Tech

New Report Shows Significant Improvement in Consumer Cyber Hygiene

Senior administration officials and cybersecurity leaders marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month weighed in on a consumer survey examining how behaviors have changed over the last three years.

Workforce

Can Apprenticeships Help Address the Cyber Workforce Gap?

The push comes as part of the Labor Department's cybersecurity apprenticeship sprint, which it launched with the Commerce Department over the summer.

Oversight

Watchdog Identifies Multiple Security Deficiencies at VA Medical Center in Louisiana

The VA’s Office of Inspector General found “critical and high-risk vulnerabilities on 37% of the devices” at the Louisiana-based medical center.

Oversight

The Labor Department Evolves Its Efforts to Help States Deliver Unemployment Insurance

A pilot project meant to give the federal government a more central role in unemployment insurance delivery, is raising questions inside the Department of Labor and in Congress about the role of identity verification and enforcement authority over states in the system.

Tech

A Cyber Workforce Strategy is Coming From the White House, Along With an Implementation Body to Make Sure it Works

The Office of the National Cyber Director has a workforce plan in development that looks to address public sector and private sector gaps in the cybersecurity profession.

Workforce

The White House's Cyber Office Seeks a Workforce Lead

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said Wednesday that the cyber workforce problem is a top priority.

Oversight

CFPB Warns Firms On Poor Cyber Hygiene

The agency says that bad password and data management and other practices can expose companies to legal consequences.

Management

A Much-Hyped Effort to Help DHS Land Cyber Talent is Slow to Make Hires

So far about four hires have been made under the Cybersecurity Talent Management System, with the agency hoping to make offers to 150 new cyber specialists by the end of September.

Tech

Former CISA Chief Wants a New, Cross-Cutting New Agency to Lead Federal Cyber

Chris Krebs wants to establish a new agency to focus on privacy, data and cyber risks facing the U.S., or to pull the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from under the Department of Homeland Security.

Tech

Text Messages Are Federal Records and Must Be Saved, DoD Orders

After news that Jan. 6 insurrection-related texts were wiped from former Pentagon officials’ phones, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks ordered data on department devices must be retained. 

Tech

Senators Introduce Bill to Ensure Resiliency of Federal Data Centers

The proposal would establish baseline safeguards for cybersecurity and physical issues like natural disasters.

Workforce

OPM Wants to Level the Field for Federal Cyber Talent

The federal government's top human resources official wants agencies to be on an "equal footing" when it comes to hiring cybersecurity professionals.

Workforce

The Biden Administration Looks to Jumpstart Cyber Training

At a White House event, the Labor and Commerce Departments announced a 120-day apprenticeship sprint to offer pathways into cybersecurity jobs.

Defense

Cyber Looms Large in the House Defense Authorization Act

From establishing the National Digital Reserve Corps to setting term limits at CISA, here’s what you need to know about the tech and cyber amendments currently featured in the House version of the FY2023 NDAA.

Tech

Biden Strengthens Cyber Coordination Between DHS and State, Local Government

The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act improves collaboration between DHS and state and local governments by boosting the sharing of information and federal resources.

Tech

Biden Signs a Bill Creating a Federal Cybersecurity Rotational Program

Certain cyber and IT federal employees will be able to rotate to other agencies under a new law signed Tuesday.

Defense

Former Pentagon Cyber Official Loses Her Bid for Congress Despite Donald Trump’s Backing

Katie Arrington, who led a Defense Department push to bring 300,000 contractors into compliance with cyber hygiene policies, lost her race to oust a Republican incumbent in a South Carolina congressional primary.

Oversight

Lawmakers Grill VA Tech Officials Over Stalled Progress on Cybersecurity

Top cyber officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress they are opposed to a bipartisan bill seeking to strengthen the agency’s cybersecurity standards—despite its ongoing failures to meet oversight recommendations.

Tech

Senators are pushing for a $300M boost to the Technology Modernization Fund

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are urging appropriators to back a Biden administration request to add $300 million to the TMF.

Tech

The Coast Guard Graduates its First Class of Cyber Majors

A "handful" of newly minted cyber specialists will go to the Coast Guard’s Cyber Command headquarters for their initial assignment, the service's chief told Congress last week.