The Fed Mission Success Round Up: Quantum Technology, Cyber-Attacks, and Data Literacy

March 22, 2021

Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers.

Republicans Put Forth Two Quantum Computing Bills

Two pieces of legislation surrounding quantum computing have been put forth in the US House of Representatives. The Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology, or QUEST Act, would “encourage and facilitate access to United States quantum computing hardware and quantum computing clouds for research purposes” in a program established by the Department of Energy. The Quantum Network Infrastructure Act recently introduced, aimed to have the Department of Energy advance America’s quantum-centered infrastructure.

Energy Commits $30 Million to Advance Quantum Tech at Its Nanoscale-Focused User Facilities

With strategic aims to drive new breakthroughs in quantum information science, the Energy Department recently launched a funding opportunity to award $30 million across its Nanoscale Science Research Centers, or NSRCs.

America’s Drinking Water Is Surprisingly Easy to Poison

On Feb. 16, a mysterious attacker made headlines around the world by hacking a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida, and nearly generating a mass poisoning. The experts say the sorts of rudimentary vulnerabilities revealed in the breach — including the lack of an internet firewall and the use of shared passwords and outdated software — are common among America’s 151,000 public water systems.

White House Weighs New Cybersecurity Approach After Failure to Detect Hacks

In the wake of yet another malicious cyber-attack, the Federal government must re-evaluate its policies and procedures for gathering intelligence and preventing attacks. By allowing intelligence agencies to communicate and operate within the United States, some think that more cyber-attacks could be thwarted. Additionally, the Federal government needs to work closely with private industry to locate and nullify threats.

DHS Using Data Literacy, Analytics to Bolster Cyber Workforce Training

One of the major methodologies used to evaluate and plan for the workforce is in the use of data and data analytics. Th Department of Homeland Security has a tremendous amount of data. But the fact is, data is rendered meaningless if it’s not transformed by analytics into an actionable insight.

IRS Delays U.S. Tax Deadline to May 17 After Disruptive Year

The Internal Revenue Service is delaying the April 15 tax-filing deadline to May 17, giving taxpayers an additional month to file returns and pay any outstanding levies.

Why the CX Journey Matters

Our CEO and President Seema Khan published an article last week in Government Computer News (GCN) about why the customer experience (CX) journey matters for Federal Government IT. 

Deb Haaland Confirmed as Interior Secretary, Becoming the First Native American U.S. Cabinet Member

Rep. Debra Anne Haaland of New Mexico was confirmed Monday as the country’s first Native American Cabinet-level official, becoming secretary of the interior.

ATT&CK 2021 Roadmap

ATT&CK’s chief focus for 2021 will be on  enhancing and enriching content across the ATT&CK platforms and technical domains.

From the Makpar Blog …

In case you missed it, here are our latest blog posts:

• The Cybersecurity Framework That Keeps You and Your Family Safe as You Access Your IRS Records for Stimulus Checks

• Data Security Win: Virginia is Second State in U.S. to Pass Data Protection Legislation

• How Decentralized Decision Making Can Help Federal Agencies Adopt a More Agile Practice

• 4 Ways to Migrate a Workload to the Cloud for Federal Government Agencies

• PODCAST: The SolarWinds Breach Points to Need for Cyber Fundamentals

• In Response to The SolarWinds Breach: The Need to Return to Cybersecurity Fundamentals.

• Is the Product Owner the Most Important Role in Government Agile Development?

• Cloud Migration Primer for Federal Agencies

• Breaking Down Cultural Barriers to Cloud Adoption for Federal Government Agencies

• Cybersecurity Best Practices for Federal Agencies, Small/Medium Businesses, and Individuals

Makpar has over a decade of experience providing high-level strategic and project management services, focused on cybersecurity and cutting-edge technologies. Please contact us here for more information about how we can enhance mission success for your agency.tax-filing deadline to May 17hacking a water treatment plant