http://www.informationweek.comInformationWeeken-usCopyright 2012, UBM LLC.2013-05-23T12:25:00ZNew report says federal agencies can improve performance by implementing gaming, mobile and other technologies that speed up operations.http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/ibm-makes-case-for-fast-government/240155485?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/software/enterprise-applications/ibm-smarter-cities-challenge-10-towns-ra/240142572"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/913/01_Smarter_Cities_tn.jpg" alt="IBM Smarter Cities Challenge: 10 Towns Raise Tech IQs" title="IBM Smarter Cities Challenge: 10 Towns Raise Tech IQs" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">IBM Smarter Cities Challenge: 10 Towns Raise Tech IQs</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->IBM wants government agencies to move faster. In a new report, IBM makes that case that "fast government" is more efficient and more effective and operates a lower cost. <P> Time saved by streamlining operations and improving service quality should be measures of government performance, writes Daniel Chenok, executive director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government and former branch chief for information and IT policy at the White House Office of Management and Budget, in the report. <P> IBM managing partner Charles Prow adds that accelerating business processes is "arguably the single largest driver of improved mission effectiveness" in most government work. "Reducing time almost invariably results in higher service levels and lower cost points," he writes. <P> <strong>[ Mobile, cloud and social technologies are poised to help agencies improve services, says former U.S. CIO Kundra. Read more at <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/third-wave-tech-tools-reshape-agencies-k/240155448?itc=edit_in_body_cross">'Third-Wave' Tech Tools Reshape Agencies: Kundra</a>. ]</strong> <P> Mobile and gaming technologies, analytics, supply chain capabilities and self-service portals are among the technologies that can help drive faster processes in government, according to IBM. <P> In the area of gaming, for example, Nicole Lazzaro, president of XEODesign, says that thinking about how game designers create levels of engagement can be used to design government-citizen interactions. <P> The report's recommendations include establishing "time" as a performance metric, using technology to automate tasks, accelerating service delivery through redesigned business processes, providing interactive self-service capabilities to citizens and applying analytics to bring greater efficiency to processes. <P> IBM's 78-page "Fast Government" report is comprised of 11 essays on topics such as "instituting accountability" for speed in government and security and privacy actions that support fast-government strategies. Author Robert Shea identifies conditions that are necessary to accelerating government operations: set clear goals, be transparent about objectives, empower strong leaders and hold them accountable, take risks and collaborate. <P> Robert Luby and Tom Glisson (a retired U.S. Army general who served in the Defense Logistics Agency) make the case that better supply chain management can lead to substantial cost savings. They cite U.S. Transportation Command's Defense Transportation Coordination Initiative, which they say has chalked up $158 million in "cost avoidance" by achieving on-time pickup and delivery 98% of the time. <P> <i>Uncle Sam's taken the lead on secure use of cloud services. Here's how FedRAMP can change your experience, too. Also in the new, all-digital <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/042913?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Follow The Feds</a> issue of InformationWeek: Candid career advice for women in IT includes calling work-life balance a myth. (Free registration required.)</i>2013-05-17T11:56:00ZNASA, Google and university researchers get access to new quantum computer, as NASA tackles complex problems ranging from air traffic to robotics.http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-architecture/google-nasa-team-on-quantum-computing/240155073?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/10-space-technologies-that-help-on-earth/240151059"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/966/2013Mediphan_tn.jpg" alt="10 Space Technologies That Help On Earth" title="10 Space Technologies That Help On Earth" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">10 Space Technologies That Help On Earth </div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for slideshow)</span> </div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> NASA's Ames Research Laboratory, in collaboration with Google and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), has announced plans to host a 512-quantum-bit (qubit), quantum computer at its new Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab. <P> Under terms of the agreement, <a href="http://www.usra.edu/">USRA</a>, a nonprofit research organization, will operate the computer at the Ames facility. Twenty percent of the system's time will be allocated to universities via a competitive selection process. <P> The computer system selected for the facility is D-Wave Systems' D-Wave Two. Quantum computing combines the principles of quantum physics, where a bit of matter can exist in two states, with supercomputing processes that manipulate billions of bits of data. A bit can be 0, 1 or both, allowing the computer to test all possible solutions simultaneously. <P> NASA's interest in quantum computing lies in trying to solve extremely complex problems in areas such as optimizing air traffic control, navigation and communication, and robotics. <P> <strong>[ Want to know more about Google technology? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/internet/google/google-strengthens-cloud-platform/240155040?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google Strengthens Cloud Platform</a>. ]</strong> <P> Google views quantum computing as having potential to solve high-level computer science problems, especially in the area of machine learning. <P> "Machine learning is all about building better models of the world to make more accurate predictions," <a href="http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2013/05/launching-quantum-artificial.html">wrote Hartmut Neven</a>, director of engineering at Google Research, in a blog post. "If we want to cure diseases, we need better models of how they develop. If we want to create effective environmental policies, we need better models of what's happening to our climate. And if we want to build a more useful search engine, we need to better understand <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/software/productivity-applications/google-io-3-hits-up-close/240155039">spoken questions</a> and what's on the Web so you get the best answer." <P> Installation of the D-Wave Two is underway. A NASA spokeswoman said that work and calibration of the computer are expected to be completed in the fall. <P> D-Wave Systems, which recently opened an office in Palo Alto, Calif., announced in October that it had secured $30 million in equity funding from investors that included Bezos Expeditions and In-Q-Tel. At the time, In-Q-Tel VP Robert Ames said that quantum computing holds promise for intelligence agencies and called the investment in D-Wave "a first step in that direction." <P> Lockheed Martin, which uses D-Wave's 128-qubit D-Wave One system, purchased an upgrade to the D-Wave Two earlier this year.2013-05-16T15:27:00ZGAO recommends stepped up oversight and an extended deadline to meet OMB's objectives.http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-architecture/federal-data-center-consolidation-found/240155045?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/new-yorks-32-story-data-fortress/240151545"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/968/Intergate-Manhattan-Data-Center_01_tn.jpg" alt="New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'" title="New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for slideshow)</span> </div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> The federal government's ambitious plan to close 40% of its data centers by the end of 2015 is suffering from "weaknesses in oversight" that may make it difficult for Uncle Sam to hit its objectives, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. <P> The <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/data-center-consolidation-gets-under-way/228800072">Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative</a>, introduced by the Office of Management and Budget in 2010, aims to close 1,253 of the government's 3,133 data centers by the end of 2015. So far, agencies have identified 968 data centers to close, which leaves them 285 short of the goal, according to GAO. <P> It's unclear how agencies will make up that difference. OMB's quarterly report to Congress, issued in January 2013, "does not provide any new information about either planned or completed agency data center closures," said David Powner, director of GAO's IT management issues office, in testimony to the House Oversight and Government reform subcommittee on government operations. <P> <strong>[ Data centers are one thing. What about data? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/data-management-key-to-federal-open-data/240155027?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Data Management Key To Federal Open Data Policy</a>. ]</strong> <P> Nor has OMB put processes and tools in place to fully measure agencies' progress in achieving the estimated $3 billion in cost savings that the FDCCI is supposed to realize. GAO found that, as of November 2012, "the total savings to date had not been tracked but were believed to be minimal." <P> In meetings with OMB, GAO determined that there is no consistent, repeatable method for tracking cost savings. "The lack of initiative-wide cost savings data makes it unclear whether agencies will be able to achieve OMB's projected savings," Powner said. He added that in previous work, GAO found agencies' cost savings projections to be incomplete and, in some cases, unreliable. <P> Powner reiterated an earlier recommendation that OMB track and report on the size of data centers closed, since square footage tends to be reflected in operational costs and efficiency. Without that information, OMB is limited in its ability to oversee the cost-savings target, he said. <P> The watchdog agency recommended that the federal CIO report annually on key consolidation performance measures, such as cost savings and the size of centers closed, and set up a mechanism to ensure agencies meet their responsibilities for oversight, review and approval of consolidation plans. <P> Because agencies have yet to identify all data centers to be closed and with performance metrics lacking, Powner suggested the FDCCI's time frame for reaching its savings goal should be extended. <P> Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel, in a formal response to the GAO report, agreed with most of the agency's recommendations. But VanRoekel resisted extending the FDCCI's deadline beyond 2015, pointing to OMB's recent decision to tie the government's data center consolidation program more closely to its IT portfolio management program, PortfolioStat. <P> "As the FDCCI and PortfolioStat initiatives proceed and continue to generate savings, OMB will consider whether updates to the current timeframe are appropriate," VanRoekel wrote.2013-05-07T09:12:00ZVenture investment firm strikes deal to give U.S. intelligence agencies access to extensive database of weather data.http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/in-q-tel-invests-in-weather-data-analysi/240154315?