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. […]
Pentagon Names Cattler Head of DCSA
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that David Cattler will take over as the next director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), which handles most of the Federal government’s personnel security vetting tasks. His first day on the job will be March 24. […]
NASA Needs ‘Renewed Commitment’ to Supercomputing, OIG Says
NASA has pioneered many supercomputing technologies, but a new agency watchdog report reveals that the agency is in need of a “renewed commitment” to supercomputing in order to successfully launch future missions. […]
Commerce’s ITA Explains Work on Second Phase of Zero Trust
The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) component is well on its way to implementing the second phase of the agency’s migration to zero trust security architectures, ITA’s top technology official said. […]
FCC Votes to Create U.S. Cyber Trust Mark Program
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on March 14 to create a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for wireless internet of things (IoT) devices including home security cameras, internet-connected appliances, fitness trackers, garage door openers, and baby monitors. […]
VA Announces Finalists in $1M AI Tech Sprint
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the finalists selected to move forward in its AI Tech Sprint competition on March 13, which targets the development of AI solutions to address burnout among healthcare workers. […]
House Oversight Lead Investigating China Tech Influence in U.S.
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced Thursday that he is launching a governmentwide investigation into the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “ongoing efforts to target, influence, and infiltrate every sector and community in the United States.” […]
FedRAMP Chief Brian Conrad Stepping Down
Brian Conrad, acting director of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), is stepping down from his position. […]
Bipartisan Push in the House to Establish UAP Committee
Is the Federal government doing enough to investigate UFOs?
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo, believes there is more to be done and is calling on House leadership for further action. […]
Fed CIOs Talk FITARA Awards, Share Team Thanks
MeriTalk recognized 14 Federal agencies for their excellence in IT during the FITARA Awards ceremony at Tech Tonic on Thursday, joined by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., ranking member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. […]
Connolly Pledges Robust FITARA Oversight, Teases FedRAMP Category
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., is pledging that Congress will continue to undertake vibrant oversight of Federal agency IT and cybersecurity-related progress through the FITARA Scorecard that has been published twice a year – usually by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee – since 2015. […]
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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