https://fedtechmagazine.com/ en https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/identifying-which-aspects-your-agencys-security-model-outsource Some agencies are taking a fresh look at security outsourcing in the aftermath of a cyber incident that shut down multiple sectors, from hospitals to air travel, on July 19. Still, that’s difficult when as a rule government trusts no one. Some CISOs are treating the outsourcing of cyber support as a potential risk to be mitigated and only undertaken when the rewards are clear. A quarter of security teams are understaffed or severely understaffed, and 35% would like more help. Still, 26% of the more than 950 IT and cyber professionals surveyed for the 2024 CDW Cybersecurity Research Report… Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:47:54 -0400 Peter Dunn, Andrew Maxey https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/identifying-which-aspects-your-agencys-security-model-outsource https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/improving-state-federal-ai Money is starting to flow to help agencies implement President Biden’s October 2023 executive order on artificial intelligence. In May, the U.S. General Services Administration’s Technology Modernization Fund Board awarded $18.2 million to help the State Department deploy generative AI that helps employees derive insights and make data-driven decisions quickly. The department will develop generative AI communications, train personnel and modernize processes to integrate the new capabilities seamlessly. It will also prioritize responsible AI, developing user guidance and an interagency… Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:54:49 -0400 Mickey McCarter https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/improving-state-federal-ai https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/epa-leads-governments-shift-softphones It’s been more than two years since workers returned to their offices at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency following the COVID-19 pandemic. But something’s different about office life now: The desk phones for the EPA’s roughly 20,000 employees sit largely unused. “The phones barely ring,” says Tiffany McNeill, director of the agency’s office of IT operations. “In the past two years, I think I’ve picked up my phone twice.” That doesn’t mean work isn’t getting done. The EPA has joined a growing number of federal agencies that are shifting to softphone… Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:18:31 -0400 Mike Gruss https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/epa-leads-governments-shift-softphones https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/agencies-turn-next-gen-siem-improved-cyber-visibility Agencies are increasingly turning to next-generation security information and event management systems because the success of their cyber workflows relies on holistic visibility of their IT environments. After identifying the critical data assets they must protect, agencies use next-gen SIEM to correlate that information with other data feeds to unearth potential threats and compromises. Unlike traditional SIEM, next-gen systems infuse data points from raw streaming workflows and all types of asset sources: cloud, on-premises, hyperconverged and hybrid. In short, next-gen SIEM offers agencies… Mon, 12 Aug 2024 11:16:53 -0400 Nathan Eddy https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/agencies-turn-next-gen-siem-improved-cyber-visibility https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/how-nsa-ensures-technology-remains-accessible-and-usable-all-employees There is strength in diversity; that’s one of the messages delivered in the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy, which provides strategic guidance to the U.S. intelligence community. Among the major goals listed in the document are recruiting, developing and retaining a talented and diverse workforce across the entirety of the IC. The guidance aligns with efforts already taking place at the National Security Agency, which recently touted its unprecedented hiring efforts in 2023. The agency’s Future-Ready Workforce initiative focuses on improving the personal and professional experiences of… Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:37:13 -0400 Alexander Slagg https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/how-nsa-ensures-technology-remains-accessible-and-usable-all-employees https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/federal-agencies-experiment-generative-ai-while-incorporating-safeguards The Air Force has embraced artificial intelligence for years, from using analytics to perform predictive maintenance on aircraft to testing and developing autonomous fighter jets. Now, with generative AI bursting onto the scene, it’s no wonder the Air Force is exploring ways to benefit from the emerging technology. The military service branch is piloting an AI-powered chatbot that allows Guardians, Airmen, civilian employees and contractors to experiment with generative AI. Through natural language, users can ask the tool to quickly summarize reports, get answers on topics it’s trained on and… Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:32:03 -0400 Wylie Wong https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/federal-agencies-experiment-generative-ai-while-incorporating-safeguards https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/federal-caios-outline-early-use-cases-and-challenges-emerging-technology Listen in on a conversation among federal IT leaders, and it won’t be long before artificial intelligence, with all its promise and challenges, comes up. Such discussions, in fact, are now mandatory: Last October, the White House issued an executive order on the federal government’s role in the development and use of AI. A few months later, the Office of Management and Budget released a memorandum directing agencies in the areas of AI governance, innovation and risk management. One key directive required agencies to designate a chief AI officer. Some organizations, including the Department of… Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:02:23 -0400 Chris Hayhurst https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/08/federal-caios-outline-early-use-cases-and-challenges-emerging-technology https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/07/key-piece-mastering-zero-trust-mobility Federal IT teams must weigh the latest zero-trust tools to ensure safety while also allowing for mobility in where and how employees work. IT experts continue to refine best practices around squeezing the most out of mobile devices while adhering to zero-trust principles, according to those on a June 27 webinar hosted by the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center. Civilian agencies face a Sept. 30 deadline to establish a zero-trust security architecture, and while their IT leaders generally feel prepared, the preponderance of laptops, cell phones and tablets that began during the… Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:22:43 -0400 Mike Gruss https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/07/key-piece-mastering-zero-trust-mobility https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/07/review-kensington-sd5700t-thunderbolt-4-ideal-hybrid-work Docking stations have been around for a very long time. Over the years, they have found a lot of success in government use, particularly where workers are likely to be out in the field part of the time and then back in an office for paperwork or other duties. Early docking stations generally allowed laptops to connect to a desktop monitor or computer, though users sometimes had to use thumbscrews and serial ports to connect everything. In a lot of ways, those devices were clunky, but they got the job done. To say that the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 dual 4K docking station is… Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:27:39 -0400 John Breeden II https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/07/review-kensington-sd5700t-thunderbolt-4-ideal-hybrid-work https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/07/review-novisign-online-studio Using digital signage to display public information in prime locations adds immense value to federal government services. Doing so effectively requires the use of scheduled or dynamically updated messaging via secure software that can handle keeping users and agency office staff aware of mission-critical data. Displays in office lobbies and other common areas can also provide scheduled, easily updated information for visitors. When used correctly, digital signage solutions and software can provide real-time updates and increase public safety; for instance, by keeping foot traffic in congested… Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:34:39 -0400 Carlos Soto https://fedtechmagazine.com/article/2024/07/review-novisign-online-studio