Cybersecurity

Automating the authorization to operate (ATO) process could save federal agencies time and also enhance IT infrastructure security.

The Defense Department will begin rolling out its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework for all military contractors to undergo assessments starting Dec. 1, DOD Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition and Sustainment Katie Arrington confirmed.

The Defense Health Agency is working to integrate and consolidate a variety of networks and systems across military treatment facilities (MTFs) as it continues to absorb the various military hospitals and clinics across the defense health space.

For the Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) program to work, federal agencies need to ensure their data quality is top notch.

The Cyberspace Solarium Commission wants the Department of Homeland Security to work with other federal agencies and Congress to address significant vulnerabilities in the IT supply chain by reshoring manufacturing of some critical parts, integrating supply chain risk management intelligence efforts, and shifting the supply chain away from China and overall Chinese influence.

The demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the abrupt shift to a remote workforce, has fostered the development of cybersecurity best practices at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, federal agencies knew they had to prioritize cybersecurity as employees shifted to telework. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency worked quickly to ensure federal agencies had the tools and guidance they needed to keep their data safe.

The House Armed Services Committee’s Future of Defense Task Force's 2020 final report says the military should cut back on expensive obsolete weapons programs and accelerate innovation in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. 

• CyberCast
• Cybersecurity

Federal cybersecurity strategies need to prioritize people.

One of the biggest challenges for cybersecurity professionals in 2020 is information warfare and establishing a baseline of trust at their organizations.

The Department of Health and Human Services has witnessed a significant spike in cyberattacks since the pandemic began, but has also experienced a change in how the agency prioritizes cybersecurity in its pandemic response efforts. 

The biggest roadblock to developing a strong cybersecurity posture at federal agencies isn’t resources or talent — it’s complacency.