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/10-breakthrough-darpa-technologies/240153857"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/985/TERN_01_tn.jpg" alt="10 Breakthrough DARPA Technologies" title="10 Breakthrough DARPA Technologies" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">10 Breakthrough DARPA Technologies</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> U.S. intelligence agencies apply advanced analytics to their assessment of terrorist activities, foreign adversaries and other kinds of national security threats. Now they have access to big data on global weather, too. <P> In-Q-Tel, the venture capital firm for the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies, said it has struck a deal with Weather Analytics, a company that specializes in climate and weather data, to develop new capacities for use in support of intelligence activities. <P> "For purposes of planning a vacation or if we need to carry an umbrella, weather information from free sources is good enough," said Bill Pardue, CEO of Weather Analytics, in an interview. "But if you're looking to make decisions that have great risk but offer great reward, you want data" that can help make those decisions. <P> <strong>[ Will there be enough money in the budget to do this right? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/federal-cios-identify-budget-cut-risks/240154123?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Federal CIOs Identify Budget-Cut Risks</a>. ]</strong> <P> Weather Analytics receives and processes more than 6 billion weather measurements daily, gathered from 45,000 sensors and other devices on satellites, aircraft, balloons, ships, buoys and ground stations. Some of the data is publicly available, while other sources private networks and modeled data from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration." We process that data and look for errors and problems in quality," Pardue said. <P> Weather Analytics tracks more than 580 variables, including air temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed and direction, soil temperature and moisture levels, and "evapotranspiration" -- a combination of water evaporation and plant respiration. The company puts data into a consistent format and then into a database of 60 trillion weather records that goes back 33 years. <P> Commercial applications for Weather Analytics services include validating insurance claims, forecasting energy consumption and mapping transportation routes. In-Q-Tel's investment will accelerate the company's work in providing historical data and "microclimate" forecasts for geographic areas as small as one-square kilometer, Pardue said. In topographies with wide variations in altitude, for instance, there can be sharp differences in weather conditions. <P> Why the interest in the weather for intelligence purposes? In the Defense Department's 2010 <a href="http://www.defense.gov/qdr/qdr%20as%20of%2026jan10%200700.pdf">Quadrennial Defense Review</a> (QDR), climate change was identified as a key factor in potential security threats in the future. Assessments by the U.S. Intelligence Community concluded that climate change could have "significant geopolitical impacts" around the world, contributing to poverty, weakening fragile governments and potentially spurring mass migrations, the report stated. <P> "While climate change alone does not cause conflict, it may act as an accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden to respond on civilian institutions and militaries around the world," the report warned. Extreme weather can also lead to demand for defense support for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.2013-05-01T15:13:00ZDARPA invests in technology to develop more human-like robotic hands; iRobot demonstration shows promise.http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-architecture/pentagon-seeks-robotic-hand-with-soft-to/240154034?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/spy-tech-10-cia-backed-investments/240142519"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/912/01_extra_tn.jpg" alt="Spy Tech: 10 CIA-Backed Investments" title="Spy Tech: 10 CIA-Backed Investments" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">Spy Tech: 10 CIA-Backed Investments</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->The Department of Defense has demonstrated a robotic hand with finger movements that are closer to those of a human hand than the claw-like hands of earlier robots. <P> The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency&#8217;s Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program released a video showing the prototype hand picking up a key, turning it in a door lock, and opening a door, among other tasks. The device was built by iRobot. <P> The purpose of the ARM program is to develop autonomous manipulation devices that are able to grasp and manipulate objects of various sizes in a real-world environment, receiving only high-level direction from human operators. The goal is to enable robotic hands to work in military mission environments, faster and with increased autonomy. <P> <strong>[ What other innovations has DARPA been investing in? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/10-breakthrough-darpa-technologies/240153857?itc=edit_in_body_cross">10 Breakthrough DARPA Technologies</a>. ]</strong> <P> Contractors for the hardware part of the program are developing hand mechanisms with three or four fingers and usable palms to replace the pincer-type claws on robots today. While current technology costs about $50,000 per device, DARPA&#8217;s teams have produced hands that could be built for as little as $3,000 each, if purchased in lots of 1,000. <P> In addition to straightforward pickup of objects that are very small, awkwardly shaped, or heavy, the new wave of robotic hands can manipulate them between their fingers when controlled by skilled operators. This enables the hands to make use of tools ordinarily used by humans. <P> In addition to hardware development, the ARM program has a software track, which is developing new algorithms and ways the hands can grasp and manipulate, using embedded sensors. There also is an outreach track, which places robotic systems in public museums such as the National Air and Space Museum for demonstration purposes. DARPA also has encouraged companies and individuals to develop algorithms for robot autonomy, which can be tied through the Internet to a real system for evaluation and demonstration. <P> <i>Uncle Sam's taken the lead on secure use of cloud services. Here's how FedRAMP can change your experience, too. Also in the new, all-digital <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/042913?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Follow The Feds</a> issue of InformationWeek: Candid career advice for women in IT includes calling work-life balance a myth. (Free registration required.)</i>2013-05-01T09:57:00ZMilitary, business community team up to give service members ways to earn private sector IT certifications.http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/veterans-program-offers-it-certification/240153994?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/14-amazing-darpa-technologies-on-tap/240008013"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/877/01_Aware-camer--prototype_tn.jpg" alt="14 Amazing DARPA Technologies On Tap" title="14 Amazing DARPA Technologies On Tap" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">14 Amazing DARPA Technologies On Tap</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> As many as 161,000 members of the U.S. military will have an opportunity to earn IT credentials that will help them find private sector jobs as part of a new White House program. <P> The program, called the <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/29/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-new-program-help-transitioning-servicemembers-ge>IT Training and Certification Partnership</a>, was launched Monday by First Lady Michelle Obama. <P> Too often, military veterans "discover that the credentials that they've earned in military courses don't actually transfer when they enroll in college, so they're turned away from jobs that they're more than qualified to do," she said. "Or they wind up paying to do the same coursework over again, and all that training, all that education, all that expertise that they have devoted their lives to attain, it all goes to waste." <P> <strong>[ Local governments could use the skills offered by vets. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/big-data-will-stymie-local-government/240153888?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Big Data Will Stymie Local Government</a>. ]</strong> <P> About a dozen tech companies are participating in the initiative. Cisco worked with talent management software vendor Futures Inc. to develop an IT certification program that matches military occupation codes with private sector careers. HP, Microsoft, NetApp and Oracle are offering training and certification for their respective technologies, while SANS Institute and Global Information Assurance Certification are doing the same in the area of IT security. <P> Service members who participate in the program can receive a gap analysis of their IT skills to determine where to focus their training efforts. Training and certification are geared to 12 technology professions, including computer programming, quality assurance engineering and IT security analysis. <P> In some cases, military occupations already match up well with private sector requirements. For instance, the training for the Navy's IT and IT Submarines occupation codes correspond fully to CompTIA's A+ and Security+ certifications. In such situations, military veterans can use the program for additional training to qualify for other certifications. <P> The IT Training and Certification Partnership is an outgrowth of a military credentials task force formed last year by the Department of Defense and is part of a broader push by the Obama administration to help military personnel find jobs when they return to the private sector. Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, in <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/30/businesses-must-hire-more-vets>a column</a> on Whitehouse.gov, wrote that U.S. companies have hired or trained 290,000 military veterans and spouses and committed to hiring or training another 435,000 over the next five years.2013-04-26T09:20:00ZAgency shifts focus to layered capabilities and cyber as a tactical weapon, as budget constraints and new threats affect plans.http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/darpa-new-threats-demand-new-technologie/240153667?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/14-amazing-darpa-technologies-on-tap/240008013"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/877/01_Aware-camer--prototype_tn.jpg" alt="14 Amazing DARPA Technologies On Tap" title="14 Amazing DARPA Technologies On Tap" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">14 Amazing DARPA Technologies On Tap</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is adjusting its approach to the development of new defense technologies to reflect the fiscal realities facing federal agencies and evolving nature of national threats. <P> "Our mission is unchanged -- to prevent and create technological surprise," DARPA director Arati Prabhakar said at a Pentagon briefing in which she presented a new framework for the agency's research and development. However, she added, "it's going to be a very challenging environment for an extended period of time." <P> The agency's primary strategic objectives are to demonstrate "breakthrough capabilities" for national security, help drive a highly capable U.S. technology base and ensure that DARPA itself delivers on its mission. <P> <strong>[ Perhaps teenagers can develop some of the new technologies that DARPA needs. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/future-scientists-showcase-inventions-at/240153345?