Posts By Emily Jarvis

Hacking the Hacker

Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field. Attackers are constantly changing their strategies and methods of hacking, and it’s a never-ending race for cybersecurity experts to keep up and keep data safe. We explored some of these cyber challenges in GovLoop’s new guide, 30 Innovations that Mattered in 2014. In the guide we talked with Intel SecurityRead… Read more »

Data Download – A Year In Open Data

In February, the Commence Department opened the Office of Digital Engagement. The idea was simple. Create an office where users can interact with the department on any communication channel. Twitter? Of course. Facebook? You bet. Even Instagram. “This year we put our Secretary on Instagram. She was the first cabinet member to be on Instagram,”Read… Read more »

‘Tis the Season for Acquisition Reform?

‘Tis the season for end of year reflections. And in 2014, the government technology and acquisition communities had a lot to reflect on. The rollout of healthcare.gov, the launch of 18F, the President’s announcement of a new professional cadre of digital procurers, were just a few innovations and challenges that cropped up this year. TwoRead… Read more »

Agencies Can’t Climb Everest Alone

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth. The Himalayan peak’ is more than 29,000 feet above sea level. And only a few more than 5,000 intrepid climbers have ever reached the top. Those who have reached the summit have done so with the help of trusty guides and with the insights of climbers ofRead… Read more »

Breached, Broached, Broke – Hacked in 2014

Breaches, breaches, breaches everywhere! 2014 will go down in the history books as the year of the mega data breach. Don’t believe me? Take this not-so-fun fact in November the United States Postal Service was breached and more than 2.9 million potential customers were impacted. To put that number in context, in the same yearRead… Read more »

Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus

Back in the late 1890s, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon was asked by his eight-year-old daughter, Virginia O’Hanlon whether Santa Claus really existed. According to the New York Times, O’Hanlon suggested she write to The Sun, a prominent New York City newspaper at the time, assuring her that “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” He unwittingly gaveRead… Read more »

Happy to Work in Gov? Survey Says No

I am going to be brutally honest with you. It’s a tough time to be a federal employee. For the fourth year in a row, The Best Places to Work data showed a decline in federal employee satisfaction. The Partnership for Public Service found government-wide, federal employee job satisfaction and commitment fell 0.9 points to aRead… Read more »

Don’t Throw Out the FAR – Transform It

A few weeks ago on the DorobekINSIDER, host Chris Dorobek made a radical call for a government restart – he suggested doing away with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The FAR was intended to answer any and every procurement question under the sun, but the resulting document has more than 99 parts and thousands of subchapters.Read… Read more »