NSF releases Cloud Computing Report

NSF's guidance on Cloud Computing will inform research dollars in the near future

The National Science Foundation released their report on cloud computing. It can be found here. The intent of this report is to provide information that guides funding programs. The NSF used NIST's guidance on cloud computing to inform their research and decision making. This report will be instrumental in informing Federal decision makers and cloud investment. It is important to pay attention to such documents as they can help businesses align with … [Read more...]

President’s Daily Brief- There’s an app for that: iPad Used to Deliver President’s Daily Briefing

President Obama receives Presidential Daily Briefing via iPad

The White House photo of the day for 31 Jan 2012 is one to remember.  It shows proof positive that the megatrend towards a consumerization of IT is not only unstoppable, but is changing enterprises everywhere in very positive ways. The photo, shown below, shows two iPad's in use, one each for the President and for Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration. Cardillo is reviewing several key items from the … [Read more...]

Federal R&D Priorities

NSTC

In December 2011, the Executive Office of the President’s National Science and Technology Council  released Trustworthy Cyberspace: Strategic Plan for the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Program, a set of R&D priorities for U.S. government agencies. The White House released Trustworthy Cyberspace to guide research, development, and funding by organizations DARPA, IARPA, and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate towards current … [Read more...]

Interested in Cyber Security? Read (and support) the new Cybersecurity Legislative Proposal

CNO pic

On 12 May 2011 the Obama Administration unveiled its cybersecurity legislative proposal. The entire proposal is available for your review at this link: cybersecurity legislative proposal. But I most strongly recommend you read the context provided by the government's Cybersecurity Coordinator and Special Assistant to the President Howard Schmidt first. Howard provided a clear introduction to this legislation that includes a framework that will make … [Read more...]

Debrief from The White House Forum on IT Management Reform

If you are an enterprise technologist in or out of the Federal Government, please take time to watch the entire presentation below. It captures the entirety of the presentations and majority of the conversations at the White House Forum on Information Technology Management Reform. I recommend you watch the entire presentation for several reasons. If you are a student of IT and its governance, you will see what a good strategy looks like. If you are a … [Read more...]

Enhancing IT Support to the Counter Terror Effort: The Challenge

Several specific and new requirements have been given to the national security community as part of the White House review of security and intelligence systems following the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas day. Collection, processing, organization, and dissemination of information is a priority in the new requirements. This post provides an articulation of some of the technology dimensions of the challenge our nation's counter terror IT … [Read more...]

The promise and peril of the White House Open Government Directive

One of the great resources for tracking trends in Open Government, Gov2.0 and related activities is GovFresh.com, a site I recommend all visit and bookmark and track.  GovFresh founder Luke Fretwell can be found on GovLoop, LinkedIn, Twitter. Luke recently asked several folks who track the Gov2.0 scene for thoughts on the recent Reactions to the White House Open Government Directive.  The directive itself is well worth a read: Open Government … [Read more...]

CTOs: Keep your focus on security and functionality

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...]

White House Cyber Policy Review: And a Cyber Czar

I enjoyed listening to the President today as he provided an update on where we are in our efforts to enhance our freedom of action in cyberspace.  All the details are on the White House website and I hope you visit there yourself to download the 60-day cyberspace policy review. Details are here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CyberReview/ I have been reading the report already-- and will also read all the papers and studies referenced there. So far I have … [Read more...]

Melissa Hathaway speaks at Intelligence and National Security Alliance

INSA, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, is a group of professionals from academia, industry and government who seek to enhance innovation, discussion, debate and progress on key national security issues.  I've been involved as a member for years and get the pleasure of interacting with folks from a wide swath of the community. One of the many services INSA provides the community is providing a venue for speakers and community leaders to … [Read more...]