Government IT News for VARs – January 2, 2015
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In news this week, the emphasis remains on cybersecurity readiness – from the Sony hack to the Federal IT Act and beyond. Also, DHS is gearing to become a “game-changing research and development organization,” and Boeing has teamed with BlackBerry to create a secure phone for government ops.
Sony Hack Brings Focus To U.S. Cybersecurity Readiness
This article from Fed Tech Magazine examines the fallout from the latest hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and highlights the scrutiny that has been focused on how well the United States is prepared to train the next generation of cybersecurity experts. The attack reinforces predictions that the U.S. may not be prepared for the next cybersecurity storm, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a massive shortfall in the IT workforce by 2020.
Federal IT Act Seen By Tech Sector As Positive Sign Of Reform To Come
The e-Commerce Times reported that the tech sector has interpreted the passing of the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act as a positive sign of significant reform to come in 2015. The legislation provides some stability for IT funding and also focuses on IT leadership roles. FITARA gives civilian CIOs much more authority over the budget, governance and personnel processes for agency IT investments, marking a positive change for many in the tech industry. The law also addresses transparency and risk management, monitoring, and strategic sourcing, among other issues.
How CIOs Should Handle New IT Budget Authority
This article from Fed Tech Magazine offers advice from General Services Administration (GSA) CIO Sonny Hashmi to fellow CIOs, who will be gaining control over department IT budgets for the first time. Hashmi says that IT must remain flexible and innovative in order to be successful, and emphasizes the need to modernize legacy systems.
DHS Invested Billions To Support Transitions from Research To Production
This article from Fed Tech Magazine explains how the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has invested billions of dollars in development and transitioning of research projects into viable commercial solutions for first responders and network operators. According to Doug Maughan, director of the Cyber Security Division within S&T, the directorate’s leadership is dedicated to making it a “game-changing research and development organization.”
Boeing Enlists BlackBerry To Bolster Black Smartphone Security
The e-Commerce Times reported that Boeing has turned to BlackBerry to help bolster the security of its Black smartphone, according to BlackBerry CEO John Chen. The goal is to build a smartphone with an emphasis on modularity that will be secure enough for secret government ops, and Boeing turned to BlackBerry to provide the necessary layers of security.