Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Obama must use better technology to open government

OMB Watch says new administration should rely on commercially available collaborative tools to back promise of transparency .

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Search for White House e-mails could span administrations

Nonprofits are optimistic that President-elect Obama's promises for transparency could mean greater cooperation in finding lost messages.

Tech

From Nextgov.com: Obama likely to put off IT investments, analysts say

Tight budgets and economic slowdown could delay new administration’s technology investments to support transparency and more communication with public.

News

From Nextgov.com: Feds miss ID card deadline

Almost three-quarters of federal employees and contractors still don’t have the high-tech badges, which were required by Oct. 27 .

News

From Nextgov.com: Campaign advisers say CIO job should be a career position

Representatives of Barack Obama and John McCain also pledge to use technology to make government more transparent.

Tech

IRS gets favorable progress report on information security

Auditors note there still is room for improvement in systems configuration and procedures to block unauthorized users.

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: Agencies make another dent in high-risk IT investments

To encourage further progress, OMB releases online financial analysis tool.

Oversight

DHS secretary pushes industry to invest in cybersecurity

Plans to beef up protection hinge on private sector -- which owns most of the nation’s infrastructure.

Tech

Homeland Security communications network project at risk of delays

The department should have developed stronger controls before hiring a contractor to work on the project, report says.

Defense

Feds, industry announce center for identity management research

Agencies, academia and corporations form coalition to find ways to better protect personal data and privacy, but offer few details.

Managing Technology

What’s Mine Is . . . Mine

Managing Technology Information sharing can help agencies coordinate strategy, but only if departments relinquish ownership.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Energy's unclassified networks still open to cyberattack

Inspector general reports that while progress has been made, systems remain vulnerable .

News

From Nextgov.com: Reports cite progress, obstacles in IRS modernization efforts

IG: Agency’s oversight of major IT project inadequate, and delivery of the 2008 stimulus checks taxed system.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Watchdog agency cites flaws in DHS cybersecurity program

More energy should go into predicting and preventing future attacks, GAO says .

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Panel says DHS should not oversee cybersecurity

Nonpartisan commission recommends White House take the lead on protecting federal computer networks.

Defense

From Nextgov.com: Homeland Security to direct cybersecurity initiative

Defense and intelligence agencies will support the governmentwide effort .

Tech

From Nextgov.com: Standards for accreditation of labs that test voting machines inconsistent

NIST must strengthen assessments to ensure labs are qualified, GAO reports.

Defense

House Democrats slam Bush administration for failure to comply with 9/11 act

Homeland Security Committee’s ranking Republican calls the report a “political stunt.”

Oversight

From Nextgov.com: IRS finds unauthorized Web servers connected to its networks

Unknown servers are passed over for security patches, leaving agency networks open to attack , IG reports.

Features

The Holes

Agency systems are wide open. Cyber attacks are growing more sophisticated. Is it a problem of not enough money or not spending wisely?