Column: Cyber inaction may be our Achilles' heel
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), the chairman of the House GOP Cybersecurity Task Force, argues that the country's national security cannot afford a stalemate on cyber legislation. His column is part of Federal News Radio's special report, Cybersecurity Rising.
Rewrite of cyber circular aims to 'break some china'
A group of experts released a white paper recommending changes to OMB Circular A-130. The suggestions center on continuous monitoring, the role of DHS in overseeing FISMA and the definitions of a major IT system and a national security system.
Top 10 cyber accomplishments since 2006
Federal News Radio polled current and former federal cybersecurity experts for their opinions on what were the most significant cybersecurity accomplishments since 2006 to secure federal networks and improve public- private partnerships. The accomplishments are in no particular order.
DHS details services, tools needed to better defend federal networks
The draft solicitation asks for 15 toolsets and 11 service areas to help agencies implement continuous monitoring as-a-service and to buy sensors. DHS has asked vendors on GSA Schedule 70 to comment on the requirements.
Draft order would give companies cyberthreat info
The White House issued a seven-page executive order Saturday directing U.S. spy agencies to share intelligence about cyberthreats with companies operating electric grids, water plants, railroads and other vital industries. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the military was prepared to retaliate if the U.S. is attacked by cyberweapons.
Draft order would give companies cyberthreat info
A draft executive order directs U.S. spy agencies to share the latest intelligence about cyberthreats with the companies operating electric grids, water plants, railroads and other vital industries in order to protect them from electronic attacks.
DHS realigns cyber office into five divisions
Homeland Security Department Secretary Janet Napolitano approved the reorganization plan earlier this week. The newly aligned Office of Cybersecurity and Communications expands from three divisions and creates a new performance-management office.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Oct. 19, 2012
Warren Suss of Suss Consulting discusses Sprint's acquisition by Japanese company Softbank. Harl Sanderson, the "mayor of Beale Air Force Base," is honored as manager of the year. Roger Baker, the CIO at the VA, talks about the benefits of electronic health records. Technology reporter Ed Scannell reviews Windows 8.
The Cybersecurity debate
On this week's Bloomberg Government Capital Impact show, analysts will talk about cybersecurity and risk managment.
October 18, 2012
DISA plots out five year plan to keep DoD's cyber edge
The Defense Information Systems Agency's recently released five-year strategic plan takes a multi-pronged approach to building what DISA Director Lt. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins calls "information superiority." Tony Montemarano, director of DISA's Strategic Planning and Information Directorate, joined Pentagon Solutions hosted by Francis Rose, to discuss how DISA leaders developed the new guidance.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Oct. 17, 2012
FTA administrator Peter Rogoff discusses the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. Attorney Stephen Ramaley talks about a U.S. District Court's decision ruling the 8(a) program unconstitutional. Erik Wasson of The Hill talks about Sen. Tom Coburn's Wastebook 2012. Juliet Beyler discusses the upcoming deadline for service members and their families to apply for retroactive pay.
Budget shortfalls driving CIOs' priorities
A new Federal News Radio survey of federal chief information officers shows that budget cuts are among their biggest concerns. Senior technology managers also said among the biggest benefits they are seeing from moving systems to the cloud is cost savings. DoD deputy CIO Rob Carey said the Pentagon is setting certain changes in motion as part of its move to the cloud to help deal with an assortment of challenges.
UK blocks extradition of alleged hacker to US
Home Secretary Theresa May said she had blocked the U.S. request to extradite Gary McKinnon after medical experts concluded he was seriously depressed and that there was "a high risk of him ending his life."
Federal Drive Interviews -- Oct. 15, 2012
David Goldman of Public Health Science discusses a new customer complaint form put out by USDA. Martin Libicki of the Rand Corp. talks about Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's recent speech on cybersecurity. John Mahoney discusses the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's latest report on the federal workforce. GAO's Brenda Farrell talks about her agency's analysis of the Military Health System.
Air Force looks to revamp its definition of cyberspace
Current definitions of cyberspace have led to confusion about roles, responsibilities, lanes in the road, a top Air Force general said Thursday. Senior leaders will convene a summit in November to zero-in on a common understanding of cyber.
Panetta warns DoD will respond to destructive cyber attacks
The Defense Secretary told a group of business leaders Thursday night the nation's critical infrastructure is vulnerable to online assaults that would take down systems and networks. Panetta said DoD is acting aggressively to get ahead of the problem through workforce training and through technology capabilities.
Cross-agency priorities give cyber an in with non-IT officials
White House senior director for cybersecurity Andy Ozment said budget folks are getting a better understanding of why cybersecurity is important thanks to the administration's high- priority governmentwide goals. NIST also is helping push the cross-agency goals forward from a technical perspective.
GOP lawmakers urge Obama to drop cyber executive order
Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate wrote to President Barack Obama urging him to not issue an executive order setting voluntary cybersecurity standards for private-sector operators of critical infrastructure.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Oct. 10, 2012
Denise Wu of Clifton Larson Allen explains how the Chief Financial Officers Council has moved the idea of a Statement of Spending to the front burner. Julian Pecquet of The Hill discusses the bitter partisan battle raging on Capitol Hill over last month's attack in Benghazi. Sharon Virts-Mozer, president and CEO of FCI Federal, details how some local businesses are thriving despite down economy and impending sequester.
Federal Drive Interviews -- Oct. 9, 2012
John Kasianowicz is the NIST project leader on a project coming up with a cheaper way to test DNA for possible illnesses. GAO's John Hutton says that few agencies are compiling inventories for their service contracts. Procurement attorney Joe Petrillo discusses a new inspector general's report. Dr. Harry Lambright of Syracuse University studied the effectiveness of two former federal officials. David Hall-Matthews talks about a ranking of nonprofits.
FBI cybersecurity expert enters private sector
Timothy Ryan joins Kroll Advisory Solutions as managing director.





