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Daily Archives: April 19, 2016

IG Review of NASA’s Information Security Program

Final Memorandum, Review of NASA’s Information Security Program (IG-16-016; A-15-005-01), April 14, 2016.
“As part of our annual review of NASA’s compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) for fiscal year 2015, we reviewed a representative sample of 29 information systems from NASA Centers, Headquarters, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and issued a summary report in October 2015. In that report, we concluded that although NASA had established programs to address each of the review areas identified by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) FISMA guidance, the Agency needed to enhance its efforts in three areas: continuous monitoring management, configuration management, and risk management . We believe that weaknesses in these areas stem from missing requirements related to the Agency’s information system security program. This report focuses on whether NASA has implemented programmatic, Agency-wide information security requirements that are independent of any particular information system…Although NASA has made progress in meeting requirements in support of an Agency-wide information security program, it has not fully implemented key management controls essential to managing that program. Specifically, NASA lacks an Agency-wide risk management framework for information security and an information security architecture. In our judgment, this condition exists because the Office of the CIO (OCIO) has not developed an information security program plan to effectively manage its resources . In addition, the Office is experiencing a period of transition  with different leaders acting in the Senior Security Officer role, which has caused uncertainty surrounding information security responsibilities at the Agency level. As a result, we believe NASA’s information security program could be improved to more effectively protect critical Agency information and related systems…”

Interior Secretary Jewell Announces Nearly $95M in Funding for all 50 States

“U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced nearly $95 million will be distributed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to support conservation and recreation projects in local communities. The funds, which are generated out of a portion of the lease revenue… Continue Reading

EFF Sues for Secret Court Orders Requiring Tech Companies to Decrypt Users’ Communications

Via EFF: “The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a Freedom of Information (FOIA) lawsuit today against the Justice Department to shed light on whether the government has ever used secret court orders to force technology companies to decrypt their customers’ private communications, a practice that could undermine the safety and security of devices used by… Continue Reading

Data Act: Progress Made but Significant Challenges Must Be Addressed

Data Act: Progress Made but Significant Challenges Must Be Addressed to Ensure Full and Effective Implementation, GAO-16-556T: Published: Apr 19, 2016. Publicly Released: Apr 19, 2016. “The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) have taken some significant steps toward implementing the key provisions of the Digital Accountability and… Continue Reading

RightsStatements.org – 11 standardized rights statements for online cultural heritage

“RightsStatements.org is a joint initiative of Europeana and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). Europeana, the Digital Public Library of America, and many other libraries, archives and other cultural heritage institutions believe that everyone should be able to engage with their cultural heritage online. We can help achieve this by providing cultural heritage institutions… Continue Reading

Report – In Six States, Immigration Relief Takes Over 1,000 Days on Average

“Despite the recent appointment of new immigration judges, the Immigration Court’s backlog continues to rise each month. The latest figures show that at the end of March the number of pending cases had reached 486,206. The ballooning backlog has many implications; this month TRAC is spotlighting what our overloaded court system means for individuals seeking… Continue Reading

Earth Day – April 22 – Earth Day Network

“Earth Day Network’s mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations. Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network is the world’s largest recruiter to the… Continue Reading

Atlantic article calls out the financial fragility of America’s majority

The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans, Neal Gabler: “Since 2013, the Federal Reserve Board has conducted a survey to “monitor the financial and economic status of American consumers.” Most of the data in the latest survey, frankly, are less than earth-shattering: 49 percent of part-time workers would prefer to work more hours at their current… Continue Reading

April is Financial Literacy

“Whether you’re a student, young adult, parent, older person, or military service member, managing finances is a key part of your life; and you know that if you do it well it’s a great skill that reaps many rewards. In fact, strong financial literacy covers many areas, including spending, saving, investing, protecting, and making the most of your… Continue Reading