Government


A Boost at the Border

Mention border security, and you might imagine the intersection of two countries, or perhaps the border separating government facilities from private land. But border security also can be defined as perimeter security, which expands the concept to encompass walls, fences, roads and other perimeters around businesses, schools, prisons, utilities, research facilities, and other properties and buildings.

Data Mining E-Mail Can Spot Insider Threats In Organizations

A rapid way to spot insider threats from individuals within an organization such as a multinational company or military installation is reported in the current issue of the International Journal of Security and Networks.

DHS Furthers Advancement Of HSPD-12 Goals

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced recently that it will further advance the department’s Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) goals by awarding contracts to three companies.

FBI’s Next Generation Biometric System To Be Developed By Lockheed Martin

The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently awarded Lockheed Martin a 10-year, $1 billion contract to develop and maintain the Bureau's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system, a multi-modal, state-of-the-art biometrics system for use by state, local and federal authorities.

Proposed Standards Will Allow Government Agencies To Share Biometric Data

An interagency subcommittee of the White House's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) issued a draft document recently that lists recommended standards to enable government agencies to easily share biometric data.

Law Professor: 24 Has Seeped Into National Debate On Antiterrorism Tactics

Sure, it's just a TV show, but a University of Iowa law professor says 24 can have real-world legal implications

DHS Increases Funding For REAL ID Grant Program, Extends Application Deadline

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced an increase in the total amount of funding available for REAL ID implementation and an extension in the deadline for FY 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program applications.

Report: REAL ID Final Rule Enables States To Begin Work On Technologies For Compliance

The final rule for REAL ID compliance provides the necessary guidance for states to begin building systems and linking networks to fulfill the mandates of the 2005 legislation, according to a newly released report by INPUT.



FERC Approves New Reliability Standards For Cyber Security

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently approved eight new mandatory critical infrastructure protection (CIP) reliability standards to protect the nation’s bulk power system against potential disruptions from cyber security breaches.

DHS Assistant Secretary Garcia Honored With Cybercrime Fighter Award

McAfee Inc. recently presented the McAfee Cybercrime Fighter Award to Gregory T. Garcia, Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security.

DHS Releases National Response Framework

The Department of Homeland Security recently released the National Response Framework, successor to the National Response Plan.

Learning From the Best

The average small-business owner may view the world of federal government contracts as an intimidating, mind-boggling realm dominated by huge corporations— with the promise of great financial success just out of reach. However, breaking into the federal government marketplace is a feat that can be accomplished by small private companies—and one that has been achieved by countless organizations, especially in recent years.

A Growing Threat

In the United States, people encounter a perpetual tradeoff between freedom and security. The nation depends on a complex system of critical infrastructures to maintain a high quality of life and the freedoms enjoyed every day. New threats to security have these organizations taking a second look at their vulnerabilities, however, scrambling to minimize disruption and to maintain the integrity of their operations. In the past, national security was perceived as the role of government. Today, Department of Homeland Security efforts to protect critical infrastructures from physical attack are a shared responsibility of the public and private sectors, as well as individual citizens.

Corrective Action

Correctional facility infrastructures are aging, inmate populations in the United States are increasing, and the cost of operating jails and prisons is growing twice as fast. Correctional facility officials know these facts all too well.

TSA Names Special Counselor

TSA recently announced the appointment of Kimberly Hubbard Walton as the assistant administrator for the Office of the Special Counselor (OSC).

Meeting the Mandates

The Department of Homeland Security’s publication of chemical facilities anti-terrorism (CFAT) standards has many chemical and petrochemical companies scrambling to develop security plans for their high-risk facilities. The continued post-9/11 threat of terrorism dictates urgency, and the DHS put teeth in the CFAT rules.

Gemalto VP Testifies on Privacy and Security of Government IDs

Gemalto's vice president urged DHS and congress to make privacy and data security the highest priorities in ID programs.

Company Joins DOD IT Team

SI International announced recently that it is a member of the KT Consulting team that has been awarded the IT Services, Program Support Services contract with DoD and WHS.

Federal Government To Spend $345 Million On Identity, Access Management In 2008

A recent report from INPUT projects the federal market for identity and access management to grow by 6.2 percent annually through 2012.

A Monumental Task

IT seems a shame to have to start yet another article on security with the words “in the aftermath of 9/11.” However, when it comes to protecting national monuments and treasures, the fact is security has had to change significantly in the past six years as a result of heightened terrorism concerns.

Featured

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.