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Future Scientists Showcase Inventions At White House</a>. ]</strong> <P> Three factors are driving that mission, according to Prabhakar. One is the emergence of new threats. Rather than addressing risks posed by adversarial countries alone, the military must be prepared to deal with criminal enterprises, terrorist organizations and ill-intentioned individuals, all of which have access to new kinds of weapons, including cyber threats. <P> A second factor is the rapid pace of technological change, especially in the area of components for military systems. Many tech components are no longer manufactured in the U.S., introducing an added element of risk to the military's systems and networks, Prabhakar said. <P> The third factor is financial. Sequestration has cut $202 million from DARPA's fiscal 2013 budget of $2.9 billion, resulting in furloughs of employees and an 8% budget cut across programs. Prabhakar cautioned that DARPA's ability to invest in R&D may not return to business as usual. <P> "There's a critical shift in how society allocates resources to national security," she said. "I'm not talking about sequestration. I'm really talking about fiscal pressures that could shape a different future." <P> To deal with the complexities of modern warfare, DARPA seeks to develop integrated and layered systems that can continue to give the military a decisive edge. Examples of technologies that could increase in potency when used in this way include "adaptive electronic warfare," manned and unmanned systems, tactical cyber capabilities, and advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. <P> "Modern warfare may be too complex for a single new capability to deliver sustained superiority across a variety of scenarios," according to the document, titled <a href="http://www.darpa.mil/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2147486475">"Driving Technological Surprise: DARPA's Mission In A Changing World."</a> <P> The agency's investment strategy is to use advanced, commercially available technologies where possible while encouraging new development at universities, government labs and private sector companies, as well as through its own programs. <P> Cyber is an area of increased focus. "We all view cyber as a critical threat to our military, and national security more broadly," Prabhakar said. "It's a tool that can be part of our military suite of capabilities." <P> DARPA's so-called Plan X program is aimed at developing capabilities that will give the U.S. military an advantage in cyber warfare, but there will be no single weapon or capability that does that, Prabhakar said.2013-04-23T11:04:00ZFeds plan to leverage resources to better track environmental, planetary systems and resources.http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/white-house-shares-earth-observation-pla/240153421?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/10-space-technologies-that-help-on-earth/240151059"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/966/2013Mediphan_tn.jpg" alt="10 Space Technologies That Help On Earth" title="10 Space Technologies That Help On Earth" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">10 Space Technologies That Help On Earth </div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for slideshow)</span> </div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> Just in time for Earth Day, the White House has issued a new national strategy intended to establish a better understanding of our home planet. <P> The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on April 19 released the National Strategy for Civil Earth Observations. Its purpose is two-fold: Provide a policy framework for sharing data from federal agencies' various Earth-observing systems and establish guidelines for managing that data. <P> Eleven federal agencies are involved in Earth observations. The parameters being monitored and measured include land surface, the oceans and the biosphere and atmosphere. The systems used to generate observations include satellites, terrestrial sensors and instruments at sea and in lakes and rivers. <P> While the strategy identifies a list of guiding principles, one key element is establishing interoperable systems and providing timely, user-friendly access to the widest audience possible. The strategy is intended to reflect and support the White House's open government initiative. <P> <strong>[ You can play a role. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/nasa-launches-next-space-apps-challenge/240152925?itc=edit_in_body_cross">NASA Launches Next Space Apps Challenge</a>. ]</strong> <P> "Information and services derived from Earth-observation data, including some as ubiquitous as weather forecasts and GPS-navigation, are used by policy makers, resource managers, business leaders, first-responders and citizens to make important day-to-day decisions," wrote Peter Colohan, an OSTP senior policy analyst, in a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/19/taking-pulse-our-planet-new-strategy-earth-observations">blog post</a> on the new strategy. <P> Twelve "societal benefit areas" are identified as targets for making use of the observation data: agriculture and forestry, biodiversity, climate, disasters, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, energy and mineral resources, human health, ocean and coastal resources and ecosystems, space weather, transportation, water resources, weather and reference measurements such as topography and geolocation. <P> The strategy calls for the U.S. to continue investing in research and development for measurement and monitoring technologies. Agencies must assess the existing and planned Earth-observing systems in their portfolios, make recommendations on what's required to continue and advance their measurement programs and determine ongoing costs associated with development, deployment, operations and maintenance. <P> The purpose of the data management framework is to establish open access to the data, preserve data and ensure its quality. To facilitate ease of use, agencies are to make data available using a Web-based, services-oriented architecture. The strategy calls for coordinating policies for inventory control and data sharing with private sector partners. <P> A related effort, called the National Plan for Civil Earth Observations, will be published as a supplement to the White House's proposed budget for fiscal year 2014. The plan, described as a blueprint for future investments, will take into account the fiscal and program constraints reflected in the budget. The National Plan for Civil Earth Observations also describes how the U.S. will work with international partners through the multinational Group on Earth Observations.2013-04-19T15:43:00ZFollowing a review, Defense Secretary Hagel discontinues medal that would have recognized drone operators and other cyber warriors.http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/pentagon-reverses-decision-on-cyber-meda/240153292?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/military-drones-the-pentagons-eyes-in-th/240144476"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/929/AFx37-b_tn.jpg" alt="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" title="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div><!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->The Pentagon has reversed a decision to create a medal that recognizes extraordinary achievements in virtual and remote-controlled warfare. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in one of his first actions after taking office in February, requested a review of the <a href=http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/dods-new-medal-recognizes-cyberwarfare-a/240148637>Distinguished Warfare Medal</a>, which had been announced by his predecessor, Leon Panetta, only a few weeks earlier. <P> The medal was intended for drone operators and other cyber warriors, in recognition of "single acts of extraordinary achievement" during engagement with enemy forces and actions that "remove the enemy from the field of battle." <P> Hagel announced a decision to discontinue the medal on April 15 following an outpouring of concern from veterans groups and members of Congress. Critics weren't happy that the Distinguished Warfare Medal was ranked higher than the Bronze Star, which is awarded for heroic action in armed conflicts, and the Purple Heart, given to those who have been wounded or killed in action. <P> <strong>[ Check out the latest handy mobile apps from the government. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/mobile-government-10-must-have-smartphon/240149858?itc=edit_in_body_cross">10 Helpful Apps From Uncle Sam</a>. ]</strong> <P> "The medal was originally conceived to be awarded only to those men and women who, while serving off the battlefield, have an extraordinary impact on combat operations," Hagel said in a written statement. "While the review confirmed the need to ensure such recognition, it found that misconceptions regarding the precedence of the award were distracting from its original purpose." <P> Hagel said Panetta was correct in seeking a way to recognize the extraordinary contributions that members of the Armed Services make even when working far from the battlefield. Now, instead of receiving a standalone medal, military personnel serving in <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/budget-fight-threatens-us-cyber-commands/240150621">cyber roles</a> will be recognized within the existing award structure. Recognition is best accomplished, Hagel said, "through the creation of a distinguishing device that may be affixed to existing medals at various levels." <P> The criteria for receiving the device will be developed by the secretaries of the military branches, senior enlisted personnel and veterans organizations. Hagel has given them 90 days to establish the criteria, design and other specifics for his approval. <P> The Veterans of Foreign Wars applauded the decision, saying it "will clearly keep medals that can only be earned in combat in their high order of precedence, while providing proper recognition to all who support our war fighters regardless of their distance from the fight."2013-04-19T08:06:00ZNew resources offer step-by-step road map for agencies looking to cut costs by sharing information technology and other services. http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/federal-cios-launch-shared-services-cata/240153237?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/new-yorks-32-story-data-fortress/240151545"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/968/Intergate-Manhattan-Data-Center_01_tn.jpg" alt="New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'" title="New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for slideshow)</span> </div><!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->As a next step in the federal government's strategy of making wider use of shared IT services, the federal CIO Council has issued advice on how to proceed. <P> Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel first floated the idea of making broader use of shared services in October 2011, shortly after stepping into the job, then he formally unveiled a <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/federal-cio-touts-shared-services-model/232901557">shared services strategy</a> last May. The idea is to replace agency-specific IT resources with services that can be shared across departments and agencies, with an eye toward increased efficiency and cost savings. <P> The new <a href="https://cio.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/04/CIOC-Federal-Shared-Services-Implementation-Guide.pdf">Federal Shared Services Implementation Guide</a> identifies goals for federal IT teams as they move ahead, including improving return on investment and boosting productivity through use of innovative services and integrated governance processes. <P> <strong>[ The government needs to take transparency more seriously. