Author Archive
Adam Mazmanian
Executive Editor, Nextgov/FCW
Adam Mazmanian is executive editor of Nextgov/FCW. Before joining the editing team, Mazmanian was an FCW staff writer covering Congress, governmentwide technology policy and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to joining FCW, Mazmanian was technology correspondent for National Journal and served in a variety of editorial roles at B2B news service SmartBrief. Mazmanian has contributed reviews and articles to the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, Newsday, New York Press, Architect Magazine and other publications.
Emerging Tech
EEOC on the lookout for tech-fueled employment bias
The employment rights enforcement agency announced plans to crack down violations of anti-discrimination rules stemming from the use of AI and algorithmic decision-making software.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
White House plans cyber labeling system for IoT devices
A consumer-focused cyber labeling scheme may be put into play after years on the drawing board.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
Mobile driver's licenses, digital credentials advance identity proofing, trade groups say
Standards for mobile driver's licenses top the wish list of groups looking to steer the direction of the administration’s action on combating ID theft and fraud through digital identities.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cloud & Infrastructure
Securing communications infrastructure from traffic-routing risk
The FCC wants comments on strengthening the border gateway protocol to avert attacks on email and web traffic as well as emergency 911 services and other public safety operations.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
CISA, FBI warn on cyber threats targeting Ukraine
"Wiper" malware aimed at Ukraine government and critical infrastructure systems could bleed over into the U.S., law enforcement warns.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
Latest TMF awards underscore cybersecurity
Of the seven new Technology Modernization Fund awards announced Sept 29, four are dedicated to improving cybersecurity, primarily through the transition to zero-trust solutions.
- By Adam Mazmanian
CDC eyes electronic verification of staff vaccinations
CDC is looking for a way to authenticate COVID-19 vaccine data on its employees and to provide proof of recent tests for employees traveling abroad.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
CISA chief floats fines to compel threat info sharing
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly told lawmakers that fines may help enable disclosure compliance and enforcement.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
Census mishandled 2020 hack, IG says
The Bureau missed opportunities to mitigate a critical vulnerability, resulting in the exploitation of remote-access servers, the agency’s inspector general reported.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cloud & Infrastructure
Microsoft unwraps top secret cloud
Microsoft announced its top secret, air-gapped Azure cloud has received authorization to operate and are "generally available" for national security workloads.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
OMB issues initial instructions for 'critical software' protection
Agencies now have guidance on securing critical software, as required by the Biden administration’s May executive order on cybersecurity.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
CISA launches vulnerability disclosure platform
The federal civilian enterprisewide VDP platform offers agencies a centrally managed system to gather vulnerability information from security researchers.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
TSA tightens cyber rules for pipelines
A new directive requires operators of “critical” pipelines to review their current cybersecurity architecture, implement mitigation measures against known threats to IT and operational technology systems and establish plans to recover from a cyberattack.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
FBI wants more help from hacked companies
Without regular, prompt and transparent participation of the private sector, the FBI will “have a heck of a time winning this conflict," Director Chris Wray told Senate appropriators.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
CISA lacks insights into agency network defenses
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency doesn’t have the data to determine if agencies are segmenting and segregating their networks, according to CISA acting Director Brandon Wales.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cloud & Infrastructure
Lawmakers seek new probe into AWS JEDI collusion
Letters from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Attorney General Merrick Garland and acting Defense Department Inspector General Sean O’Donnell asking for information, documents and, in the case of the Justice Department, a probe into possible anticompetitive behavior on the part of Amazon Web Services.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cloud & Infrastructure
Court will hear JEDI political interference case against Trump
A complaint of political inference by former President Donald Trump in the Defense Department’s award of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud computing contract to Microsoft in 2019 may now proceed.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cybersecurity
White House preps new requirements for industrial control system security
In the wake of breach into a water treatment plant in Oldmar, Fla., the Biden administration plans to issue an executive order focused on the industrial control systems.
- By Adam Mazmanian
State & Local
White House taps Robin Carnahan for top GSA spot
Robin Carnahan, formerly Missouri's secretary of state and the lead of state and local government practice at 18F, is the Biden administration's pick to lead the General Services Administration.
- By Adam Mazmanian
Cloud & Infrastructure
AWS again challenges JEDI award
Amazon Web Services is taking another run at getting the court to set aside the Pentagon’s 10-year, $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud contract award to Microsoft.
- By Adam Mazmanian