Government Security


drivers license

Report: ICE Used Facial Recognition Technology To Search Multiple State Driver's License Databases

In states where undocumented immigrants can obtain driver’s licenses, ICE has asked agencies to search for matches in their databases. Two have complied.

senate committtee

Senate Report: Federal Agencies Have Failed To Respond to Growing Cybersecurity Threats

Eight agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Education Department, are using outdated systems that have few security updates and have failed to protect Americans’ personal data.

georgia county courthouse

Georgia Court System Goes Offline After Ransomware Attack

The attack, which was discovered Monday, comes shortly after two Florida cities agreed to pay ransoms in order to recover their computer systems from hackers.

estonia data center

Estonia Creates World’s First-Ever ‘Data Embassy’ to Improve Information Security

The high-tech country’s decision to move highly sensitive databases to another country could be a model for other nations hoping to maintain their data security.

House of Representatives Passes Election Security Bill

House of Representatives Passes Election Security Bill

The House of Representatives passed an election security bill 225-184 on Thursday of last week. The Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act is designed to prohibit cyberinterference.

Lake City to Pay Nearly $500,000 to Hackers

Lake City to Pay Nearly $500,000 to Hackers

Hackers have found a sweet spot in encrypting and attacking municipal computer systems. Lake City is the latest to suffer from these attacks, and after two weeks of inaccessible services, have agreed to pay the $460,000 ransom to hackers.

Shreveport to Potentially Require High-End Security Systems in Liquor Stores

Shreveport to Potentially Require High-End Security Systems in Liquor Stores

Restaurants and stores that sell liquor are suffering from theft in Shreveport, Louisiana. In response, a city councilman is now pushing an amendment that requires restaurants and stores that sell liquor to obtain state-of-the-art surveillance systems before they acquire a liquor license.

IoT Cybersecurity Bill Advances to Full Senate

IoT Cybersecurity Bill Advances to Full Senate

The IoT Cybersecurity bill, which was introduced in March, passed through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs last week and is now headed to the full Senate for a vote.



California Police Forces Use

California Police Use 'HP RoboCop' to Help Patrol

Police use new autonomous data machine with 360-degree HD video as an extra set of eyes for areas where police are not consistently present.

Florida City Pays Almost $600,000 Ransom to Secure Records

Florida City Pays Almost $600,000 Ransom to Secure Records

After three weeks of city data being encrypted in Riviera Beach, Florida, city officials have unanimously voted to pay the hefty ransom to regain access.

Oregon Department of Human Services Breach Affects 645,000 Clients

Oregon Department of Human Services Breach Affects 645,000 Clients

In March, the department announced that 350,000 clients had been affected by a data breach in January 2019. On Tuesday, they updated the number and announced that 645,000 clients had been affected.

Gunman Opens Fire on Dallas Courthouse

Gunman Opens Fire on Dallas Courthouse

According to the police, the suspect, a 22-year-old male has died after exchanging gunfire with federal officers. The suspect opened fire outside the Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse in Downtown Dallas.

Eugene Airport to Receive Fourth Bomb Detection Machine

Eugene Airport to Receive Fourth Bomb Detection Machine

In lieu of eight straight years of passenger growth, the Eugene Airport will be gaining a fourth explosive detection system (EDS) to increase airport security and efficiency.

Stanford Scholars Set Forth 2020 Election Security Recommendations

A group of 14 Stanford scholars put together a report of recommendations for increased election security, addressing problems of cybersecurity, ballot security, and election transparency.

Florida begins issuing new, more-secure drivers licenses

Florida Issues New, More-Secure Drivers License, Identification Cards

Florida officials use tactile security feature to increase security on drivers licenses and identification cards.

Leveraging the System

Leveraging the System

For decades, public alerting systems have served as a critical notification tool for sending alerts to citizens’ smartphones, landlines and through broadcast channels.

Reducing Violence

Reducing Violence

In recent years, however, King City has become known for a different reason; in both 2013 and 2015, the city’s homicide per capita rate for victims between 18 and 22 years of age was the highest in the state of California. The main reason for this is that the city had become a point of contention in a turf war between rival Latino gangs to the north and south of King City.

Taking a Shot at Violence

I suppose when the topic of government security comes up, we often think big, as in the federal government. Let’s back it down a little bit and think of King City, Calif.