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/the-freedom-from-information-act/240152471?itc=edit_in_body_cross">The Freedom From Information Act</a>. ]</strong> <P> The guide outlines seven steps in shared services adoption. They are: assess internal functions and services; identify shared service providers; analyze legacy services; make shared-service decisions; identify funding; negotiate agreements and service levels; and maintain these operations after deployment. <P> The CIO Council has launched an online shared-services catalog, called <a href="https://max.gov/unclesamslist/">Uncle Sam's List</a>, where services are listed in three categories: commodity IT, support services, and mission services. Commodity IT consists of IT infrastructure, which is asset-oriented, and enterprise IT services, which is utility- or usage-oriented. Support services include budgeting, financial, human resources, and property and acquisition management. Mission services address core governmental functions, such as disaster response, national defense and food safety. Access to the online catalog requires registration and a password. <P> The report points out that cost savings are a significant driver of shared services adoption, but not the only one. Other benefits include improved quality of service, resources redirected to an agency's primary mission, more efficient processes and new functionality. <P> The CIO Council advises managers charged with implementing shared services of the importance of getting executive buy-in. Without that commitment, identifying the areas to be migrated to shared services and implementing the organizational changes required to succeed "will be prohibitively difficult," according to the report. <P> <i>A well-defended perimeter is only half the battle in securing the government's IT environments. Agencies must also protect their most valuable data. Also in the new, all-digital <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/031813gov?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Secure The Data Center</a> issue of InformationWeek Government: The White House's gun control efforts are at risk of failure because the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' outdated Firearms Tracing System is in need of an upgrade. (Free registration required.)</i>2013-04-18T09:07:00ZSpace Technology group looking at solar sails, asteroid capture among initial assignmentshttp://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-funds-propulsion-system-for-asteroi/240153073?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/11-cool-tools-nasa-curiosity-brought-to/240008978"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/883/01_APXS2_tn.jpg" alt="11 Cool Tools NASA Curiosity Brought To Mars" title="11 Cool Tools NASA Curiosity Brought To Mars" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">11 Cool Tools NASA Curiosity Brought To Mars</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate is working on a variety of propulsion systems for for exploring space, including the agency's ambitious plan to retrieve and mine an asteroid. <P> Michael Gazarik, associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate, on Tuesday provided an overview of the group's areas of investment for fiscal 2014. The directorate's proposed budget for fiscal 2014 is $743 million, a 24% increase over the current fiscal year. NASA administrator Charles Bolden announced the formation of the Space Technology Mission Directorate in February. The directorate was spun off from NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist, where it existed as a program since 2010. <P> The directorate's mandate is to be a catalyst for new technologies needed to support the space agency's missions. Topping the list for fiscal 2014 is a solar electric propulsion system for NASA's <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-architecture/nasa-launches-asteroid-research-mission/240152764">asteroid mining mission</a>, scheduled to happen by 2025. <P> <strong>[ Uncle Sam needs your apps. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/nasa-launches-next-space-apps-challenge/240152925?itc=edit_in_body_cross">NASA Launches Next Space Apps Challenge</a>. ]</strong> <P> That mission will combine the existing capabilities of the Orion crew capsule and Space Launch System (SLS) with to-be-developed technologies, including solar electric propulsion and laser communications. Solar electric propulsion is needed to generate the high level of thrust required to capture and redirect an asteroid. <P> The directorate also plans to demonstrate what it describes as the world's largest solar sail, which could be unfurled in space and used in a variety of ways. "When stored, it's the size of a dishwasher," Gazarik said. "When unfurled, it's more than 100 feet [long] on one side." NASA hopes to demonstrate the sail in late 2014 or early 2015. <P> Other directorate projects planned for fiscal 2014 are development of robotic technologies, advanced manufacturing -- including in-space manufacturing -- and a supersonic parachute for a future Mars mission. The directorate works with NASA centers, businesses, and universities to develop new technologies.2013-04-11T13:13:00ZDOD tech budget is flat, but major civilian agencies will see more investment.http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/federal-it-budget-to-increase-in-2014/240152758?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/military-drones-the-pentagons-eyes-in-th/240144476"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/929/AFx37-b_tn.jpg" alt="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" title="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> Federal IT spending will increase nearly 2%, to $82 billion, in the fiscal 2014 budget submitted by the White House on Wednesday. It's the first significant increase in federal IT spending in four years. <P> Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel said in a briefing the increase -- $1.4 billion more than in fiscal 2013 -- reflects the Obama administration's commitment to investing in IT for its ability to have a multiplier effect on government efficiency. Reiterating existing policy, VanRoekel said the Office of Management and Budget wants agencies to invest in more modular and flexible IT systems that can be implemented quickly. <P> VanRoekel, in a blog post, said <a href="https://cio.gov/the-fy14-presidents-it-budget-innovate-deliver-protect/">the budget will advance OMB's goals</a> of improving services for the public, increasing the return on investment of federal IT and advancing cybersecurity. <P> <strong>[ Is there money to hire younger IT workers? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/federal-cyber-workforce-is-getting-older/240152537?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Federal Cyber Workforce Is Getting Older</a>. ]</strong> <P> The Department of Veterans Affairs is in line for the biggest jump in IT funding, $722 million, a 22% increase over fiscal 2012, bringing the agency's tech budget to $3.9 billion in fiscal 2014. The increase will go toward the VA's backlog of benefits applications, new relationship management systems and work on integrating health records systems between VA and the Department of Defense. <P> Other agencies with budget increases of more than $100 million compared to fiscal 2012 include Homeland Security (a $514 million, or 9%, increase), Treasury ($339 million, 9%) and Health and Human Services ($107 million, 1%). <P> The proposed <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/egov_docs/2014_budget_priorities_20130410.pdf">federal IT budget for fiscal 2014</a> is $1.7 billion, or 2.1%, higher than it was in fiscal 2012. Compared to the fiscal 2013 budget, as it exists in the form of a continuing resolution, the fiscal 2014 budget represents a $1.4 billion, or 1.8%, increase. <P> Since fiscal 2009, the federal IT budget has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.78%, which VanRoekel characterized as "flat." A year ago, however, the compound annual growth rate had been running at 0.0004% over three years. The $1.4 billion in extra spending, compared to fiscal 2012, pushed CAGR into the positive. <P> The agencies facing the biggest IT budget cuts compared to fiscal 2012 are the Department of Justice (a $96 million, or 4%, reduction) and Housing and Urban Development (a $59 million, or 13%, decrease). <P> The proposed federal IT budget devotes more than $13 billion to cybersecurity programs, including $300 million in new funding for the continuous monitoring of federal networks, $85 million for trusted identities in cyberspace and related research, and $79 million toward improving incident response. <P> OMB is also investing in what VanRoekel calls "evidence-based policy," which involves the use of best practices to determine what works in government services and make funding decisions accordingly. "We've asked to get some modest funding to start to centralize some of this," he said. <P> The feds have tallied $2.53 billion in potential savings, to be realized from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2015, through IT consolidation and elimination of "low value" investments, as part of OBM's PortfolioStat program, VanRoekel said. The next version of the program, PortfolioStat 2.0, aimes to integrate data center consolidation and IT portfolio management.2013-04-09T09:34:00ZAging cybersecurity cadres need more training, influx of younger professionals, government report says.http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/federal-cyber-workforce-is-getting-older/240152537?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/iw500-15-top-government-tech-innovators/240006582"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/861/01_Intro_tn.jpg" alt="IW500: 15 Top Government Tech Innovators" title="IW500: 15 Top Government Tech Innovators" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">IW500: 15 Top Government Tech Innovators</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> A report from the federal CIO Council and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education finds that federal employees with cybersecurity responsibilities are getting older and warns that there may not be enough of them in the pipeline to meet future requirements. <P> The report, titled the <a href="https://cio.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/04/ITWAC-Summary-Report_04-01-2013.pdf">IT Workforce Assessment for Cybersecurity</a>, is based on self-assessments of 22,956 employees from 52 federal departments and agencies, including the departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Participants completed the survey voluntarily in the fourth quarter of 2012 and January 2013. <P> <a href="https://cio.gov/cio-council-releases-data-on-federal-cybersecurity-workforce/">The CIO Council, in a blog post</a>, described the report as the first of its kind. The data collected will be "crucial to informing strategic workforce planning and cybersecurity training programs at federal agencies," the CIO Council said. <P> <strong>[ Will using cloud computing reduce personnel needs? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/cloud-saas/military-plans-multi-exabyte-storage-clo/240152481?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Military Plans Multi-Exabyte Storage Cloud</a>. ]</strong> <P> The report aims to establish a baseline of current capabilities in the federal cybersecurity workforce, identify areas where training is needed and provide a picture of the workforce pipeline. Along with it, the feds included an online diagnostic tool to help agencies with cybersecurity workforce planning. <P> The typical survey participant is between 51 and 55 years old with more than 10 years of public sector experience, and 21% will be eligible for retirement during the next three years. As evidence that the feds need to recruit younger workers with cybersecurity skills, 79% of survey respondents are older than 40, while only 5% are 30 or younger. <P> The data "indicates potential risk to the current and future pipeline of cybersecurity professionals," according to the report. "An aging cybersecurity professional population could lead to a manpower shortage in the federal cybersecurity field, particularly in management and leadership positions." <P> Participants were asked to assess their proficiency in areas such as customer service and technical support, systems development and network services. Only 6% of survey participants graded themselves as having expert or advanced proficiency in cyber operations. <P> Respondents reported spending a substantial amount of time on customer service and technical support, where they rated themselves as having the highest average proficiency. Digital forensics is the area where the fewest participants, 57%, assessed themselves as meeting or exceeding optimal proficiency. <P> Survey respondents identified information assurance compliance, vulnerability assessment and management, and knowledge management as the top three areas where they need additional training.2013-04-04T09:26:00ZNarrow "micro" trenches disrupt streets less so it's easier to lay fiber-optic cables for broadband services. http://www.informationweek.com/government/state-local/new-york-lays-cable-with-surgical-precis/240152189?