IG reports.

Digital Government

Immigration service revamps Web site to offer more interactive tools

Portal provides status updates for foreigners applying for citizenship and immigration services.

Digital Government

IG: TSA employees are well-informed on privacy issues

Automated tools would help the agency better protect personal information stored on computers, IG reports.

Digital Government

IRS pays millions in interest for delays in processing high-dollar refunds

Inspector general finds the agency has been slow in following recommendations that could reduce the $63 million in interest paid on refunds that exceed $10 million each.

Digital Government

Agents crippled by tech deployment delays along Southwest border

Border Patrol must rely on old, unreliable equipment to protect crossings and reduce illegal immigration.

Ideas

LOC Highlights Uses of Digital Library

Once again, the Library of Congress demonstrates how federal government should not only utilize information technology, but also market the initiatives to actually encourage support and adoption. Tuesday the largest library in the world, which currently touts nearly 142 million items in its collections, demonstrated to 100 guests -- many from academia -- the potential of its World Digital Library in education.

Digital Government

IRS nearly resolves one security threat, receives incomplete on others

Encryption installed on most laptops, but vulnerabilities exist in the system used to manage income tax returns, the agency's inspector general finds.

Cybersecurity

Systems wide open because agencies fail to fix common security holes

Most cyberattacks target vulnerabilities in applications and Web sites, but agencies routinely fail to protect themselves properly, report concludes.

Ideas

States Can Access Defense Network

Local authorities rejoice: Select regional fusion centers that collect and share regional information on terrorist threats and activities will soon have access to sensitive terrorism-related data housed in the Defense Department's classified network.

Cybersecurity

Outlook dim for international cooperation to fight cyber attacks

Cybersecurity specialists say Russians 'not interested' in working together and less-developed nations do no have the experience in tracking down Internet criminals.

Ideas

More Recovery Funds for Airport Security

The Homeland Security Department will infuse airports with $35.4 million in recovery funds to enhance security, bringing the total amount of recovery dollars dedicated to screening and explosives detection technology to $1 billion.

Cybersecurity

Government works toward a more proactive cybersecurity approach

Detection of intruders is an incremental step in prevention of cyberattacks, Homeland Security official says.

Digital Government

Program to track citizen border crossings exceeds expectations

New system speeds security checks for travelers at land and sea ports, DHS official says.

Ideas

NOAA's Take on 'Cloud Computing'

It may seem as if weather forecasters are more often wrong than they are right, but the Commerce Department's National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is hoping to change that by installing a new supercomputer for weather and climate prediction.