Author Archive
IT Modernization
COBOL: You’re thinking about it wrong
The workhorse computing language suffers from a “major image problem” rooted in fundamental misperceptions, researchers say.
IT Modernization
Averting the next pandemic with real-time health data
The Center for Public Health Data would aggregate federal, state and local health data and make it accessible in real time so it can be used for decision-making as health threats unfold.
Cybersecurity
National Computer Forensics Institute up for reauthorization
The proposal would continue NCFI’s services through 2028 for any government employee who could help prevent or investigate cyber crimes.
Digital Government
Updated digital forensics database speeds criminal investigations
NIST’s expanded, more searchable database will help law enforcement find incriminating data in electronic media.
Acquisition
FirstNet should be reauthorized before it sunsets, GAO says
Any significant changes to the public safety broadband network would be complex, expensive and may disrupt services delivery if the contract with AT&T is interrupted or changed before 2042, GAO warned.
CDC, NASA seek apps to monitor employee vaccinations
CDC is looking for a vaccine passport-type service to authenticate COVID-19 vaccine data on its employees and to supply proof of recent tests for traveling agency employees, while NASA is looking for a smartphone app that would not only allow its 18,000 employees to display their vaccination status when entering a NASA facility, but also help the space agency efficiently survey, report and analyze data on the immunization status of its workforce.
10 legacy systems in need of modernization
The Government Accountability Office selected 10 systems that have unsupported hardware and software, are using outdated languages or operating with known security vulnerabilities.
IT Modernization
Wanted: Autonomous vehicle tech for mail delivery
The Postal Service wants information about sensor, guidance and operational technologies as well as expertise on testing and integrating the autonomous vehicle tech into its existing fleet.
IT Modernization
DISA seeks metrics for cloud SLAs
An interagency working group is putting together a catalog of service level agreement metrics that all federal agencies could use for commercial cloud contracts.
NASA wants predictive analytics for drone-crash casualties
The agency is asking for risk management and decision-making tools that can help it accurately estimate the deaths and injuries caused by a drone that crashes into a populated area.
Workforce