Ideas

The US Should Have Invited Russia to Join Its Counter-Ransomware Initiative

The Biden administration recently hosted a ransomware summit which excluded the Russian government. The United States should have done more to involve Russia in ransomware negotiations.

Defense Systems

Water treatment facilities named in joint cyber advisory

To help water and wastewater utilities protect their IT and operational technology systems from cyberattack, the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, Environmental Protection Agency and National Security Agency have outlined steps facilities can to take steps to defend themselves.

Defense Systems

CISA releases final TIC 3.0 remote user use case

The guidance gives federal agencies instructions on applying network and multi-boundary security for remote users.

Science & Tech

AUSA Conference Wire: Connect Everything

New: a weapons-testing lab just for networking. Coming up: a wargame featuring a battalion of unmanned vehicles.

Defense Systems

CISA's new talent management system could boost cyber recruitment

Despite increasing competition among the public and private sectors in hiring top cyber talent, CISA Director Jen Easterly said she has high hopes for a new personnel management system which reduces friction in hiring and offers new career paths.

Defense Systems

DHS adds cyber requirements for transportation industry

The Transportation Security Agency and the Coast Guard are getting increased authority over industry cybersecurity.

Policy

NSA Cyber Chief Spells Out Near-Term Priorities

Ransomware is a top concern, but the agency is also looking ahead to defending networked weapons and post-quantum encryption.

Defense Systems

Tough conversations on ransomware ahead

The U.S. government, will have to start regularly having hard conversations "country to country" on state-sponsored cyberattacks, according to a top Defense Department official.

Defense Systems

Coast Guard embraces direct commissioning for cyber personnel

The maritime military branch opened up its direct commissioning program to cyber roles in cyberspace operations, cybersecurity, information assurance and cyber threat intelligence.

Defense Systems

CISA chief: Cyber incident reporting can't become a burden

Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, stressed the importance of cyber incident reporting but said mandates should be careful of potentially overburdening companies -- and CISA -- with "reporting noise."

Defense Systems

How the Air Force is tackling electronic warfare challenges

The Air Force is on high alert when it comes to electromagnetic spectrum threats. But extensive system updates pose a risk.

Defense Systems

CISA chief floats fines to compel threat info sharing

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly told lawmakers that fines may help enable disclosure compliance and enforcement.

Defense Systems

Zero trust, EMS top Air Force cyber priorities

Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, the commander of the 16th Air Force, said implementing zero trust principles was "foundational" to improve data use and mitigate vulnerabilities from the defense industry supply chain.

Ideas

AFA Conference Wire: China Warnings and B-21 Numbers

News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.

Defense Systems

White House nominates John Sherman for DOD CIO

John Sherman was named DOD's principal deputy CIO in 2020 and has been acting in the CIO role since January.

Defense Systems

AFGE looks to block Cyber Command reserve program in NDAA

A proposed amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to pilot a cybersecurity reserve force at the Department of Defense would weaken merit systems principles, according to the largest federal employee union.

Defense Systems

Inglis: First rule of cyber education is budget accountability

The newly appointed cyber director has been setting priorities and carving out turf for his office to cover. With that will likely come some scrutiny of how the government spends resources on cyber.

Defense Systems

DOD wants industry to continue with CMMC prep amid program review

Dr. Christine Michienzi, the chief technology officer for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, said while results were coming soon, defense contractors should "continue on" with updates to cybersecurity practices as DOD finalizes its review of its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.

Defense Systems

Chris Inglis outlines blueprint for federal cyber priorities

The newly installed National Cyber Director offered his take on the roles and responsibilities of his office, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Council and agency IT and security operations in responding to federal cyber incidents.

Defense Systems

Fostering a diverse cybersecurity workforce

Experts at an Aspen Institute event explained some roadblocks to cultivating a diverse cybersecurity workforce and offered potential solutions, including putting less reliance on formal certification.