Dan Chenok

Engaging leaders in protecting an organizations’ cyber, IT, and information assets is a critical starting point to effective security. A next logical step for any government or commercial organization is to leverage risk management and analytics to implement a mission-based security program. As organizations move forward, guidance from NIST and evolving capabilities in industry are merging to paint a path forward for agencies to follow.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
Subject: Contracting

In addition to managing your own workforce, you will be responsible for managing a large contingent of contractors. You will need to ensure that contractor performance is high and that contractors are meeting and hopefully exceeding your agency’s expectations, as set forth in your contracts.

I had the privilege this week of reuniting with several key players who made the finalization and passage of the E-Government Act of 2002 a reality.  The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) hosted the forum, structuring the discussions in two panels: the first on what brought the statute together, the second on where the Act can continue to help as the government moves forward with leveraging innovation, “big data,” and similar advances.  Consistent with the forum’s

Among my New Year’s reading list were two December issuances that impact the world of information and privacy in government:  the White House’s National Strategy on Information Sharing, and the Federal CIO Council’s Recommendations for Digital Privacy Controls.  The interrelated nature of these issues should not be lost – sharing information requires protection for individuals in order to be sustained and supported over the long term.  This blog post addresses the Sharing Strategy; a second will address the Privacy Controls; and a third will discuss the necessary linkages between the tw

In the face of ever-increasing cybersecurity risks, significant attention is being paid toward improving preparedness and response of agencies, vulnerabilities and threats. throughout  the public sector.

The federal government achieves a significant part of its mission by working with and through organizations outside agency walls, primarily through grants, contracts, and similar agreements. The work of government contracting is a very large piece of this pie – whether for information technology, physical goods, or other professional services, nearly half of all federal discretionary spending falls into the acquisition category.

From the OMB “Cloud First” strategy, to GSA’s Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), the government is following commercial best practices to leverage the cloud.

Cloud capabilities can be provided over the public Internet or through connections over private networks -- and government does both. Some agencies establish private clouds due to perceived risks of making data available over public channels. At the same time, they are moving toward greater use of the open Internet, including public clouds.

Late last week, the President signed into law the Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act.  As summarized by the Administration’s release statement, the DATA Act will

Increased connectivity has transformed and improved access to government – citizens today can connect with government agencies and leaders in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

We are pleased to announce our latest round of awards for new reports on key public sector challenges, which respond to priorities identified in the Center's long-term research agenda, see businessofgovernment.org/content/research-stipends.

We expect the following reports to be published in early 2015.  Details of each report are included in the below short summaries.