Tech trends present greatest threat to federal agencies

Ponemon Institute study details why.

Cybersecurity Update

It appears that cloud computing and other technology trends present the greatest security risks to government systems.

Almost eight in 10 federal IT executives to responded to a Ponemon Institute study (pdf) are concerned that collaboration software opens up security holes.

The study covered 217 senior IT executives in civilian and defense agencies.

Larry Poneman is chairman of the Institute and discusses the survey with us.

To hear the whole interview, click on the audio link above.


An interagency working group is developing governmentwide competency models for cybersecurity workers.

The Office of Personnel Management, the Chief Information Officers Council, the Chief Human Capital Officer’s Council and the National Security Council will identify the critical elements for the new framework.

Agencies must submit information about their cybersecurity workforce to the task force by Jan. 15 that covers position descriptions, vacancy announcements, crediting plans, training plans, performance management plans and any studies or competency models for cybersecurity work the department already is using.

The working group also wants information on each agency’s recruitment efforts, its challenges around recruiting and its progress toward bringing in cybersecurity workers. Read more here.

Learn more with the Federal News Radio tag search: cybersecurity.

Copyright © 2025 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    OMB: Evidence Act guidance in 'very last stages' of clearance process

    How the Biden administration tried to align budgets with policies

    Read more
    Getty Images/pabradyphotoInternal Revenue Service sign

    IRS ‘prepared’ for 2025 filing season, but potential spending cuts loom for the agency

    Read more
    Alyson Fligg/Labor DepartmentClare Martorana

    Why OMB’s human-centered policy design effort is paying off

    Read more