Older Feds Aren't Playing to Their Strengths
Is It Too Hard to Fire Misbehaving Feds?
Americans Still Like the Postal Service
A Forced 4-Day Weekend for Many Feds
No More Tax-Cheating Feds, Senators Say
Video: The Daily Show on Apple's Taxes
AUTHOR ARCHIVES
Aliya Sternstein
Senior Correspondent
Aliya Sternstein reports on cybersecurity and homeland security systems for Nextgov. She has covered technology for nine years at such publications as National Journal's TechnologyDaily, Federal Computer Week and Forbes. Before joining Government Executive, she covered agriculture and derivatives trading for Congressional Quarterly. She has been a guest commentator on C-SPAN, WTOP and Federal News Radio. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
OMB Gives Agencies First-Ever Security Guidelines to Protect Smartphones and Tablets
May 23, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
The Office of Management and Budget on Thursday sent agencies instructions for securing government-owned commercial smartphones and tablets in an effort to bring consistency to what had been an ad-hoc patchwork of guidelines. The 104-page compilation of controls -- all are not applicable for every mission -- was accompanied by ...
One Year After Launch, Cloud Security Initiative Has Its First Taker
May 22, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, which began operating in early June 2012 and is aimed at simplifying the purchase of online software, has attracted its first buyer: the Health and Human Services Department. Now, FedRAMP has another 12 months to prove to all agencies and vendors how easy ...
CenturyLink, AT&T Approved to Immunize Key Private Networks Against Classified Threats
May 21, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Communications providers CenturyLink and AT&T have been authorized to sell critical industries clandestine defenses against viruses spotted by intelligence personnel, according to Homeland Security Department officials. For a year, DHS has shared with these firms classified knowledge of threats and protections against them, strictly so they could secure networks owned ...
Consumer Smartphones OK'd for Military Use Lack Certain ID Protections
May 20, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
The Pentagon in recent weeks has rapidly green lighted consumer smartphones, including the new iPhone and BlackBerry 10 lines, for military operations -- even though some devices do not yet support required security credentials because, according to Defense Department officials, planning ahead is key to the success of wireless U.S. ...
Contractors ask GSA to Freeze Cyber-Related Regulations
May 17, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Federal suppliers are urging officials to stop computer security rulemakings for contractors until the government issues blanket cyber guidelines for all key industries in the fall. The argument is not that contractor-specific regulations are bad but that they could potentially conflict with the forthcoming national standards. President Obama, as part ...
IRS Officials Breached Trust. Did They Also Breach Data?
May 14, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
House and Senate lawmakers plan to investigate whether tax agency officials exploited stored sensitive information about conservative political organizations that filed for tax-exempt status, congressional aides said on Tuesday. The IRS apologized May 10 for applying extra scrutiny to groups whose names included words such as "tea party" and "patriot" ...
DHS Looks for iPhones and Tablets That Can ID Bomber Fingerprints
May 13, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
The Homeland Security Department wants to aid victims of bombings and other disasters by identifying suspects more quickly on the scene -- using biometric iPhones. iPads and Windows-based tablets, such as Surface, also are being considered for the technology development project, according to a market survey distributed on Friday. The ...
iPhones and iPads Poised to Win Key Pentagon Security Nod Next Week
May 9, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Apple, within days, is set to finish clearing two safety hurdles that had kept the iPhone and iPad out of fingers’ way in the Defense Department and some civilian agencies. The Pentagon is expected to approve a Defensewide guide on Tuesday for the secure use of iPhone 4s, iPad2, iPad ...
Auditors Tell Congress to Halt Maritime Worker Biometric ID Rules
May 8, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Federal auditors advised Congress to revoke a law requiring employees to swipe biometric identification cards to access secure port facilities until officials prove the value of ID card readers. The Transportation Worker Identification Program, which is more than a decade behind schedule, requires that maritime workers undergo background checks and ...
DHS CIO Departs After Long Leave of Absence
May 7, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Richard Spires, the Homeland Security Department’s chief information officer, who had been on indefinite leave since March, stepped down on Tuesday, a DHS official said. The official said the department has accepted his resignation and Deputy CIO Margie Graves, who had been filling in for Spires as acting CIO, will ...
