I found: If We Can Put a Man on the Moon: Getting Big Things Done in Governmentto be a book I couldn't put down. This great read is about results and how to get them. And, as the title implies, it focuses on big results in government. The government is doing many things to the highest of standards and getting many big things done, but the list of failed programs, fiascoes and squandered opportunities seems to be growing longer and longer. Some … [Read more...]
Gov 2.0: Cloud Computing As Government Panacea
September 10, 2009 By
The importance of cloud computing was a significant theme at this week's Government 2.0 Summit Two of the most influential people in the cloud computing market -- Amazon CTO Werner Vogels and General Services Administration CIO Casey Coleman -- talked today at the Gov 2.0 Summit about cloud computing's high potential as a cheaper, better way of delivering IT resources. Such enthusiasm, however, is tempered with lingering questions about security, … [Read more...]
CTOs: Keep your focus on security and functionality
July 5, 2009 By
Technologists of all sort have been closely tracking events associated with cyber security, and most have been watching the many activities associated with White House efforts to enhance our ability to trust our digital infrastructure. In my view, technologists from academia, startups, IT providers, integrators and large enterprises (including the federal space) need to understand that security and functionality are not two different concepts. They are … [Read more...]
New Command to Focus on Cybersecurity for DoD and IC
April 22, 2009 By
The Wall Street Journal just ran an article titled: "New Military Command to Focus on Cybersecurity." In it they indicate "current and former officials familiar with the plans" say a new military command will be established to coordinate the defense of Pentagon computer networks and improve US offensive capabilities in cyberwar. WSJ also reports that Defense Secretary Gates plans to announce the creation of a new military cyber command after the … [Read more...]
Protecting Federal Networks Against Cyber Attack
April 23, 2008 By
The Department of Homeland Security has released a blueprint for the enhanced protection of federal networks against cyber attacks. A factsheet for this effort is available here. Here is a summary of that summary: It declares a policy: "It is the policy of the United States to prevent or minimize disruptions to our critical information infrastructure in order to protect the public, the economy, government services, and the national security of … [Read more...]
Rod Beckstrom and the National Cyber Security Center at DHS
March 23, 2008 By
I recently read some GREAT news. One of the nation's greatest organizational/technological thinkers and entrepreneurs, Rod Beckstrom, has answered the call to service and will be joining the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Rod Beckstrom is famous for many things. Among CTO s and enterprise technologists he is viewed as a champion for the smart use of new collaborative technologies to transform organizations. He is really far more than … [Read more...]