Securing the Building

Securing the Building

Multi-tenant buildings come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from a few to dozens of stories tall. Tenants may include residents, professional service providers, commercial businesses, government agencies or retail shops.

A Sustainable Future

Just a few months ago, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its special report on the impact of climate change.

Legislators Seek Funding for Security Measures at Houses of Worship

Legislators Seek Funding for Security Measures at Houses of Worship

After several deadly attacks on houses of worship, legislators are stepping up to find funding to install necessary security solutions.

Contruction on Taller White House Fence to Begin this Summer

Construction on Taller White House Fence to Begin this Summer

The fence around the White House will grow by five feet this summer.

5 Challenges of Creating a Cybersecurity System for Our Electric Grid

5 Challenges of Creating a Cybersecurity System for Our Electric Grid

Here are some of the challenges that we must resolve before making the electric grid hacker-proof.

San Francisco May be the First to Ban Facial Recognition

San Francisco May be the First to Ban Facial Recognition

The use of facial recognition by police might cease to exist in San Francisco if adopts a ban on the technology.

Microsoft Introduces ElectionGuard to Boost Election Security and Verifiability

Microsoft Introduces ElectionGuard to Boost Election Security and Verifiability

Microsoft has announced a new platform called ElectionGuard, which aims to increase election security and transparency.

Army Considers More Multi-Factor Authentication Measures

Army Considers More Multi-Factor Authentication Measures

The U.S. Army is working toward adding more authentication measures to provide more options to access Army online resources while maintaining information technology system security.

Almost 300 Killed in Easter Sunday Attacks in Sri Lanka

Almost 300 Killed in Easter Sunday Attacks in Sri Lanka

Almost 300 people were killed and hundreds more were wounded in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday in a series of coordinated attacks that struck three churches and three hotels.

Sailor Injured, Shooter Killed in Virginia Beach Naval Station Incident

Sailor Injured, Shooter Killed in Virginia Beach Naval Station Incident

A sailor at the Virginia Beach Naval Air Station Oceana was injured in a shooting last Friday.

Little Rock Police Department Considering Body-Worn Cameras

Little Rock Police Department Considering Body-Worn Cameras

Little Rock Police Department is considering purchasing 250 to 450 body-worn cameras for all of its patrol officers.

Illinios Ready to Issue REAL ID Compliant Drivers Licenses

Illinois Ready to Issue REAL ID Compliant Drivers Licenses

REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses in Illinois will display a gold star showing the holder has presented necessary documents to obtain at REAL ID.

Florida Sheriff’s Office Needs More Deputies to Protect and Patrol

Florida Sheriff’s Office Needs More Deputies to Protect and Patrol

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in Fla., needs to add at least 40 more deputies to keep up with calls for service, according to the sheriff.

District of Columbia Introduces Legislation on Data Privacy

District of Columbia Introduces Legislation on Data Privacy

New proposal creates stricter safeguards against data breaches, protects more private consumer information and enhances data security and reporting requirements.

Jacksonville Increases Number of Officers Wearing Body Cameras

Jacksonville Increases Number of Officers Wearing Body Cameras

Jacksonville, Fla., now has 380 officers on its streets wearing body cameras.

Security at Houses of Worship Increased Following New Zealand Mosque Attacks

Security at Houses of Worship Increased Following New Zealand Mosque Attacks

Security in New York has been stepped up at at Muslim community centers and mosques following the New Zealand attacks that killed 49 people.

Security Plans Underway for 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee

Security Plans Underway for 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee

Security plans have already begun for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which will take place in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 13-16, 2020.

Congress Introduces Bill to Improve IoT Security

Congress Introduces Bill to Improve IoT Security

The Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act aims to establish a bare minimum of security standards for IoT devices used by the federal government

New System Uses Machine Learning to Scan Tweets for Security Flaws

New System Uses Machine Learning to Scan Tweets for Security Flaws

Machine learning and Twitter could be the future of catching security flaws and vulnerabilities early.

NY Boosts Security After Explosives Found at London Transportation Hubs

NY Boosts Security After Explosives Found at London Transportation Hubs

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced increased security measures at "critical New York infrastructure points" after explosive devices were found in London.

Military File-Sharing Site Brought Back Online Following Security Concerns

Military File-Sharing Site Brought Back Online Following Security Concerns

The Defense Department website used to transfer large files containing sensitive unclassified information was brought back online earlier this month after being taken down due to security concerns last year.

