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Government Technology/News
CISA Warns Organizations of Techniques Used by Hackers to Compromise Cloud Services
by Jane Edwards
Published on January 14, 2021
CISA Warns Organizations of Techniques Used by Hackers to Compromise Cloud Services

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an analysis report in response to cyber attacks on cloud services of various organizations. The agency also found that hackers take advantage of email forwarding rules created by users to gain access to sensitive data.

Threat actors used several techniques such as brute force login attempts, phishing and a “pass-the-cookie” attack to bypass multifactor authentication and exploit vulnerabilities in the organizations’ cloud security practices, CISA said in the report published Wednesday.

“These types of attacks frequently occurred when victim organizations’ employees worked remotely and used a mixture of corporate laptops and personal devices to access their respective cloud services. Despite the use of security tools, affected organizations typically had weak cyber hygiene practices that allowed threat actors to conduct successful attacks,” the report reads.

CISA has recommended several measures to help organizations protect cloud environments, such as implementing conditional access policies, reviewing user-created email forwarding alerts and rules and assessing active directory sign-in logs and unified audit logs for malicious activity.

Government Technology/News
DoD Halts Joint Regional Security Stack Deployment on Classified Networks
by Jane Edwards
Published on January 14, 2021
DoD Halts Joint Regional Security Stack Deployment on Classified Networks

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) testing office said DoD has stopped the rollout of a $2 billion cybersecurity project called the Joint Regional Security Stack (JRSS) to classified networks due to its inability to help defenders safeguard component networks from “operationally realistic cyber attacks,” Bloomberg reported Thursday. 

JRSS is intended to provide DoD with attack prevention, intrusion detection and other network security capabilities.

Robert Behler, the Pentagon’s testing chief, recommended that the department’s chief information officer continue developing alternatives to the security stack and halt the program’s deployment to unclassified networks “until the system demonstrates that it is capable of helping network defenders to detect and respond to operationally realistic cyber attacks.” 

Russell Goemaere, a spokesman for DoD, said the department has not paused the deployment of JRSS to unclassified networks but has postponed the rollout to classified networks to have more time to mature joint procedures and techniques for midpoint security and improve the operational requirements.

Government Technology/News/Press Releases
FBI Moves to Implement New Cyber Strategy to Deter Foreign Hackers; Tonya Ugoretz Quoted
by Christine Thropp
Published on January 14, 2021
FBI Moves to Implement New Cyber Strategy to Deter Foreign Hackers; Tonya Ugoretz Quoted

The FBI has started implementing a new cyber strategy to increase efforts to disrupt actions of foreign hackers amid cyber attacks against SolarWinds software used by a number of U.S. government agencies, CyberScoop reported Wednesday. 

The approach would promote closer collaboration between data-rich private companies and intelligence agencies to saddle U.S. digital adversaries with heavier penalties to discourage them from targeting U.S. assets.

Tonya Ugoretz, deputy assistant director of the Cyber Division at the FBI, said an interagency group is now set up to inform intelligence agencies that are mulling over offensive cyber-operations against foreign hackers.

“We can use our law enforcement and intelligence authorities both to support those defending networks and conducting offensive activities, and to attribute the activity and [hold] nefarious actors accountable, leading to greater deterrence,” she said.

Training bureau employees on intrusion investigation and data analysis as well as increasing the number of cyber-focused FBI personnel at U.S. embassies are some of the expected efforts under the cyber strategy.

Ugoretz also assured that the next administration will retain the strategy. "It is the FBI cyber strategy…which transcends any individual or group leadership team that’s in place at any one time."

Executive Moves/News
Fortress Information Security Names John Cofrancesco VP of BD
by Sarah Sybert
Published on January 13, 2021
Fortress Information Security Names John Cofrancesco VP of BD

Fortress Information Security has appointed John Cofrancesco as vice president of Business Development. He will bring a demonstrated history of working across the Department of Defense (DoD), federal and computer software sectors.

Cofrancesco is experienced in big data analytics, management and leadership. Prior to joining Fortress Information Security, Cofrancesco served as vice president of Acuity Systems, an information technology and services company.

Before that, Cofrancesco served as vice president of Business Development with Active Navigation, where he developed new business and strategic partnerships. He facilitated cross-selling of company-wide products, services and capabilities. Cofrancesco also contributed to the strategic planning and execution of all sales, marketing and public relations activities.

As lead associate of Booz Allen Hamilton, Cofrancesco served as the company’s management co-lead for the Headquarters Marine Corps Records, Reports, Directives and Forms Management Section (HQMC ARDB) contracts. He was responsible for meeting contract deadlines, deliverables and regulatory requirements.

Cofrancesco also served with Lockheed Martin from 2012 to 2014, before joining Booz Allen Hamilton. With Lockheed Martin, Cofrancesco held the position of HP TRIM lead, where he managed the Department of the Navy’s (DON) electronic records management applications (ERMA) including HP TRIM that had a combined 320 thousand seats on the classified and unclassified NMCI network.

“I cannot wait to see where this new chapter of my career will take me, and to grow and learn within this role,” said Cofrancesco in a recent statement.

Cofrancesco received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from The Catholic University of America (CUA) and graduated from Georgetown University CMAP program.

Government Technology/News
GSA FAS Leader Julie Dunne: MAS Contract Vehicle Consolidation Boosted Sales
by Nichols Martin
Published on January 13, 2021
GSA FAS Leader Julie Dunne: MAS Contract Vehicle Consolidation Boosted Sales

Julie Dunne, outgoing commissioner of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), said her team’s consolidation of the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract vehicle boosted sales from $32 billion to $36 billion between 2019 and 2020.

