Cybersecurity

• Army gets the green light for major IT security reorganization

  Congress approves a $175 million spending package that will let the Army move ahead with plans to consolidate 400 IT security watchtowers down to around a dozen. The cyber initiative is part of broader effort to move the entire DoD toward the Joint Information Environment.

  Defense

  September 25, 2013
• DHS continuous monitoring program faces legislative, budget challenges

  Suzanne Spaulding, the nominee to be the deputy undersecretary of the National Protection and Programs Directorate, told Senate lawmakers DHS had to reduce the number of federal devices that will be covered by the CDM program because of budget shortfalls.

  Congress

  September 20, 2013
• The 2013 Executive Leadership Conference

  Jim Williams and Rick Holgate from ACT-IAC will fill us in on next month's 2013 Executive Leadership Conference in Williamsburg Virginia. September 17, 2013

  Federal Tech Talk

  September 17, 2013
• US safer 12 years after 9/11, but threat has evolved, experts say

  While the threat of a Sept. 11-style attack may not be as great, terrorism, either of the lone-wolf or state-sponsored variety, still poses a threat to the U.S. Agencies are moving to protect themselves in areas such as cybersecurity.

  Federal Drive

  September 11, 2013
• The human aspect of security

  Terry Gudaitis , owner/principal of Mindstar Security discusses how social media impacts security at your agency. September 10, 2013

  Federal Tech Talk

  September 10, 2013
• Intel Community offers first glimpse of future IT tools, network

  The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the lead agencies under the IC IT Enterprise program launched a standard desktop, a secure community cloud and an apps store in mid-August. Al Tarasiuk, the assistant DNI and intelligence community chief information officer, said the key to this effort was having an ICwide agreed-upon security architecture and policies.

  Defense

  September 10, 2013
• Energy ups number of employees at risk after cyber attack to 53,000

  The Department of Energy first reported in August 14,000 current and former employees had their Personally Identifiable Information stolen. The department now says that number is nearly four times what it had originally thought.

  Technology

  September 05, 2013
• DoD to unite IT, building control systems along same cyber lines

  The Defense chief information officer is expected to update one directive to expand the number and type of devices that must meet the military's cybersecurity requirements. The Pentagon also will issue a second revised directive to move DoD closer to civilian agencies around risk management of IT systems.

  Defense

  August 22, 2013
• DHS pitches cyber projects to Silicon Valley, eyes commercialization

  Eight cutting-edge technologies developed by the government are being shown off this week to venture capitalists and investors in Silicon Valley, with the hope of attracting someone to take the applications to market.

  Technology

  August 21, 2013
• DHS appoints Schneck to senior cyber position

  Phyllis Schneck is the new deputy undersecretary of cybersecurity in the National Protection and Programs Directorate at DHS. She replaces Mark Weatherford, who left in April.

  Technology

  August 19, 2013
• Hackers break into Energy’s computer networks, put employees at risk

  The Energy Department confirmed 14,000 current and former employees are at risk of identity theft as cyber attackers gained access to their personal information. This is at least the second hacking incident this year.

  Technology

  August 16, 2013
• DoD ‘sprints’ toward IT acquisition, accepts more risk

  The director of the Defense Information Systems Agency says the agency will spend the next year focusing on a faster, more agile acquisition process to accelerate the way it delivers technology, rather than letting procurements drag on for years.

  Defense

  August 15, 2013
• Security leaks could affect legislation

  Recent revelations about secret U.S. surveillance programs could significantly impede progress on negotiations over new laws and regulations meant to beef up the country's defenses against the growing threat of cyber-attacks. Current and former cyber security officials say they worry the ongoing disclosures about secret National Security Agency spying programs by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden could trigger knee-jerk reactions by Congress or the private sector.

  Technology

  August 13, 2013
• How does DHS respond to Cyber incidents?

  How does DHS detect and respond to malicious cyber activity. DHS also operates a cyber-information coordination center, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), and several operational units. These units respond to incidents and provide technical assistance to information system operators. The NCCIC coordinates the information collected through these channels to create a common operating picture for cyber communities across all levels of government and the private sector.

  Technology

  August 13, 2013