Tag: public sector
81 articles
California Election Official Taps Convicted Felon as Consultant
Shasta County registrar Clint Curtis revealed that he's offered a consulting role to Tina Peters, a convicted felon, to help oversee California's 2026 midterm elections, but she's yet to agree due to concerns about potential roadblocks and ensuring everything is above board.
DDoS Attack Disrupts Norwegian Government Services
Norway's government services were hit by a massive DDoS attack, leaving them partially or completely unavailable for periods of time, with issues like slow login times and disrupted operations. The Norwegian Digitalisation Agency reported the incident, which affected a wide range of critical public IT services.
US Government Cyber Experts Warn of AI-Driven Security Challenges
The US Coast Guard faces a daunting task in keeping its vast network secure, with 1,500 global locations - including remote sites in Alaska and Maine that are only accessible by snowmobile - making routine maintenance and patching a logistical nightmare. This dispersed footprint poses significant cyber security challenges, especially when combined with environmental constraints.
Police Conceal Use of Flock Surveillance Cameras
In Wapello County, Iowa, police are instructed to keep their use of Flock surveillance cameras under wraps, with a usage policy explicitly telling officers not to mention the technology to vehicle occupants or in official reports unless absolutely necessary. This secretive approach raises questions about transparency and accountability.
AI Streamlines FOIA Requests, Easing Agency Backlogs
Federal agencies drowning in a sea of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests can breathe a sigh of relief with AI-enabled platforms that streamline the entire process, from intake to reporting, in one secure workflow. By modernizing their approach, agencies can tackle mounting backlogs, complex data sources, and rising transparency expectations with ease.
Scottish Prosecutors Investigate Supplier After Staff Data Compromised
A data security breach has hit a Scottish Government partner, compromising sensitive information of around 300 Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) staff who took part in a public sector survey. The incident is under investigation, but COPFS confirms its own systems remain secure.
Swiss Government SharePoint Breach Exposes 200 Accounts
The Swiss government's Microsoft SharePoint system was breached, compromising the login credentials of around 200 accounts, after security specialists detected unusual activity on July 28. The breach was quickly contained and remediated, with external internet access to the SharePoint environment blocked and patches applied.
UK Government Investments Exposes Official Contact Data in 40-Hour Breach
A simple mistake by a staff member at UK Government Investments left sensitive contact information of 51 government officials exposed to the public for a staggering 40 hours. The breach, revealed in the organization's annual report, highlights the importance of following basic security protocols to protect official data.
AI in Government: Automation Targets Inefficiencies in Citizen Services Delivery
Understaffed public agencies are struggling to deliver efficient citizen services, but AI and automation can help bridge the gap by accelerating effective processes and exposing areas for improvement. By leveraging AI, governments can optimize operations and make the most of limited resources.
Unions Challenge Pentagon's Abrupt End to Collective Bargaining
Two federal employee unions are taking a stand against the Pentagon's sudden move to scrap collective bargaining agreements, asking a judge to restore their rights and hold the Department of Defense accountable to a fair process. The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Federation of Federal Employees argue that Secretary Pete Hegseth's April decision was made without justification or transparency.
Public Sector AI Adoption Exposes Data Trust Gap
As public agencies move advanced AI from pilots to mission-critical operations, they face a major hurdle: a data trust gap that's holding back widespread adoption. The root of the problem lies in the disconnect between the data architectures of today and the requirements of trustworthy AI.
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.