Defense Systems

DOD smooths funding path for entrepreneurs

The Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal makes it easier for entrepreneurs to present great ideas to the Defense Department.

Defense Systems

DOD awards $32.6 million in spectrum OTAs

The awards were made via an other transaction agreement through the National Spectrum Consortium. DOD has increasingly used OTAs to rapidly buy and fund prototype development as well as fielding new technologies.

Defense Systems

Is reform enough for the U.S. to keep its technological edge?

Mike Brown, the director of the Defense Innovation Unit, said the acquisition reform is needed for the requirements, budgeting processes.

Defense Systems

CISA directive requires vulnerability fixes in 6 months

A new binding operational directive puts federal civilian agencies on a six-month clock to remediate known vulnerabilities.

Defense Systems

DOD revamps controversial CMMC program

After a nine-month review, the Defense Department is replacing its original cyber compliance program for the industrial base with CMMC 2.0, putting more emphasis on self-assessment.

Defense Systems

Biden administration picks former Microsoft exec for VA CIO

Kurt DelBene, a former senior executive at Microsoft and Defense Innovation Board member, is being tapped by the Biden administration to serve as CIO of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Defense Systems

White House pick for DOD CIO eyes tweaks to CMMC

The Biden administration's pick to be the Pentagon's tech chief wants to make it easier for small businesses to adhere to the Defense Department's cybersecurity standards and expand network optimization across the entire enterprise.

Defense Systems

GAO backs Microsoft's protest of $10 billion NSA cloud award to AWS

The Government Accountability Office agreed that aspects of the National Security Agency's evaluation of a major cloud award were "unreasonable."

Defense Systems

DIU tests portable private 5G network for responders

Responders arriving first at a remote incident can launch a private cellular network using a vehicle-mounted, backpack, hand-carried or wearable node.

Defense Systems

The state of CMMC from an assessor perspective

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program is a step forward for DOD and its contractors to improve the nature and the operation of the DOD supply chain in today’s cybersecurity-focused world.

Defense Systems

Intelligence community diversity lags at the highest levels

Although there have been some gains in the representation of women and minorities in the IC workforce overall, the highest ranks are less diverse.

Defense Systems

DOD leans on civilian workforce to fill tech talent gaps

The Defense Department has been increasingly looking to recruit civilians to fill its tech talent needs, but some lawmakers are concerned that the mission of uniformed troops could suffer.

Defense Systems

State Department to get cyber bureau

The secretary of State named cybersecurity and emerging tech as critical areas for capacity building at State, alongside climate, global health and multilateral technology.

Defense Systems

New missions could present challenges for DODs cyber workforce

Mieke Eoyang, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy said one of DOD's main cyber workforce challenges is being able to set expectations around policymakers' calls to step in and defend against cyberattacks.

Defense Systems

Coast Guard plans mobile access to law enforcement database

The Coast Guard is looking to give its enforcement personnel access to its safety and law enforcement database via mobile apps.

Defense Systems

State Department offers glimpse of $8B IT services contract

The multiple-award contract dubbed "Evolve" is the successor to the Vanguard contract held by Science Applications International Corp. since 2010.

Defense Systems

Why private networks are speeding up 5G deployments

Private networks offer the fastest way to deploy and control a 5G network environment, increasing broadband speed and coverage and leveraging network splicing.

Defense Systems

DOD testing director nominee wants cyber assessments for commercial cloud systems

The Biden administration's pick to lead the Defense Department's operational testing, Nickolas Guertin, called the department's inability to conduct independent cyber assessments of commercial cloud systems "a severe limitation."

Defense Systems

CISA seeks 24-hour cyber incident reporting timeline

Two separate Senate bills set different deadlines for federal contractors, critical infrastructure providers and other covered companies to report cyber incidents to the federal government.

Defense Systems

Water treatment facilities named in joint cyber advisory

To help water and wastewater utilities protect their IT and operational technology systems from cyberattack, the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, Environmental Protection Agency and National Security Agency have outlined steps facilities can to take steps to defend themselves.