Author Archive

Ben Bain

Ben Bain is a reporter for Federal Computer Week.

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.

Customs and Border Protection throws open doors to vendors

U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to hold an event for vendors to learn about its plans for upcoming information technology procurements.

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.

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.

FBI looks in-house to complete Sentinel system

The FBI is trying to determine the best way to complete its Sentinel electronic caseload management system. Key parts of the system were made available to agents this month.

Don't expect a miracle from cybersecurity strategy, DHS says

An official with the Homeland Security Department's National Protection and Programs Directorate says the government doesn't need a new cybersecurity strategy.

WikiLeaks upends digital security assumptions

Case demonstrates that classified documents are difficult to protect from determined data miners.

New-look Federal Register online debuts

The government today released a new online prototype for its daily diary of agency and news that's designed to be more usable, understandable and accessible.

Obama to update Bush-era cybersecurity directive

The Obama administration is working on an updated national strategy for securing cyberspace and plans to update a presidential directive from the George W. Bush presidency.

DHS told to increase control over border-fence contractors

U.S. Customs and Border Protection must improve how it oversees contractors hired to build an IT-enabled, security fence along the U.S. border with Mexico, an audit finds.

Senators seek Obama's advice, consent on cybersecurity legislation

The leaders of several Senate committees want President Barack Obama to weigh in on details of proposed cybersecurity legislation as they push to reconcile various measures.

DHS puts finishing touches on $22B opportunity

Vendors are looking over changes that the Homeland Security Department plans for a contracting vehicle that its agencies have used to buy information technology worth billions.

Senate Republicans argue against White House cyber coordinator

Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) have introduced a bill that would set up a national cyber center at the Defense Department.

Senators say no 'kill switch' in bill

Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are trying to debunk what they say are myths about their proposal to bolster cybersecurity.

The urgency behind solving the cyber identity problem

White House Cyber Coordinator Howard Schmidt explains what's behind the Obama administration's push to improve how people and systems are identified in cyberspace.

Wanted: A better system for intelligence collection

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity's Smart Collection office wants to fund research into ways to make collected intelligence more valuable.

Senate cybersecurity bill gets high-ranking backers in the House

Senior lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee have expressed support for a comprehensive proposal to bolster computer security that was introduced last week by their counterparts in the Senate.

Industry embraces telework

Federal information technology workers were much less likely than their private-sector counterparts to regularly or exclusively telework despite having favorable opinions of telecommuting, according to a report released today.

Trade group sees unintended consequences in new cybersecurity bill

The technology trade association TechAmerica is worried about regulatory provisions of a new comprehensive cybersecurity intoduced June 10 by three senior senators.

House moves to protect grid from cyber threats

The House has passed a bill that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission additional powers to protect the U.S. power system from cyber-related threats.