Government IT News For VARs — November 17, 2014

By Christine Kern, contributing writer

In news this week, federal employees are doing more telework, the U.S. government has a tenuous relationship with open source, and the NGA is developing Google Glass apps for immersive intelligence. Also, the USPS is the latest agency to be hacked.

Survey Shows Federal Employees Are Teleworking More Frequently

An article in Fed Tech Magazine reported that federal managers are granting the opportunity to telework more frequently, and employees are increasing satisfied with these opportunities, according to a new survey by the Office of Personnel Management. The survey showed that of those who telework, 77 percent are satisfied with their opportunities, and that employees find that telework options allow greater flexibility and actually helps them do their jobs more efficiently.

The U.S. Government And Open Source: A Tenuous Love Affair

Although the U.S. government has used open source software since before the creation of the Internet, the actual degree to which government agencies actually use open source software (OSS) could be one of the biggest state secrets in Washington, according to the e-Commerce Times. This article examines which agencies use OSS, to what degree, and why, and finds that there is no consistency across agencies regarding policies.

NGA’s Google Glass App Allows Operators To Establish “Immersive Intelligence”

A new Google Glass app could prove to be a gateway to “immersive intelligence,” according to this article from Fed Tech Magazine. The prototype app, developed by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), was designed to boost situational awareness for field operators, providing them with the ability to send and receive information to create a “common operational picture or COP” over the Internet. The goal is to provide other apps that will create an immersive experience that will break down barriers between separate entities in the process.

Hack Of USPS Exposes Employee, Customer Data

This article from the e-Commerce Times examines the recent breach of the USPS servers, which compromised personal data of over 800,000 employees and 3 million customers. Although the data is not of great value to cyber spies, the information did include sensitive information that could be useful to spammers or scammers. The data was apparently accessed over an eight-month period before being detected, and included names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of employment, and emergency contact information. Although the USPS has upgraded its servers, some argue that their IT systems continue to be at risk.

Government IT Talking Points

The e-Commerce Times reported that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is putting distance between himself and the growing battle over Net neutrality, sending “signals that he intends to take a more industry-friendly nuanced approach.” Wheeler has re-emphasized the independent nature of the FCC in regards to President Barack Obama’s call to action, urging the FCC to ensure Net neutrality. Ultimately, as the article points out, the battle is more about politics than it is about technology.

For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Government IT Resource Center.