Tag: public sector
70 articles
Ransomware Targets Government Agencies Daily, Study Reveals
Government agencies are under attack, with ransomware hitting a staggering 187 organizations in just six months - that's one body disrupted every single day, on average. This alarming trend is up 13% from the previous half-year, leaving public services vulnerable and citizens at risk.
Military Recruiters Leverage Mobile Tech to Engage Prospects
Military recruiters are revolutionizing their approach with mobile tech, making connectivity a powerful tool to engage prospects on-the-go. With real-time access, they can work from anywhere and stay connected with potential recruits.
Federal Cyber Rotation Program Fails to Gain Traction
The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce program, launched in 2022, has seen a surprisingly low uptake, with only eight participants out of 634 applicants, despite 13 agencies offering 106 positions. This falls short of its goal to develop a more versatile and agile cyber workforce.
DHS Breach Exposes Flaws in Cyber Detection Process
A recent cyber incident at the Department of Homeland Security went undetected for weeks, despite raising red flags in not one, but two separate assessments that were initially dismissed as harmless. The breach, which occurred on the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), highlights alarming flaws in the cyber detection process.
CISA Leak Exposes Gaps in Incident Response, Key Management
A staggering 844 MB of sensitive CISA data was left exposed in a public GitHub repository for almost six months, revealing critical gaps in incident response and key management. The leak included admin credentials and plaintext passwords for internal CISA systems, raising serious concerns about security protocols.
CISA Exposes Lessons from AWS GovCloud Key Incident Response
When a security researcher uncovered exposed credentials in a public GitHub repository, CISA sprang into action, swiftly mitigating any potential exposure to its cloud resources and code repositories. Thanks to the researcher's sharp eyes and KrebsOnSecurity's reporting, CISA was able to respond quickly and contain the incident.
Federal Agencies Overhaul Contact Centers to Enhance Citizen Experience
The Department of Veterans Affairs sets a shining example with its mission-centered approach to service delivery, and Maximus President and CEO Bruce Caswell believes this mindset should be the standard across all federal contact centers. By modernizing these hubs, government can turn frustrating interactions into enjoyable experiences that better serve citizens and federal employees alike.
Flock Cameras Enable Surveillance of Vehicles Without License Plates
Flock Cameras are revolutionizing vehicle surveillance by enabling law enforcement to track vehicles even without license plates. With Flock's innovative Vehicle Fingerprint technology, officers can gather crucial details like decals, bumper stickers, and temporary state tags to build a case.
AWS Launches Secret Cloud for Classified Workloads
AWS has launched a game-changing cloud solution, AWS Secret Cloud, designed to empower America's defense industrial base with top-secret capabilities, enabling them to accelerate mission-critical work like never before. This innovative platform allows contractors to run classified workloads securely in the cloud, slashing provisioning time from months to just days.
State Agencies Turn to AI for Efficient, Accessible Services
State technology leaders are turning to artificial intelligence to deliver better, more efficient services to constituents, but must navigate trade-offs around budgets, staffing, and legal obligations. AI dominated discussions at the NASCIO Annual Conference, highlighting its potential to match the pace of change and revolutionize state agency operations.
AI Transforms Government Acquisition with Human-Centered Approach
Imagine revolutionizing government acquisition with a human-centered approach powered by AI - and starting with the requirements development phase, historically underserved by technology. By embedding AI here, the impact could be transformative, streamlining not just this phase but all downstream work that relies on it.
Defence Estate Audit Spurs Calls for Transparent Divestment Framework
The Future Defence Estate Audit has sparked a heated debate about strategy, heritage, and community impact, with 67 sites proposed for divestment and 16 more under consideration. This significant overhaul of Defence's property portfolio raises questions about the need for a transparent framework to guide the divestment process.
US Government Exposes 3,611 AI Use Cases Amid Transparency Concerns
The US government has just shed light on 3,611 AI projects in a surprise move, revealing a 70% surge in active or planned initiatives compared to the previous administration. But with sparse details, many questions remain unanswered about the goals, risks, and safeguards behind these ambitious AI endeavors.
FBI Modernizes Contact Centers with AI-Driven Overhaul
The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Service handles millions of inquiries daily, with responses often determining life-or-death outcomes, making a customer-centric overhaul crucial to delivering accurate answers in seconds. By prioritizing a modernized approach, the CJIS aims to revolutionize its operations and elevate the citizen experience.
US Datacenter Law Set to Lapse, Leaving Security Gaps Unaddressed
As the Federal Data Center Enhancement Act of 2023 lapses on September 30, 2026, a crucial safeguard for secure and reliable access to federal information systems will vanish, leaving gaping security holes unaddressed. Without an extension or replacement, federal data centers may operate with little oversight, putting sensitive information at risk.
French Govt Breach Exposes 73,000 Employees' Data
A major data breach at France's digital affairs directorate, DINUM, has exposed the sensitive information of 73,000 public-sector employees, affecting nearly 9% of the Tchap instant messaging platform's users. The breach compromised public chat rooms, user metadata, and shared files, but thankfully, private conversations remained encrypted and secure.
Federal Agencies Embrace Conversational Service Delivery with AI
The era of navigating federal websites is giving way to a new frontier: conversation. Driven by AI, chatbots, and voice assistants, conversational service delivery is becoming a go-to path for citizens seeking services and information, transforming the way they interact with the government.
Trump Order Strips 8,000 Federal Workers of Civil Service Protections
In just one week, 8,000 federal workers face a major shake-up that could strip them of their civil service protections, a change that's sparked fierce opposition from unions, employees, and watchdogs. The Trump order requires agencies to reclassify these workers into a new category that leaves them vulnerable to removal without the usual safeguards.
UK's DSIT Bolsters Cyber Defenses for Thousands of Organizations
The UK's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology is supercharging cyber defenses for thousands of organizations, monitoring over half a million domains and helping everything from parish councils to the NHS fix security flaws. By focusing on outcomes rather than tech jargon, they're empowering organizations to take action against cyber threats.
Trump Expands At-Will Employment to Thousands of Federal Workers
In a move that affects nearly 8,000 federal workers, President Trump has signed an order converting their positions to at-will jobs, stripping them of civil-service protections and placing them in a new category called Schedule Policy/Career. This change allows for easier removal of employees, and marks a significant shift in the way these workers are treated.
CISA Faces Scrutiny Over Leaked Credentials
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is under fire after dozens of its internal credentials were accidentally exposed on a public GitHub account, sparking concerns over potential security breaches. Despite the agency's assurance that no sensitive data was compromised, lawmakers and experts are demanding answers on how this incident occurred.
Pentagon CTO Pushes Faster Tech Buying Process for Vendors
The Pentagon's CTO is shaking up the tech buying process, aiming for faster decisions for vendors - think "fast yeses and fast nos" to get small companies in and out quickly, avoiding years of uncertainty. This streamlined approach will create a single, efficient entry point for companies to showcase their tech.
Colorado Governor Commutes Sentence for Election Data Breacher Tina Peters
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, the former Mesa County election clerk behind one of the most serious election-related data breaches in US history, freeing her from a nine-year prison term after just a year and a half. Peters was convicted of abusing her position to break into county election facilities under false pretenses.
Federal Leaders Modernize Networks to Bolster Security and Scale
Federal leaders are on a critical mission to modernize their networks, and it's a challenge that requires constant momentum and adaptability in a high-pressure, global landscape. By upgrading their IT infrastructure, they're working to achieve a crucial goal: delivering secure, seamless connectivity that can keep pace with their dynamic needs.