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/new-yorks-32-story-data-fortress/240151545"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/968/Intergate-Manhattan-Data-Center_01_tn.jpg" alt="New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'" title="New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">New York's 32-Story Data 'Fortress'</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for slideshow)</span> </div><!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->New York is testing a way to lay more fiber-optic cable for broadband services without tearing up streets and disrupting traffic. <P> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/wireless-carrier-rankings-att-vs-verizon/240142849">Verizon</a>, the city's partner in the initiative, will use a technique called micro trenching to dig narrow, shallow channels between sidewalks and street curbs, just large enough to accommodate conduits and fiber cable. A Verizon official said the technique, typically used in suburban and rural areas, holds promise as a way to expand broadband capacity in urban areas. <P> The 12-month pilot, based on an agreement between Verizon and the city's Department of Transportation and Department of IT and Telecommunications, is intended to test the feasibility of micro trenching fiber cable throughout the city. Verizon will install cabling at sites in each of the city's boroughs, including on Broadway in Manhattan. <P> City agencies and other communications providers will be allowed to use the excess capacity provided by the new cabling for free during the pilot period. When the trial is over, Verizon will charge an annual occupancy fee for them to continue using the fiber-optic lines. <P> <strong>[ Will Google give more New York neighborhoods free Wi-Fi? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-brings-free-wi-fi-to-new-york/240145788?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Google Brings Free Wi-Fi To New York</a>. ]</strong> <P> "This pilot will not only connect more New Yorkers faster, it will enable small broadband providers to take advantage of the infrastructure Verizon is putting in place," said Cas Holloway, deputy mayor for operations, in a statement. <P> CIO Rahul Merchant and other city officials characterized the initiative as a way of supporting New York's emergence as a global tech center, with minimal disruption or damage to its busy neighborhoods and roadways. "Internet connectivity is the foundation of a truly digital city," said chief digital officer Rachel Haot. <P> The pilot is one in a series of initiatives undertaken by the city to improve broadband access for residents and businesses, including a competition to build out a fiber-optic network for commercial and industrial buildings, streamlining broadband-related permitting, and turning <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/tech-center/gov-cloud/new-york-city-turns-pay-phones-into-wi-f/240003566">public pay phones</a> into Wi-Fi hotspots. <P> The city recently renewed its cable television agreements with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision, and included the addition of 20 miles per year of new fiber-optic wiring through mid-2020. <P> <i>InformationWeek is conducting a survey on IT spending priorities. Take the <a href="http://informationweek.2013ITspending.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">InformationWeek 2013 IT Spending Priorities Survey</a> today. Survey ends April 5.</i>2013-03-21T13:39:00ZAmid congressional warnings and an arrest, NASA administrator Bolden orders a review of who gets access to the space agency's systems and reports.http://www.informationweek.com/security/government/nasa-tightens-security-in-response-to-in/240151412?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/military-drones-the-pentagons-eyes-in-th/240144476"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/929/AFx37-b_tn.jpg" alt="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" title="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div><!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->NASA has closed down its technical reports database and imposed tighter restrictions on remote access to its computer systems following the arrest of a Chinese contractor on suspicion of intellectual property theft. <P> NASA administrator Charles Bolden outlined those and other security measures in March 20 testimony before a congressional subcommittee. Bolden said he had ordered a review of the access that foreign nationals from designated countries -- including China, Iran and North Korea -- are given to NASA facilities and a moratorium on providing new access to citizens of those countries. <P> The agency's actions follow the March 16 arrest of Bo Jiang, a Chinese citizen, at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., as he prepared to leave the United States. The FBI, in its application for an arrest warrant, said it was investigating violations of the Arms Export Control Act. <P> <strong>[ NASA has suffered other security breaches in recent months. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/security/attacks/stolen-nasa-laptop-had-unencrypted-emplo/240142160?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Stolen NASA Laptop Had Unencrypted Employee Data</a>. ]</strong> <P> Jiang worked as a contractor with the National Institute of Aerospace, a nonprofit research organization, at NASA's Langley Research Center. During a border stop at Dulles, Jiang allegedly said that he had in his possession a cellphone, memory stick, external hard drive and new computer. During a subsequent search of Jiang's possessions, the agents found a second laptop, hard drive and SIM card, according to the arrest warrant. <P> Jiang was arraigned March 19 in federal district court in Norfolk, Va., on a charge of lying to federal agents. The contents of the confiscated electronic media have not been revealed. <P> Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the space agency, said in a press conference that whistleblowers at NASA prompted the investigation. Wolf said Jiang was working on high-tech imaging technology that could be of potential interest to the Chinese military. Citing the arrest warrant, Wolf said Jiang had previously traveled to China with a NASA laptop "that agents believe to have contained sensitive information." <P> Wolf accused NASA of circumventing restrictions on the hiring of foreign nationals and said he had evidence that the NIA might employ other Chinese nationals under similar arrangements. The congressman called on NASA to audit all of its contractors that employ citizens of countries or organizations considered "entities of concern." <P> Wolf, in his seventeenth year in Congress, has been focused on the threat of Chinese cyber espionage. Earlier this month, he warned of security threats and the potential leak of classified information at NASA's Ames Research Center, and he pointed to the Chinese government's "systematic and aggressive efforts to steal" sensitive technology. <P> <i>A well-defended perimeter is only half the battle in securing the government's IT environments. Agencies must also protect their most valuable data. Also in the new, all-digital <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/031813gov?k=axxe&cid=article_axxt_os">Secure The Data Center</a> issue of InformationWeek Government: The White House's gun control efforts are at risk of failure because the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' outdated Firearms Tracing System is in need of an upgrade. (Free registration required.)</i> <P>2013-03-20T09:06:00ZAnnual audit of the agency's financial and tax systems notes that some earlier problems remain and identifies new ones.http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/irs-leaves-taxpayer-data-insecure-gao-fi/240151190?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/mobile-government-10-must-have-smartphon/240149858"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/958/01_Spacex_tn.jpg" alt="Mobile Government: 10 Must-Have Smartphone Apps" title="Mobile Government: 10 Must-Have Smartphone Apps" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">Mobile Government: 10 Must-Have Smartphone Apps</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div><!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->The Internal Revenue Service still has IT security holes that could put taxpayer data at risk, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. <P> The IRS identified the security of taxpayer data as its top management priority for fiscal 2013, and the GAO credits the agency for steps taken in response to <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/gao-says-irs-data-security-problems-pers/229301206">security issues</a> identified in earlier audits of its computer systems. But the report notes that some problems with the agency's financial and tax-processing systems remain and identifies new ones. <P> The GAO notes that the IRS collects and maintains personal and financial information on U.S. taxpayers in data centers in Detroit, Memphis and Martinsburg, W.V. "Protecting the confidentiality of this sensitive information is paramount. Otherwise, taxpayers could be exposed to loss of privacy and to financial loss and damages resulting from identity theft or other financial crimes," the report says. <P> <strong>[ What can federal IT teams do to protect their systems, networks and data? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/next-steps-in-data-center-security/240150897?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Next Steps In Data Center Security</a>. ]</strong> <P> The GAO audited the IRS's security efforts over the past 12 months. Among the vulnerabilities identified in the GAO report are easily-guessed passwords, passwords that hadn't been changed in almost two years, and storing unencrypted user names and passwords in a file with a revealing name. The report makes no mention of actual security breaches during the period audited. <P> The IRS also has been lax with data encryption and in controlling access to databases, servers, and systems, the GAO found. And the tax-collection agency has failed to update its systems within 30 days of software patches being released, according to the GAO. <P> Cybersecurity training is another area where the IRS needs to improve. Although the agency's policies require that all new employees and contractors receive security awareness training during their first two weeks on the job, the GAO found that more than half of contractors were not in compliance. <P> The Obama administration has made the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/white-house-sets-cybersecurity-prioritie/232700242">continuous monitoring</a> of federal IT systems a government-wide initiative. The report found that although the IRS has taken steps toward implementing continuous monitoring, it has not defined monitoring and assessment metrics. <P> The GAO made four recommendations for remediation. The IRS needs to: <P> -- Update policies and procedures for system access. <P> -- Strengthen the testing and evaluation of authentication controls. <P> -- Update mainframe testing and evaluation processes. <P> -- Establish more comprehensive documentation of continuous monitoring strategies. <P> In a separate report with limited distribution, the GAO also made 30 specific recommendations on a range of other issues it identified. <P> <i>InformationWeek's 2013 <a href="http://informationweek.2013IWgovITinnovatorspre-reg.sgizmo.com/s3/?iwid=pl">Government IT Innovators program</a> will feature the most innovative government IT organizations in the 2013 InformationWeek 500 issue and on InformationWeek.com. Does your organization have what it takes? The nomination period for 2013 Government IT Innovators closes April 12.