Cybersecurity

Deadline looms for personal identity card plans

With smart PIV cards now in the hands of most federal workers and contractors, agencies are being told to put them to use both for physical and logical access control. The technology is available, but some hurdles remain to fully implementing systems.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity solution needs better partnerships, not more rules, group says

A coalition of industry organizations is warning against abandoning the partnership model for infrastructure protection, calling instead for increased cooperation and financial incentives.

Digital Government

NIST document 'brings it all together' on FISMA

The new NIST guidance for managing information security risk is called the capstone of the agency's work on FISMA implementation.

Cybersecurity

IT management is key to security, CIO says

Government IT security lags behind the private sector because of a lack of centralized budget operational authority, VA’s Roger Baker said.

Cybersecurity

Lieberman: No kill switch in new bill

A wide-ranging cybersecurity bill introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman would revamp FISMA and establish executive oversight of critical infrastructure security but would specifically forbid shutting down the Internet.

Digital Government

CMS, DOD officials honored for security work

C. Ryan Brewer, CISO at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn won awards at the RSA Conference.

Cybersecurity

'Kill switch' bill returns just as Egypt shuts down Internet

Senators plan to reintroduce a comprehensive cybersecurity bill, but recent events in Egypt have reignited controversy over the purported potential for a presidential “kill switch” for the Internet.

Digital Government

Microsoft Office vulnerable to hackers

Public availability of a successful exploit could lower the bar for attacking Microsoft Office through malicious RTF Word files, allowing remote execution of malware, security experts say.

People

On Thanksgiving, fed IT leaders count their blessings

We asked your colleagues what they're thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Digital Government

Who's No. 1? D.C. area schools vie for cybersecurity honors

A regional competition hosted by Computer Sciences Corp. pitted teams from four area colleges against each other and against red-team hackers, part of a growing national effort to encourage science education and develop a professional cybersecurity workforce.

Digital Government

National strategy for identity management nearly done

The administration’s National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace is expected to be finalized this winter, and the standards-making process to support it already is under way.

Digital Government

Navy tests telework tool for reserves

A CAC-enabled mobile access device could provide secure remote connections from any computer to resources inside the Navy network for Reserve personnel not on active duty.

Digital Government

Satellites come to the rescue when ground systems fail

Responders in disaster areas are relying on mobile satellite connections more frequently for IP data connections than for voice.

Digital Government

For continuity, build telework into operations

The technology is available to enable secure, efficient access for remote working emergencies and day-to-day operations, but planning ahead is critical. Two agencies show that it can be done.

Digital Government

Big telework savings trumps butts in the seats

Telework remains a goal of most agencies. But a combination of technology, employee expectations and legislation can help make it a reality.

Digital Government

Agencies hard hit by shortage of cybersecurity pros

Programs are under way to identify, educate and provide career paths for potential cybersecurity professionals demanded by government and private industry, a panel of experts said, but it will be years before the pipeline is producing.

People

Air Force lab finds a simple way to support telework

The open-source Lightweight Portable Security tool provides trusted endpoints for remotely accessing DOD IT resources from untrusted environments, enabling secure Internet browsing and telework on sensitive systems.

Digital Government

4G public safety network to undergo first tests

Telecom industry partners are being signed up for the public safety demonstration network being established by the Commerce Department to test LTE equipment for a 700 MHz nationwide public safety network.

Digital Government

Why the need for IPv6? Blame Vint Cerf.

The godfather of the Internet says it's his fault that we're running out of IP addresses.

Digital Government

Government takes the lead on IPv6 adoption

OMB's recent mandate for enabling IPv6 on public-facing government Web servers and internal agency networks is a welcome and much-needed step toward future-proofing the Internet.