Author Archive

Ben Bain

Ben Bain is a reporter for Federal Computer Week.
Digital Government

Cops, collection agencies turn to data analytics

Some state and local agencies are turning to business analytics software to help fight crime and collect taxes and other payments.

Cybersecurity

Cyber partnership still eludes government and industry

Industry doesn't want to risk trade secrets, and government likes to classify critical information. No wonder cyber threats get less concerted attention than they deserve.

Digital Government

Five years after Katrina, government IT still feels storm's fury

Five years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, the region continues to rebuild and the federal government is still trying to fix information technology-related problems that the storm and its aftermath exposed.

Cybersecurity

DHS to automate watch list feeds

The Homeland Security Department and the Terrorist Screening Center will use a program to simplify how DHS receives information from the government's centralized terrorist database.

Digital Government

Pablo Vilaboa: When it comes to tech support, sleep is optional

Vilaboa remained at the office for days to provide technical support to officials at Southern Command who were responding to the earthquake in Haiti.

Cybersecurity

Government, industry fall short in sharing cyber threat data

Government and industry need to do a better job of sharing information about cybersecurity threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Cybersecurity

Back to school: Meet NIST's leader for national cybersecurity education

Federal Computer Week spoke today with Ernest McDuffie, who is leading the National Institute of Standards and Technology's coordination of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education.

People

Top state-level IT projects to be honored

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has announced 33 state-level information technology projects as finalists for that organization's annual awards.

Modernization

EPA encouraged to augment electronic waste management programs

The Government Accountability Office suggests that the Environmental Protection Agency develop a strategy to augment and integrate its voluntary programs for responsibly handling used electronics.

Cybersecurity

US-VISIT tests of limited value, GAO finds

The Homeland Security Department should incorporate more than the results of two recent pilot programs to decide whether and how to pursue a biometric-based air exit system for non-U.S. citizens.

Cybersecurity

FCC charts 'Cybersecurity Roadmap' with public's help

The Federal Communications Commission wants public feedback as it develops its plan for cybersecurity.

Digital Government

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency gets first female director

Letitia Long becomes the first woman to lead a major U.S. intelligence agency.

Digital Government

FBI's Mueller urges companies to share info on cyber crime

FBI Director Robert Mueller wants companies to share data on network security breaches with his bureau.

Digital Government

Senate confirms Clapper as intell chief

The Senate has voted to confirm retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James Clapper as the country's fourth director of national intelligence.

Cybersecurity

DHS wants more teams that respond to cyber threats

The Homeland Security Department wants to expand its cadre of teams that help factories and power plants protect against cyber threats to their supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

Digital Government

Senate moves to bolster cybersecurity oversight

The Senate today approved a bill that would levy new oversight requirements on major cybersecurity programs run by intelligence agencies.

Modernization

Florida to employees: Keep that tweet (and status update, IM, SMS, etc.)

Florida's state and local government agencies got new instructions this month for retaining electronic communications.

People

Transportation paves way for online employee collaboration

The Transportation Department has started a collaborative Web site for its employees to share ideas and vote on them.

Modernization

Library of Congress forges digital preservation alliance

The Library of Congress is forming a new partnership dedicated to preserving and providing access to digital content.

Cybersecurity

U.S. approach to global cybersecurity falls short, GAO says

White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt should take action to deal with problems posed by global cyberspace policy questions, a report says.