</i>2013-03-13T11:11:00ZRock testing shows presence of crucial elements that could once have supported life.http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-life-enabling/240150698?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-mars-mission-no-little-green-men-/240142965"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/917/roverv2_tn.jpg" alt="NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet" title="NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->Gray-colored rock, clay minerals and mudstone collected by NASA's Curiosity rover suggest the conditions necessary to support life once existed on Mars, according to NASA. <P> NASA's Mars Exploration Program team on Tuesday revealed the latest details of the rover's ongoing exploration, including their reading of rock samples that were drilled and analyzed by the six-wheeled science lab. <P> The rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) and Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instruments tested dust that Curiosity had created from sedimentary rock drilled near an ancient stream bed in an area of Gale Crater it has been exploring since August. <P> The analysis found carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur, all chemical ingredients that support life. "A fundamental question for this mission is whether Mars could have supported a habitable environment," Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program, said in a NASA statement. "From what we know now, the answer is yes." <P> <strong>[ Curiosity rover overcomes recent computer problems, weather delays. Read more at <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/nasa-curiosity-mars-rover-survives-tough/240150382?itc=edit_in_body_cross">NASA Curiosity Mars Rover Survives Tough Week</a>. ]</strong> <P> The area of exploration was the end of a river system or one-time lake that could have conditions that were conducive to microbes, according to NASA. The rock sample was comprised of at least 20% clay minerals, said David Blake, the principal investigator for the CheMin instrument. The clay minerals were produced by the reaction of "relatively fresh" water and igneous minerals, said NASA. <P> A mix of chemicals, ranging from oxidized to non-oxidized, provides the kind of energy gradient that microbes on Earth use. The color of the rock dust sample -- gray rather than red -- provided a clue of partial oxidation. "We have characterized a very ancient, but strangely new 'gray Mars' where conditions once were favorable for life," said John Grotzinger, Mars Science Lab project scientist. <P> The range of chemical ingredients identified "suggests pairings such as sulfates and sulfides that indicate a possible chemical energy source for micro-organisms," said Paul Mahaffy, principal investigator for the SAM instruments. <P> While one sample from the Mars surface is suggestive, it doesn't constitute absolute proof that life once existed on the Red Planet. A second rock sample will be analyzed to confirm the results for several of the trace gases. <P> Curiosity will continue to work in its current vicinity for weeks, then head toward Mount Sharp, a mound in the middle of Gale Crater. Images taken from space have identified exposed layers of clay minerals and sulfate minerals on Mount Sharp. Testing of the layers may reveal more information about the diversity and duration of habitable conditions, NASA scientists said. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10 and learn the emerging trends in information risk management and security. Use Priority Code MPIWK by March 22 to save an additional $200 off the early bird discount on All Access and Conference Passes. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 300+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?_mc=MP_BTMEDIWKAXE">Register today</a>! </i>2013-03-08T11:45:00ZMars rover overcomes computer problems, but solar weather delays mission.http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/nasa-curiosity-mars-rover-survives-tough/240150382?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-mars-mission-no-little-green-men-/240142965"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/917/roverv2_tn.jpg" alt="NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet" title="NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->NASA's Curiosity rover encountered two challenging situations this past week that are familiar to those of us here on Earth: a computer glitch and threatening weather. <P> NASA's team took action on Tuesday when scientists noticed that a solar flare from the sun was headed in Mars' direction, according to the Associated Press. That prompted NASA to power down the rover as a precaution. <P> "Storm's a-comin'! There's a solar storm heading for Mars," Curiosity's handlers tweeted. "I'm going back to sleep to weather it out." <P> <strong>[ The ISS has also faced challenges recently. Read more at <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-missions-face-triple-whammy-of-glit/240149829?itc=edit_in_body_cross">NASA Missions Face Triple Whammy Of Glitches</a>. ]</strong> <P> It was a false alarm. "That all you got Sun? The solar storm was less energetic than predicted so no sleeping in tosol," NASA tweeted on Thursday. "Operations have resumed." ("Tosol" is a term coined by NASA meaning tomorrow on Mars.) <P> Five days before the solar flare, Curiosity had been switched from its primary "A side" computer to its redundant "B side" computer after the primary system showed symptoms of corrupted memory. Curiosity continued to use the backup system even after the rover was taken out of safe mode and resumed use of its high-gain antenna. "We are making good progress in the recovery," project manager Richard Cook, based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a written release. <P> NASA said Curiosity has been switched from safe mode to active status, with resumption of full operations anticipated by next week. <P> The cause of the A-side memory problems still hasn't been determined. NASA was evaluating the feasibility of recovering the A-side computer for use as a backup. The agency also planned to take the B-side computer through a series of steps to "inform" it about the state of the rover, including the position of its arm and mast. <P> Curiosity landed on Mars in August. The rover is slowly making it way across the Red Planet searching for signs of microbial life. Prior to its computer glitch, Curiosity had begun to drill the surface, collect rocks and analyze those samples. The space agency plans to hold a March 12 briefing to discuss the results of its first analysis of rock powder. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10 and learn the emerging trends in information risk management and security. Use Priority Code MPIWK by March 22 to save an additional $200 off the early bird discount on All Access and Conference Passes. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 300+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?_mc=MP_BTMEDIWKAXE">Register today</a>! </i>2013-03-05T15:20:00ZAutomatic cuts hit cyber security, IT modernization, communications and many other programs.http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/how-sequestration-impacts-federal-it-spe/240150062?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_AuthorsA report from the Office of Management and Budget shows that federal agencies with the largest concentration of IT programs stand to lose the most as a result of the automatic spending cuts triggered by sequestration. <P> Office of Management and Budget deputy director Jeffrey Zients, in a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/fy13ombjcsequestrationreport.pdf">report to Congress</a>, said the $85 billion in government-wide cuts would translate into budget reductions from 2% in Medicare to 7.9% in non-exempt defense programs. Because the cuts must be squeezed into seven months, the percentages are actually higher. <P> Forrester analyst Andrew Bartels, in a March 1 <a href=" http://blogs.forrester.com/andrew_bartels/13-03-01-shooting_oneself_in_the_foot_why_the_sequester_will_knock_a_percentage_point_or_more_from_2013_us_t">blog post</a>, said that the sequester will result in "an almost certain drop in purchases of IT goods and services by federal agencies," as well as IT spending cuts in state and local government. Bartels anticipates that spending on IT hardware will be the easiest to cut and that agencies will shift more of their remaining budget from on-premises software deployments to cloud services. <P> <strong>[ The pain of sequestration will hit hard at NASA. Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/how-sequestration-could-hit-nasa-project/240149376?itc=edit_in_body_cross">How Sequestration Could Hit NASA Projects</a>. ]</strong> <P> Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel, in interview with <em>InformationWeek Government</em> prior to sequestration taking effect, <a href=http://www.informationweek.com/government/policy/federal-cio-details-concerns-on-looming/240148415>warned that IT spending cuts</a> could cause progress in federal IT implementation and reform to "stagnate" and negatively impact cybersecurity. <P> The 83-page OMB report provides a detailed accounting of the size and percentage of sequester cuts by agency and department. Homeland Security's Infrastructure Protection and Information Security program will be trimmed by about 8%, or $91 million. Another DHS program, US-VISIT, which uses IT to check the immigration status of travelers coming into the United States, stands to lose $14 million. Homeland Security's science and technology research and development programs must cut $34 million. <P> Elsewhere in DHS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood mapping and risk analysis program faces $5 million in cutbacks. Customs and Border Protection will lose $17 million that had been budgeted to automation modernization and $20 million for border security fencing, infrastructure and technology. <P> The report devotes several pages to sequestration's impact on the Department of Defense. DOD's research, development, test and evaluation programs stand to lose $1.6 billion. <P> The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which establishes baseline cybersecurity standards for implementation across government, will lose $29 million in spending on scientific and technical research. <P> The Justice Department's tactical law enforcement wireless communications program, which is working to improve interoperability among law enforcement communications devices, will be cut by $4 million, and DOJ's information-sharing technology program by $2 million. The department's research department will lose $5 million. <P> Elsewhere, the Internal Revenue Service's business systems modernization program will be trimmed by $17 million, the Environmental Protection Agency's science and technology activities by $40 million, the Department of Labor's IT modernization program by $1 million and the Transportation Department's cybersecurity initiatives by $1 million. <P> In addition, various IT-intensive operations at NASA face cuts, with space operations being chopped by $212 million and science operations by $256 million. