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Zscaler Exec Sees Big FedRAMP Potential After Bill Crosses Finish Line
Good things can come both to those who wait – and never stop trying – in Washington. That’s one of the top-line takeaways after talking with Stephen Kovac, Chief Compliance Officer at cloud security provider Zscaler, following the successful conclusion late last month of a multi-year campaign to codify into law the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).
Tagged FedRAMP, Zscaler
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Alondra Nelson to Depart OSTP, Head Back to Academia
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Deputy Director Alondra Nelson will serve the final days at her post in the White House this week.
Tagged Alondra Nelson, OSTP, Workforce
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ARPA-H Looking for $500M in Technical Support
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is looking for $500 million in technical support to complement and support the newly established agency’s mission.
Tagged ARPA-H, contract
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FDIC Needs Better Cyber Gauge on Institutions, Watchdog Says
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) needs to figure out better ways to effectively assess cybersecurity concerns at the financial institutions that it regulators, according to a recent report from the agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Tagged FDIC, OIG
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GSA to Collect Software Attestation Letters Starting in June
The General Services Administration (GSA) said it will begin collecting attestation letters as part of pre- and post-award contract deliverables by June 12 for all software – regardless of whether the product is considered critical.
Tagged Cybersecurity, GSA, software
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Army Seeks Ideas for Autonomous, Anti-Drone Tech
The Army Futures Command (AFC) is looking to the private sector for insight into a range of potential technology capabilities to deploy as part of AFC’s Technology Gateway program this fall, according to a Feb. 3 special notice published on Sam.gov.
Alternative Data Storage Technologies Still Years Away, GAO Says
While concern in some quarters of the tech world continues to grow about how to keep pace with growing data storage demand, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded in a new report that exotic alternatives – think options like synthetic DNA – to fill the gap are probably still years away.
DoD CDO Spirk: People, Tech, and Culture Spurring Data-Driven Transformation
The Department of Defense (DoD) is using data to accelerate the Pentagon’s digital transformation, and DoD Chief Data Officer David Spirk said that a focus on people, technology, and culture has spurred that transformation.
DoE Needs Work on Managing Data Analytics, Protecting IP, and AI
The Department of Energy (DoE) could improve how it manages its fraud, waste, and abuse practices by improving access to the data used by the agency and its contractors for data analysis, as well as using all tools available to keep the department’s research secure, according to a Nov. 26 DoE Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report.
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CISA Issues Revised Cloud Security TRA
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) today issued an updated version of its Cloud Security Technical Reference Architecture (TRA) that serves as guidance for Federal civilian agencies for secure migration to cloud services.
Tagged CISA, Cloud, TRA
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Naval Postgraduate School Partnering with Microsoft for Emerging Tech
The Navy Postgraduate School (NPS) has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Microsoft to look to integrate and utilize emerging technologies in service of the warfighter and national security, the Navy announced May 2.
Tagged Cloud, CRADA, Microsoft, Naval Postgraduate School, NPS
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DISA Appoints JWCC Program Manager
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has appointed Ryan McArthur to lead its program office for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC), according to McArthur’s LinkedIn.
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U.S. CYBERCOM Details Malware-Focused Defensive Operation
Earlier this month, U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) conducted a wide-ranging defensive cyberspace operation focused on sweeping for known malware, and intended to “highlight and enhance CYBERCOM’s interoperability with partners.”
3.4M Cyber Pros Needed to Close Global Workforce Gap
New research from (ISC)² sheds light on what it would take to close the longstanding cyber workforce shortage, and the answer is a big number. According to new research from the nonprofit, the cybersecurity profession needs to grow by 3.4 million people to close the global workforce gap.
GAO: Feds Could Improve Collaboration When Helping SLTTs With Ransomware Attacks
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that Federal agencies are successfully helping state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments prevent and respond to ransomware attacks; however, there is still room to improve collaboration. The GAO offered three recommendations for Federal agencies to improve collaboration.
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Defense Secretary Austin Signs Off on JADC2 Strategy
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin signed and approved the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) strategy document last month, marking an official start to the marathon to implement the data-sharing strategy across the military, the Pentagon said at a June 4 press conference.
GAO: OMB Data Center Definition Change Creates Cyber Vulnerability
A 2019 tweak by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to the definition of a data center – and thus how the Federal government proceeds with its Data Center Optimization Initiative (DCOI) aimed at sharply cutting the number of data centers that Federal agencies operate – is having the effect of leaving the government more vulnerable to cyberattacks, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) official concurred today.
Adapting to New Tech and Cybersecurity Key to Data Center Optimization
As agencies have continued to close data centers by participating in the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Data Center Optimization Initiative (DCOI), adapting to new technologies and cybersecurity must be front of mind for these closures, a Government Accountability Office expert said today.
Tagged David Hinchman, DCOI, OMB
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