Author Archive
Lauren C. Williams
Lauren C. Williams is senior editor for Defense One. She previously covered defense technology and cybersecurity for FCW and Defense Systems. Before then, Williams has reported on several issues, including internet culture, national security, health care, politics and crime for various publications. She has 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 C. Williams
Digital Government
Army seeks to leverage native analytics for supply chain resilience
The Army wants to be able to use the data analytics already in its logistics systems to be better prepared for supply chain vulnerabilities.
- By Lauren C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. 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 C. Williams
Infrastructure
DOD moves on from JEDI
The Pentagon plans to replace the $10 billion cloud contract with a new multi-cloud, multi-vendor contract called the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Infrastructure
Slow MilCloud 2.0 migrations delay cloud security advantages, lawmaker says
The slow move to MilCloud 2.0 by Defense agencies is a "delayed realization of enhanced security, which is paramount in the light of most recent Colonial pipeline and SolarWinds cybersecurity attacks," Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) said.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Infrastructure
DOD 'actively' considering JEDI options, Hicks says
The Pentagon is actively working through alternatives for potentially replacing the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud program, according to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Infrastructure
JEDI remains key to Pentagon's JADC2 dreams
The Defense Department has an official strategy for implementing Joint All Domain Command and Control, but it still needs an enterprise cloud capability to make it real.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Cybersecurity
Army rolls back IoT restrictions for teleworkers
The Army is "restaffing" the policy, which would have required teleworkers to turn off or remove smart devices, such as Amazon Echo speakers, from their remote workspaces.
- By Lauren C. Williams