Dunne said her successor must sustain the consolidation’s results and complementary catalog management work, FCW reported Tuesday. GSA will continue the consolidation with the release of a new common catalog platform through which the agency and contractors would manage offerings in a common user interface.

The FAS leader also mentioned her team’s efforts to integrate supply chain risk management into MAS procurements.

“We’re trying to initiate processes and understand what the threats are and how to deliver the best acquisition solution,” Dunne told FCW.

News/Press Releases
Chartis Research Recognizes LexisNexis Risk Solutions with RiskTech100 Award
by Sarah Sybert
Published on January 13, 2021
Chartis Research Recognizes LexisNexis Risk Solutions with RiskTech100 Award

LexisNexis Risk Solutions has been recognized as the category winner for Financial Crime – Data in the Chartis Research RiskTech100, marking the third year the company has received recognition for the category award, LexisNexis Risk Solutions reported on Wednesday. The RiskTech100 is an annual evaluation of the leading global risk technology providers.

“The category win by LexisNexis Risk Solutions for the third year running reflects the company’s depth in financial crime – and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) in particular,” said Phil Mackenzie, senior research specialist at Chartis-Research. “The company continues to be strong in financial crime data, which can help firms make better risk decisions.”

LexisNexis Risk Solutions has leveraged advanced analytics, global identity intelligence and innovative financial crime technologies to deliver valuable perspectives on risks. The company’s approach has enabled businesses to recognize relevant risk and complete compliance processes.

“Our ability to win this prestigious award for the third year in a row demonstrates our commitment to continuously update our comprehensive global risk intelligence to reflect the current global risk realities,” said Daniel Wager, vice president, global financial crime compliance strategy for LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe.

We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers.

Government Technology/News
NASA, Japan Sign Agreement for Gateway Life Support Capabilities
by Matthew Nelson
Published on January 13, 2021
NASA, Japan Sign Agreement for Gateway Life Support Capabilities

The Japanese government has inked an agreement with NASA to provide capabilities to sustain the habitation module of the agency's Gateway orbital outpost as part of the Artemis program. 

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will deliver life support technologies and additional workspace to help Gateway crew members carry out work and research efforts inside the International Habitation module, NASA said Wednesday. 

Northrop Grumman partnered with the Japanese government to deliver batteries that will power Gateway's Habitation and Logistics Outpost module. Japan will also study potential updates for the HTV-X spacecraft in a bid to support Gateway's logistics resupply activities. 

"We’re honored to announce this latest agreement with Japan to support long-term human exploration on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program," said Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient. 

Gateway is designed to support scientific research efforts and function as a rendezvous point for astronauts that will fly to the Moon via the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft. The orbital outpost will also test technologies that will support manned missions to the Red Planet. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA entered into an agreement to incorporate Gateway's life support capabilities into the outpost. 

Government Technology/News/Press Releases
DIA CIO Jack Gumtow Issues 4-Year Blueprint for Improving Intell Stakeholder Relationships
by Brenda Marie Rivers
Published on January 13, 2021
DIA CIO Jack Gumtow Issues 4-Year Blueprint for Improving Intell  Stakeholder Relationships

Jack Gumtow, chief information officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), has released his strategy to improve the agency’s customer relationship management throughout a four-year period, C4ISRnet reported Tueday.

The strategy comes as part of DIA’s efforts to address stakeholder feedback and covers objectives such as using automation to drive efficiency and breaking down barriers that result in data silos.

“Our culture will be one that drives decision-making down to the lowest level and gives the workforce the authority they need to execute through collaboration, career mobility, continuous learning, and the ability to use relevant skills across the organization whenever they are necessary,” Gumtow wrote in his strategy.

Other goals detailed in the plan include driving data accessibility, optimizing core services and strengthening workforce skillsets.

Government Technology/News
USAF to Migrate Mission-Critical Apps Into Zero-Trust Environment
by Matthew Nelson
Published on January 13, 2021
USAF to Migrate Mission-Critical Apps Into Zero-Trust Environment

The U.S. Air Force is looking to enhance its cybersecurity in response to the service branch's remote work setup by moving its mission-critical applications into a zero-trust environment, Fedscoop reported Tuesday.

USAF will establish a task force to explore the migration of applications from a defense-parameter setup to an environment that will authenticate all users equally to secure the service branch's technology infrastructure.

According to the report, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) plans to launch a zero-trust reference framework in 2021 to push the Department of Defense's (DoD) agencies in updating their security networks.

The Air Force also rolled out pilot efforts to assess potential migrations to a zero-trust setup amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government Technology/News/Press Releases
DOE Invests in Phase I R&D Work Under 139 Small Businesses
by Brenda Marie Rivers
Published on January 13, 2021
DOE Invests in Phase I R&D Work Under 139 Small Businesses

The Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked $37 million to fund Phase I research and development activities under 170 grants issued to 139 small businesses in support of the DOE Office of Science.

DOE said Tuesday the Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer grants have a median value of $200,000 and cover a period of up to 12 months.

Research topics encompass a range of subject areas under the advanced scientific computing, basic energy sciences, biological and environmental research and nuclear physics segments of the Office of Science.

Specific projects include quantum transponders, high spatial resolution neutron imaging, synthetic biology and ultra low radioactivity cables and circuits.

Successful Phase I participants may apply for Phase II grants in fiscal year 2021. Awards under the second phase have a median amount of $1.1 million and cover a two-year period of prototype development work.

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