Author Archive
Lauren Williams
Lauren C. Williams is senior editor for FCW and Defense Systems, covering defense and cybersecurity.
Before joining FCW, Williams was the tech reporter for ThinkProgress, where she covered everything from internet culture to national security issues. Williams has also covered health care, politics, and crime for the Seattle Times and other publications.
Williams graduated with a master's in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park and a bachelor's in dietetics from the University of Delaware.
Infrastructure
DOD taps cloud contenders for JEDI replacement
The Defense Department has invited Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google and Oracle to compete for its massive warfighter cloud program.
- By Lauren Williams
Infrastructure
Coast Guard plans mobile access to law enforcement database
The Coast Guard is looking to give its enforcement personnel access to its safety and law enforcement database via mobile apps.
- By Lauren Williams
Infrastructure
Army data fabric to unify tactical, enterprise networks
The Army expects its common data fabric will allow it to easily send data back and forth from legacy and business systems to the tactical edge.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
DOD launches 'continuous vetting'
In a partially automated process, continuous vetting checks a variety of data sources and flags employees’ concerning behavior or circumstances as part of the security clearance process.
- By Lauren Williams
Infrastructure
DISA restructures cloud office
The Defense Information Systems Agency has created a new office that combines its Cloud Computing Program Office with DISA's services directorate and ecosystem.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
Ransomware threats calls for tough conversations
As ransomware attacks on U.S. public and private organizations increase, the federal government may have to have tough conversations with other nations, especially as the lines between nation-state and criminal actors blur.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
Striking the right balance for cyber incident reporting
Information sharing is important when dealing with ransomware, but reporting requirements should not to overburden agencies or industry, CISA’s chief says.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
DHS looks to CMMC for contractor security model
The Department of Homeland Security is taking a page from the Pentagon’ Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program as it looks to create a verifiable standard to ensure contractors are in compliance with its cyber hygiene clauses released in 2015.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
Solarium progress report highlights security advances, challenges
While most of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendations are on track to being implemented, but lack of funding could potentially undermine some efforts, according to a recent the commissions’ 56-page progress report.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
DIU seeks tech to spot GPS disruptions
The Defense Innovation Unit is looking for situational awareness of potential disruptions to global navigation satellite systems.
- By Lauren Williams
Infrastructure
US needs combat cloud to bolster warfighting collaboration
With an enterprise combat cloud service members, allies and partners could login from anywhere, allowing the U.S. to take full advantage of the warfighting capabilities they have to offer.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers advance cyber legislation
The Senate’s 2022 defense authorization bill and a number of House measures are addressing cyber authorities, domestic microelectronics manufacture, supply chain security and raising cyber awareness among the public.
- By Lauren Williams and Chris Riotta
Cybersecurity
‘Blockchain light’ may help Army ensure data trustworthiness
To make it easier for warfighters and commanders to trust the data they receive, the Army is testing a customized “blockchain-light” technology that helps verify the provenance of data without the compute requirements of traditional blockchain applications.
- By Lauren Williams
Cybersecurity
3D printing opens DOD to unnecessary cyber risk, IG finds
Because the additive manufacturing systems were incorrectly categorized as tools, rather than IT systems, they have not been adequately protected, according to DOD’s inspector general.
- By Lauren Williams
Digital Government
DOD’s data decrees aim to preserve military’s advantage
To transform the military into a data-centric organization, the Defense Department has laid out five "data decrees" to guide data sharing, storage and security.
- By Lauren Williams
Digital Government
Better acquisition data would improve DOD oversight
While better data would help the Defense Department more effectively assess investments and risks over time, according to a watchdog official, several challenges exist.
- By Lauren Williams
Infrastructure
Navy looks to business systems modernization to enhance performance, reduce costs
Moving off legacy systems and into the cloud will support digital transformation efforts, Navy officials tell Congress.
- By Lauren Williams