Vermont is the First State to Ban Chinese Tech

Vermont is the First State to Ban Chinese Tech

In the next big move against Chinese technology, the State of Vermont has banned the tech.

Air Force Academy Invests in Thousands of Security Cameras

Air Force Academy Invests in Thousands of Security Cameras

The U.S. Air Force Academy is increasing cadet safety and security with the installation of security cameras.

California Introduces New Bill to Enhance Data Breach Notification Laws

California Introduces New Bill to Enhance Data Breach Notification Laws

California already has some of the strongest data breach laws in the U.S., but thinks it can do better.

Rhode Island City Considering Security Upgrades for Government Building

Rhode Island City Considering Security Upgrades for Government Building

A City Hall in Providence, Rhode Island might be getting a boost in security.

Cybersecurity Preparations for 2020 Election Underway

Cybersecurity Preparations for 2020 Election Underway

The director of Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency said on Wednesday that election security officials should prepare for all possibilities.

Defense Intelligence Agency Report Aims to Educate on Space Security

Defense Intelligence Agency Report Aims to Educate on Space Security

The Defense Intelligence Agency has released a new report detailing the security challenges the United States face in outer space.

Oklahoma Ramps Up Security in Capitol Building

Oklahoma Ramps Up Security in Capitol Building

Oklahoma leaders announce new security measures for the Capitol, including guard stations and banning public access to stairwells.

NASA Faced Cybersecurity Threats During Government Shutdown

NASA Faced Cybersecurity Threats During Government Shutdown

According to Renee Wynn, NASA’s Chief Information Officer, NASA’s Security Operations Center (SOC) continued to operate 24/7 during the government shutdown, fighting cybersecurity threats.

Securing the State of the Union Address

Securing the State of the Union Address

Several agencies work together to create a comprehensive security plan to protect the State of the Union.

San Francisco Looking to Ban Facial Recognition Tech

San Francisco Looking to Ban Facial Recognition Tech

A proposed ban in San Francisco has introduced a series of rules that could dramatically limit enhanced surveillance.

A Profile in Partnership

A Profile in Partnership

Microwave sensors, also known as Radar, RF or Doppler sensors, detect walking, running or crawling human targets in outdoor environments.

Cabling our Government

Cabling our Government

The government commands a lot of information in data centers, local municipalities, homeland security, health, and every touch that governments have with private citizens and companies. The data can be classified, private and public-facing as in forms.

Crimes on Campus

Crimes on Campus

College and university campuses aren’t immune from the same types of crime, such as burglary and assault, found in any small city where thousands of people live and work closely together. Yet overall, campuses remain a mostly safe place for young adults to learn and mature.

The Long Reach of Government Security

The government has its fingers in everything, and it is necessary when you think about managing the nation’s infrastructure. Think carefully about securing the nation’s transportation system.

Introducing Kessel Run to DOD

Everyone wants a piece of Kessel Run, the Air Force’s agile software development program, and attempts to replicate its success of are already underway.

Adding Sound and Safety

Adding Sound and Safety

At JFK Airport, immigration officers process hundreds of international passengers per flight. With the continual influx of people combined with limited staffing, law enforcement personnel are increasingly looking for technologies to enhance their efforts to deter illegal entry or trafficking and aid in crime investigation.

Ohio County Plans to Increase Courthouse Security

Ohio County Plans to Increase Courthouse Security

Rural Ohio County works to increase security at courthouse.

The “Other” Government Shutdown Cybersecurity Risk

The “Other” Government Shutdown Cybersecurity Risk

Many furloughed employees still have access to government IT networks and systems, which makes them prime targets for criminals and nation states who are constantly seeking to steal credentials for accessing government IT systems and data.

Securing Transportation

Securing Transportation

In today’s connected world, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) play vital roles managing our Nation’s critical infrastructure including roadways, interstates, intersections, ports, mass transit lines, city traffic, and urban mobility.

Sensitive Files Exposed in Oklahoma Securities Commission Data Leak

Sensitive Files Exposed in Oklahoma Securities Commission Data Leak

Millions of sensitive files were discovered on an unprotected server belonging to a state level agency.

Stop the Bleed Campaign Proves to be Working Following Shooting in Utah

Stop the Bleed Campaign Proves to be Working Following Shooting in Utah

Victims in a Utah mall shooting arrived at the hospital with tourniquets, a life-saving measure frequently taught in Stop the Bleed courses.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Webinars

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3