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10 and learn the emerging trends in information risk management and security. Use Priority Code MPIWK by March 22 to save an additional $200 off the early bird discount on All Access and Conference Passes. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 300+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?_mc=MP_BTMEDIWKAXE">Register today</a>! </i>2013-03-01T12:38:00ZFlorida high school's nanosatellite project is among 24 that NASA has chosen for its CubeSat Launch Initiative. Softball-size satellites will conduct research in space.http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-to-send-cube-satellites-into-space/240149818?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-mars-mission-no-little-green-men-/240142965"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/917/roverv2_tn.jpg" alt="NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet" title="NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">NASA Mars Mission: No Little Green Men -- Yet</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->A Florida high school project is among 24 proposals accepted by NASA to send small satellites, or cubesats, into space over the next three years. <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/nasa-seeks-smaller-better-satellites/232600329">CubeSats</a> weigh about three pounds and are approximately four inches by four inches in size. NASA places the nanosatellites as secondary payloads on rocket launches that are already scheduled. <P> This is the fourth round of selections in NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative. Students at Merritt Island High School in Brevard County, Fla., plan to build a cubesat containing two accelerometers to measure the amount of vibration in the case -- the Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer, or P-POD -- that holds the cubesats during launch and then deploys them. <P> A dozen students are involved in the project. "The students are building the satellite themselves with help from NASA," said faculty advisor Tracey Beatovich. The club has created a Facebook page to raise money to pay for the components needed. <P> <strong>[ Read about NASA's satellite overhaul: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-architecture/nasa-satellite-boosts-space-network/240147621?itc=edit_in_body_cross">NASA Satellite Boosts Space Network</a>. ]</strong> <P> The high school is partnering with students at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The Cal-Poly CubeSat, dubbed CP9, is actually two cubes that contain accelerometers, plus a radio to transmit data back to Earth for the high school students to analyze. The Merritt Island High School cubesat, named StangSat, will stream data to the CP9 in real time during the launch using Wi-Fi. <P> "We're going to be demonstrating that wireless transmissions inside the P-POD aren't going to harm the launch," said Adam Darley, a senior at Cal-Poly who is serving as the CP9 project manager. "If we can demonstrate that, then it will act as a platform to being able to stream information without a radio link." <P> Some of the other cubesat projects selected by <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/nasa-details-2013-plans/240145374">NASA</a> involve research that is best carried out from space. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), is behind a cubesat that will measure the properties of aerosols &#8211; small airborne particles &#8211; and clouds, and how they interact. <P> The UMBC satellite will contain a multi-angle imaging polarimeter, which makes images like a camera, but from various angles, said Vanderlei Martins, associate professor at UMBC. It also will contain devices to stabilize the cubesat and remotely control the device lens. <P> "We'll be measuring droplet sizes in water clouds with very high accuracy," Martins said, as well as the distribution of droplets in a cloud. "The broader the distribution, the more likely it is to rain." The researchers also are interested in understanding how man-made pollution affects clouds. UMBC is working with Space Dynamics Laboratory in Utah, the Science and Technology Corporation, and NASA's Goddard and Wallops space centers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is providing funding for the science components. <P> Cubesats are limited in the power and size of the instruments they contain. "We have to do very focused measurements with simple instruments, but they can still get valuable information and lower the risk of future (NASA) missions," said Prof. Martins. <P> Building a cubesat can cost from about $100,000 to $5 million, said Martins. UMBC's will cost around $2.5 million. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas, May 6-10, and attend the most thorough training on Apple Deployment at the NEW Mac & iOS IT Conference. Use Priority Code DIPR03 by March 9 to save up to $500 off the price of Conference Passes. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?CID=MP_ILV_IWK_Article_TL&_mc=DIPR03">Interop</a> today!</i>2013-02-26T10:55:00ZWhite House outlines five-year plan to measure ice melt and study the impact of environmental change on the local population.http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/white-house-points-sensors-drones-to-gau/240149454?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/galleries/government/info-management/232602356"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/753/01_BluemarbleWest_tn.jpg" alt="NASA's Blue Marble: 50 Years Of Earth Imagery" title="NASA's Blue Marble: 50 Years Of Earth Imagery" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">NASA's Blue Marble: 50 Years Of Earth Imagery</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->The White House's National Science and Technology Council has released a five-year research plan that aims to establish a better scientific understanding of environmental changes taking place in the Arctic. <P> The plan calls for data collection through a variety of technologies, including satellite imaging, sensors and sensor-equipped drones. The sensors would gather data from the atmosphere, land- and sea-ice and ocean waters. <P> The plan was created by the U.S. Interagency Research Policy Committee, comprised of representatives from 13 federal agencies. The departments of Energy and Interior, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are responsible for integrating research that can improve modeling of Arctic systems and environmental processes. The Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, Office of Naval Research and U.S. Coast Guard will take the lead on conducting the research and monitoring changes. <P> <strong>[ The Department of Energy has invested $17 million in a new supercomputer to use for climate and biological research. Read more at <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/new-supercomputer-to-target-climate-rese/240147277?itc=edit_in_body_cross">New Supercomputer To Target Climate Research</a>. ]</strong> <P> In a <a href=" http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/02/19/working-together-understand-and-predict-arctic-change">blog post</a> on Whitehouse.gov, Brendan Kelly, OSTP assistant director for polar sciences, and Simon Stephenson, the head of NSF's Arctic Sciences Section, wrote that environmental changes in the Arctic are having "profound impacts" on local populations. They contend that diminishing sea ice "accelerates global warming and alters circulation in the atmosphere and oceans in ways that change storm patterns in other parts of the world." <P> The 104-page report points to "broad scientific consensus" that changes in global climate are altering ice and snow cover and affecting Arctic ecosystems, populations and natural resources. <P> The plan outlines seven areas of research: sea ice and marine ecosystems; terrestrial ice; atmospheric studies of surface heat; observing systems; regional climate models; adaption tools for local communities; and human health. <P> The research areas involve various types of data collection and analysis. For example, the atmospheric studies of surface heat would be accomplished in part through remote sensing and satellite observations. Supercomputers will be used to create climate models and simulations and Web portals to provide data access to research partners. <P> The plan calls for an integrated "Arctic observing system" that would involve, among other things, monitoring the Arctic's glaciers and marine environment and assessing the impact of terrestrial warming and permafrost thawing on the carbon cycle. <P> <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas, May 6-10, and attend the most thorough training on Apple Deployment at the NEW Mac & iOS IT Conference. Use Priority Code DIPR02 by March 2 to save up to $500 off the price of Conference Passes. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?CID=MP_ILV_IWK_Article_TL&_mc=DIPR02">Interop</a> today!</i>2013-02-20T13:50:00ZTechnology and policy issues emerge as the FAA devises a five-year road map to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with commercial flights in U.S. airspace. http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/faa-drone-plan-hits-turbulence/240148921?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/military-drones-the-pentagons-eyes-in-th/240144476"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/929/AFx37-b_tn.jpg" alt="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" title="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div><!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->The Federal Aviation Administration is hampered by technology and policy issues that must be resolved before the federal government allows the expanded use of unmanned aerial vehicles in U.S. airspace, according to testimony from the Government Accountability Office. <P> The FAA currently approves the use of UAVs, or drones, on a case-by-case basis over U.S. skies. To date, the Department of Defense has received the largest number of approvals, 201, followed by academic institutions, NASA, local law enforcement and other federal agencies. Opening U.S. airspace to more drone traffic, including those for commercial purposes, requires a coordinated plan with new systems and processes. <P> Legislation passed by Congress last year requires the FAA to establish six drone test ranges in the United States, but <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/security/privacy/faa-promises-privacy-standards-for-domes/240148698">privacy concerns</a> about the collection and use of data have delayed the opening of the ranges. Without the hard data on UAV performance that would be generated by test ranges, it's difficult for the FAA to draft the safety, reliability and performance standards that Congress requires. <P> There are other challenges to "integrating" drones into U.S. airspace. "UAS integration is an <a href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-346T">undertaking of significant breadth and complexity,"</a> Gerald Dillingham, GAO's director of physical infrastructure issues, said in his testimony. <P> <strong>[ Want more background? Read <a href=http://www.informationweek.com/government/information-management/drones-to-fly-us-skies-in-dod-plans/240003594?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Drones To Fly U.S. Skies, In DOD Plans</a>. ]</strong> <P> For one thing, the sense-and-avoid technology needed to let drones automatically avoid piloted aircraft isn't mature. Among the methods under consideration is a ground-based system under development by the Army that has been successfully tested, but which might not be suitable for all drones. A second approach involves the use of the same GPS-based transponder system being planned for the FAA's NextGen air traffic management system. <P> A third possibility is a NASA-tested system that uses GPS and avionics to transmit a drone's location to ground receivers, which forward the information to other aircraft with the right kind of avionics. <P> The potential for "lost link" communications between ground control and the UAV is another issue. Drones typically have preprogrammed instructions on how to operate if those communications are lost, but air traffic controllers need access to that same information. Standard procedures have not yet been created. <P> Dedicated radio spectrum for command and control is also needed. Drone now use unprotected spectrum, leaving them vulnerable to interference, either intentional or accidental, and the potential for loss of control. Similarly, GPS signals could be used to keep air traffic control informed of a drone's whereabouts, but low-cost devices are available that can jam those signals. <P> The FAA faces a series of deadlines, some of which it has already missed, related to the UAV integration effort. Congress tasked the agency with creating a five-year roadmap for assimilating drones into the national airspace. The roadmap, due earlier this month, is circulating within the FAA but has not yet been publicly released. