Defense Systems

Senate NDAA repeals protest pilot, seeks clarity on JRSS

Lawmakers in the Senate are running out of patience with the nebulous status of the Joint Regional Security Stacks effort and want to give new contracting authority to Cyber Command.

Defense Systems

CMMC training registration starts, but worries persist

The first cadre of DOD cybersecurity assessors is expected to graduate by early August, but concerns loom over Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.

Defense Systems

Key Solarium recommendations find a home in the defense bill

Lawmakers declined to add a mandate for a White House Cyber Director position, citing jurisdictional issues.

Defense Systems

NSA launches pilot program to secure defense contractors

The National Security Agency is testing a secure domain name system model to better secure companies in the defense industrial base, which houses much of the nation's weapons technology.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers want answers on Juniper backdoors

Members of Congress are pressing Juniper's CEO for details of an internal probe into how modified code for a compromised NSA encryption algorithm wound up in the company's firewall products.

Threats

DHS Expands Insider-Threat Program to Cover Everyone Who Accesses Its Info

The Homeland Security Department will begin tracking all personnel—federal employees and contractors, with or without a security clearance—in the hunt for insider threats.

Defense Systems

DOD looks for extension on Huawei ban

With a looming implementation deadline in August, DOD looks for leniency in anti-Huawei product requirements for defense contractors.

Defense Systems

DARPA’s first bug bounty targets hardware-based security

Security researchers are challenged to devise exploits that bypass the novel hardware security protections developed for the System Security Integration Through Hardware and Firmware program.

Defense Systems

Army splits CIO role

The Army announced June 11 that it will divvy up the CIO role to focus on policy and with a separate deputy chief of staff to lead military network communication challenges.

Ideas

COVID-19 Is Forcing Hard Cybersecurity Choices

Pandemic relief spending will likely prevent the implementation of most of the Cybersecurity Solarium Commission’s recommendations. Here’s how to prioritize them.

Defense Systems

Essye Miller: The exit interview

Essye Miller, DOD's outgoing principal deputy CIO, talks about COVID, the state of the tech workforce and the hard conversations DOD has to have to prepare personnel for the future.

Defense Systems

Meet BESPIN, the Air Force startup driving the switch to mobile

COVID-19 and telework exposed the Air Force's lack of mobile capabilities. BESPIN is trying to change that, that one app at a time.

Defense Systems

NSA flags email vulnerability

Russian hackers have been taking advantage of a vulnerability in a commonly used email delivery software that gives hackers the ability to turn off network security, add privileged users and enable remote connections and subsequent penetrations, the National Security Agency says.

Defense Systems

NSA applies its talents to COVID-related security

The National Security Agency is working to protect its own critical activities, safeguard medical research and get the economy moving.

Ideas

Estonia Already Lives Online. Why Can’t the United States?

Using secure identification, people there can bank, apply for government assistance, file for sick leave, order prescriptions, and get medical care—all online.

Science & Tech

How COVID-19 Kicked a USAF Software Team Into High Gear

The programming group that makes tools for the Air Force's developers is now posting about 10 upgrades per day.

Defense Systems

National Guard extends cyber, ransomware support amid pandemic

The Maryland National Guard is doing its part to help hospitals and local government detect and deflect malicious online activity during the pandemic.

Defense Systems

U.S squeezes Huawei on chip design

An export rules change will limit the Chinese telecommunications company's ability to use U.S. gear and software to make semiconductors abroad.

Defense Systems

Air Force aims to make secure mobile identity management the norm

Jason Howe, the Air Force's chief technology officer and chief cloud architect for manpower, personnel, and services, said the pandemic has exposed DOD's need for better mobile security.