Federal CIO Kent Announces Cyber Reskilling Academy
Federal CIO Suzette Kent this morning announced creation of the Federal Cyber Reskilling Academy–a joint effort of the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Education, and the Federal CIO Council Workforce Committee–to kickstart the Federal government’s efforts to address gaps in the Federal cybersecurity workforce and help retrain Federal employees. […]
Feds Reach IT Modernization Tipping Point
A new report from MeriTalk and the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) finds that Federal finance, IT, and procurement experts believe we’ve reached an IT modernization tipping point. […]
DHS Launches ICT Sector Supply Chain Risk Task Force
The Department of Homeland Security on Oct. 30 announced launch of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force, which the agency said is charged with developing “consensus recommendations” to identify and manage risk to the global ICT supply chain. […]
DHS’ Manfra Discusses FISMA Update, Impact to CDM
Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, said today that the new update to Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) guidance will place even more accountability on department leaders and reflects an evolution in discussions between agencies and DHS. […]
NRO Taps Private Firms for Commercial Imagery Awards
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has granted the first three contracts under its newest program for commercial imagery providers, aimed at helping the agency take advantage of innovative space technologies. […]
New Legislation Denies Tax Incentives to Companies Using Adversarial Technology
Legislation introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, on Feb. 11 would deny tax incentives to companies that use foreign adversary-controlled technology. […]
SBA Cuts 154 Businesses From 8(a) Program in Fraud Crackdown
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is cutting ties with 154 small businesses under its 8(a) Business Development Program after finding those firms did not meet certain eligibility criteria, the agency said on Feb. 11. […]
Shutdown Officially Hits DHS, Slows CISA Cyber Efforts
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been officially shut down since funding ran out at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, constraining agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and delaying key cybersecurity initiatives. […]
Oracle Wins Role in CMS Cloud Consolidation Effort
Oracle Corp. said on Feb. 11 that it will help the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in consolidating and migrating on-premise workloads to the cloud. […]
CISA Launches Town Halls on CIRCIA Cyber Incident Reporting Rule
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is holding a series of virtual town hall meetings to hear feedback on a rule that requires critical infrastructure companies to report major cyber incidents to the federal government. […]
Military Cyber Leaders Accelerate Zero Trust, Modernization Efforts
Cybersecurity leaders across the U.S. military said they are accelerating efforts to modernize networks, tighten access controls, and defend against evolving threats. […]
NSF to Invest $100M in Up to 16 Open-Access Quantum Research Sites
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Friday that it will invest $100 million to build a nationwide network of up to 16 open-access research facilities that will advance quantum and nanoscale technologies and strengthen workforce development. […]
USPTO’s ‘Scout’ GenAI Platform Gains Traction as Cloud Modernization Hits 58%
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is betting that a strong cloud foundation will accelerate adoption of generative AI across the agency, with its in-house GenAI tool “Scout” now rolled out agencywide, acting Chief Information Officer (CIO) Debbie Stephens said on Thursday. […]
Navy Seeks Strike Drones for Warships
The Department of the Navy is seeking long-range strike drones that can launch from destroyers and other warships without large flight decks or from locations with minimal infrastructure, according to a Defense Innovation Unit solicitation. […]
With 80 percent of every Federal IT dollar spent on life support for legacy systems, the Federal IT community is exploring new options to modernize and innovate – virtualization, cloud computing, Flash technology, software-defined options, shared services, and more. MeriTalk is staying close to the leaders on the front lines, bringing you new ideas and lessons learned.
And, as Federal IT leaders work to meet demands of an “always-on” highly mobile government, we bring you the stories and breaking news on balancing productivity with security. Our government IT news includes how agencies manage advanced persistent threats, and the steps that help guard against socially engineered threats. We look at the latest trends in malware, spyware, ransomware, and spear phishing. And – how can Federal agencies protect data from tomorrow’s cyber threats?
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