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas, May 6-10, and attend the most thorough training on Apple Deployment at the NEW Mac & iOS IT Conference. Use Priority Code DIPR02 by March 2 to save up to $500 off the price of Conference Passes. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/?CID=MP_ILV_IWK_Article_TL&_mc=DIPR02">Interop</a> today!</i>2013-02-15T16:42:00ZState reaches agreement to adopt Microsoft's cloud-based applications after forcing additional security and privacy steps.http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-applications/texas-lassos-office-365/240148722?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/galleries/software/productivity_apps/240003864"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/838/01_Office2013_tn.jpg" alt="Microsoft Office 2013: 10 Best Features" title="Microsoft Office 2013: 10 Best Features" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">Microsoft Office 2013: 10 Best Features</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE -->The state of Texas has struck a deal with Microsoft to make the vendor's cloud-based Office 365 applications available to more than 100,000 state employees. <P> The deal calls for Microsoft to provide email, collaboration, web conferencing and document and calendar sharing to Texas state agencies, as well as to municipal and county government. Microsoft called the agreement the largest statewide deployment of email and collaboration services to date. <P> To close the deal, Microsoft agreed to establish a data center in San Antonio and attach a "security addendum" to the contract. The agreement requires that Microsoft employees with access to the data center undergo FBI background checks. <P> <strong>[ Wonder what extras the latest Microsoft cloud apps offer? Read <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/software/enterprise-applications/microsoft-office-2013-gains-free-bing-ap/240147767?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Microsoft Office 2013 Gains Free Bing Apps</a>. ]</strong> <P> The addendum aims to assure compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) requirements. The state's Department of Criminal Justice, Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Department of Insurance, and Health and Human Services System require access to data that is subject to strict security and privacy regulation, according to Microsoft. <P> Todd Kimbriel, director of the Texas Department of Information Resources (TDIR), said in an interview that he believes the agreement for extra security measures is the first of its kind. Microsoft is incorporating both physical and procedural controls in the San Antonio data center, he said. <P> Some Texas agencies, including the Health and Human Services System and the departments of Information Resources, Insurance, Motor Vehicles, and Transportation, already use Office 365. The Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Department of Criminal Justice are expected to tap the Microsoft apps next. <P> The state's 125 agencies aren't required to adopt Office 365, so the business case has to sway them. Kimbriel calculates Office 365 is 75% cheaper than the email systems already in use at state agencies. "We have 125 IT departments and CIOs, but we can't force" them to switch, he said. "We have to come up with better products and solutions, better value." <P> The initial focus is on the 28 largest agencies. For every 10,000 mailboxes moved to Office 365, the price goes down a penny per mailbox per month, Kimbriel said. <P> <i><a href="http://www.cloudconnectevent.com/santaclara/?_mc=TLIWEEK">Cloud Connect</a> returns to Silicon Valley, April 2-5, 2013, for four days of lectures, panels, tutorials and roundtable discussions on a comprehensive selection of cloud topics taught by leading industry experts. Join us in Silicon Valley to see new products, keep up-to-date on industry trends and create and strengthen professional relationships. Use Priority Code TLIWEEK by March 2 to save an extra $100 off the early bird price of Conference Passes. Register for <a href="http://www.cloudconnectevent.com/santaclara/?_mc=TLIWEEK">Cloud Connect</a> now. </i>2013-02-15T08:47:00ZDistinguished Warfare Medal will be given to drone operators, cyberdefense pros and others for extraordinary, off-battlefield achievements.http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/dods-new-medal-recognizes-cyberwarfare-a/240148637?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --><div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/government/security/military-drones-the-pentagons-eyes-in-th/240144476"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/929/AFx37-b_tn.jpg" alt="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" title="Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour" class="img175" /></a><br /> <div class="storyImageTitle">Military Drones Present And Future: Visual Tour</div> <span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> The Department of Defense has created a new medal to recognize "extraordinary achievements" in virtual and remote-controlled warfare. <P> Outgoing defense secretary Leon Panetta announced the award, the Distinguished Warfare Medal, at his last scheduled press conference as the Pentagon's top military official. The medal is intended to recognize the achievements of military personnel, such as drone operators and cyberdefense professionals, who contribute to combat operations from positions outside the battlefield. <P> "I've seen firsthand how modern tools like remotely piloted platforms and cyber systems have changed the way wars are fought," Panetta said. "They've given our men and women the ability to engage the enemy and change the course of battle, even from afar." <P> <strong>[ Want to know about how Congress' controversial cybersecurity information-sharing bill addresses privacy? See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/security/cybercrime/cispa-cybersecurity-bill-reborn-6-key-fa/240148600?itc=edit_in_body_cross">CISPA Cybersecurity Bill, Reborn: 6 Key Facts</a>. ]</strong> <P> Technical advances have changed how the U.S. military conducts combat operations, <a href="http://www.defense.gov/news/DistinguishedWarfareMedalMemo.pdf">Panetta said</a> in a memo Wednesday outlining the criteria for awarding the Distinguished Warfare Medal. Those include "single acts of extraordinary achievement" during engagement with enemy forces and actions that "remove the enemy from the field of battle." <P> Over the past few years, the DOD has expanded its cyberwarfare capabilities with the launch of U.S. Cyber Command, and it's regularly using unmanned aerial vehicles in the war in Afghanistan. "This award recognizes the reality of the kind of technological warfare that we are engaged in, in the 21st century," Panetta said. <P> The medal will recognize exceptional accomplishments that occur "regardless of the domain used or the member's physical location." It ranks below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star. The Distinguished Warfare Metal is not intended for acts of valor or physical risk. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10, and attend the most thorough training on Apple deployment at the NEW Mac & iOS IT Conference. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. Use Priority Code TLIWEEK by March 2 to save an extra $100 off the early bird price of Conference Passes. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/?CID=MP_ILV_IWK_Article_TL">Interop</a> today!</i>2013-02-14T14:00:00ZIllinois Department of Corrections moves criminal records from aging mainframe environment to Microsoft Dynamics CRM cloud-based system.http://www.informationweek.com/government/enterprise-applications/crm-lands-in-jail-meet-illinois-offender/240148603?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Authors<!-- KINDLE EXCLUDE --> <div class="inlineStoryImage inlineStoryImageRight"><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/windows/microsoft-news/microsoft-surface-pro-is-it-right-for-yo/240148291"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/galleries/automated/946/01_SurfacePro_tn.jpg" alt="Microsoft Surface Pro: Is It Right For You?" title="Microsoft Surface Pro: Is It Right For You?" class="img175" /></a><br /><div class="storyImageTitle">Microsoft Surface Pro: Is It Right For You?</div><span class="inlinelargerView">(click image for larger view and for slideshow)</span></div> <!-- /KINDLE EXCLUDE --> The Illinois Department of Corrections is giving new meaning to "customer relationship management." The agency, which operates 26 correctional centers, is using Microsoft's cloud-based Dynamics CRM Online software to manage not customers, but criminals. <P> The department is using Dynamics CRM -- used for sales and marketing by organizations such as Hallmark Business Connections and the California Strawberry Commission -- as a criminal-justice tracking system for 49,000 prison inmates and 28,000 parolees. <P> The newly implemented system, called Offender-360, replaces a 1980's era mainframe and 41 "offender management" applications. The department uses those systems to track the behavior of inmates, as well as vocational and educational programs, said Gladyse Taylor, assistant director of the DOC. <P> <strong>[ Want to make your CRM more useful? See <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/smb/hardware-software/salesforcecom-secrets-8-apps-help-you-do/240148303?itc=edit_in_body_cross">Salesforce.com Secrets: 8 Apps Help You Do More</a>. ]</strong> <P> The cloud-based CRM system is about 40% deployed. Within the next 30 days, capabilities for disciplinary tracking and managing sentence credits will be added, Taylor said. Other business operations still to be transferred to the new system include sentence calculation, risk assessment, medical records and commissary operations. <P> The state purchased licenses for the use of the CRM platform, and made use of Microsoft premier support agreements held by other state departments to train some Corrections staff to customize the applications. <P> The department is been training 300 to 400 employees each week on how to use the Offender-360 system. About 5,500 of the department's 10,500 employees will be using the system by this summer, Taylor said. <P> While the transition is underway, the mainframe system continues to be the official system of record. "When we have migrated all the records [and] integrated the remaining applications into Offender-360, the mainframe system will be shut down," Taylor said. <P> The new system is expected to save money and help identify ways to improve outcomes for offenders. "Our ultimate goal is to reduce the recidivism rate," Taylor said. <P> <i>Attend Interop Las Vegas May 6-10, and attend the most thorough training on Apple deployment at the NEW Mac & iOS IT Conference. Join us in Las Vegas for access to 125+ workshops and conference classes, 350+ exhibiting companies, and the latest technology. Use Priority Code TLIWEEK by March 2 to save an extra $100 off the early bird price of Conference Passes. Register for <a href="http://www.interop.com/?CID=MP_ILV_IWK_Article_TL">Interop</a> today!</i>