Networks

Another Poor Cybersecurity Audit at State Department Draws Scrutiny | Nextgov

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The latest publication in a long line of reports drawing attention to the State Department’s failure to secure its information technology-dependent systems from cyberattacks reflects a general mismanagement of resources.

“Notwithstanding the expenditure of substantial resources by the Department,” reads a report State’s Office of the Inspector General released Wednesday, “the OIG continues to identify significant issues that put its information at risk.”

The report follows a Jan. 14 letter Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking what steps he’s taken to address the shortcomings detailed in previous IG reports.

Source: Another Poor Cybersecurity Audit at State Department Draws Scrutiny – Nextgov

MEP Axel Voss publishes EU digital manifesto, warns of EU’s ‘digital dependency’ | EURACTIV.com

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Conservative German MEP Axel Voss, also known as the father of the controversial copyright reform, has published a manifesto on European digital policy in which he warns that Europe should not become a “digital colony” of other powers. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Voss (CDU) decided to publish his manifesto on European digital policy because he could not wait much longer, he told EURACTIV. That is because the European People’s Party(EPP)’s digital strategy paper is still being discussed and this process “took far too long”, according to Voss.

Source: MEP Axel Voss publishes EU digital manifesto, warns of EU’s ‘digital dependency’ – EURACTIV.com

EU nations can restrict vendors under new 5G guidelines, Huawei at risk | EURACTIV.com

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EU countries can restrict or exclude high-risk 5G providers from core parts of their telecoms networks, new EU guidelines show, dealing a potential blow to China’s Huawei Technologies.

The non-binding recommendations, set out in an EU document seen by Reuters, are part of a set of measures aimed at addressing cybersecurity risks at national and EU-wide level, in particular concerns related to China’s Huawei, though they do not identify any particular country or company.

The document, which lays out guidelines agreed by EU member states, warned of the risks of interference by a third country in the 5G supply chain, as well the risk of depending on a single supplier, to justify a tough line.

Source: EU nations can restrict vendors under new 5G guidelines, Huawei at risk – EURACTIV.com

UN backing of controversial cybercrime treaty raises suspicions | EURACTIV.com

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Certain UN members may have been ‘bought off’ by proponents of a controversial UN resolution on cybercrime in exchange for support on the plans, an official from the Council of Europe who deals with cybersecurity has told EURACTIV.

In December, a Russian-led and Chinese-backed resolution on cybercrime, called ‘countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes’, was adopted by 79 votes to 60 with 33 abstentions, despite opposition from several major Western powers.

As part of the new measures, a new group within the UN will be set up “to elaborate a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes.”

Source: UN backing of controversial cybercrime treaty raises suspicions – EURACTIV.com

Toward a War With Fewer Radio Calls – Defense One|

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The biggest change in the way the United States wages war over the next decade may be a lot more action and a lot fewer radio calls. A recent test that connected the computers of two stealthy Air Force aircraft — an F-22 Raptor and an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter — allowed them to share data automatically, so that their pilots can spend less time talking to each other and more time assessing the data and acting on it.

It’s part of a plan to digitally stitch together virtually everything on the battlefield, allowing data to move quickly and seamlessly between jets, drones, ships and soldiers via a massive interconnected digital architecture called the Advanced Battle Management System, or ABMS.

Source: Toward a War With Fewer Radio Calls – Defense One

Pentagon Wants to Build One Satellite Per Week  | Defense One

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One satellite per week. That’s what the Pentagon wants industry to provide under its plans to orbit seven new constellations — each with a different function — by the end of 2020.

The satellites would be smaller (“a few hundred kilograms”), cheaper (about $10 million each), and shorter-lived (about five years) than today’s typical military satellites, which can weigh tons and consume billions of dollars but which are expected to operate for decades.

“We are talking [about] technology that is available to fly within 18 to 24 months,” Derek Tournear, director of the Space Development Agency, said during a Tuesday briefing at the Pentagon.

Source: Pentagon Wants to Build One Satellite Per Week  – Defense One

Senators introduce bill to create state cyber coordinators at DHS | FCW

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A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation that would create new cybersecurity coordinator positions within the Department of Homeland Security for each state.

The bill, sponsored by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), would require the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to designate officials from within the agency to serve as the principal federal point of contact for state and local officials on cybersecurity matters.

Source: Senators introduce bill to create state cyber coordinators at DHS — FCW

Cybersecurity front and center in Iran threat hearing | FCW

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Cybersecurity was front and center during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Jan. 15 exploring how Iran might react to the killing of Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani.

Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said he was “particularly interested in understanding how Iran could use its relatively sophisticated cyber capabilities against state and local government and critical infrastructure.” He also expressed concern about an observed “uptick” in Iranian influence operations on social media in recent weeks, speculating that such activity will only increase leading up to the 2020 presidential elections.

Source: Cybersecurity front and center in Iran threat hearing — FCW

CenturyLink wins $1.6 billion telecom task order from Interior | FCW

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The Department of the Interior awarded CenturyLink a $1.6 billion task order under the General Services Administration’s $50 billion, 15-year, next-generation telecommunications contract, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions.

The contract covers two of the agency’s networking areas — managed core network services and managed access services — for a combined $1.6 billion ceiling. It will run through 2032 if all options are exercised.

The award was initially made in September but was held up due to a protest from Verizon, which also bid on the task order.

Source: CenturyLink wins $1.6 billion telecom task order from Interior — FCW

DISA pushes on Fourth Estate network modernization | FCW

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The Defense Information Systems Agency is leading the way to move support defense agencies and field activities to a new single service network called DODNet.

The agency has been moving its own IT support services as part of the Defense Department’s Fourth Estate Network Optimization effort, and will begin moving other agencies by the end of 2020.

Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) will be the first of 14 agencies to migrate, said David Bennett, director of DISA’s operation center.

Source: DISA pushes on Fourth Estate network modernization — FCW