The commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has recommended that the network architecture approach established in that country be developed for future alliance and coalition operations and exercises.

With this idea (i.e., Spend Money to Save Money), I am repeating Scott Lewis, a northern Virginia consultant serving the systems integrator market here in the federal arena. He explains that "Without a compelling cost justification there is no way an agency will invest to reduce O&M cost". He is dead-on target with this… and it is becoming true, to an increasing level, with so many eyes looking for ways to cut the Defense and intelligence budgets.

Beginning with this issue, SIGNAL Connections has been enhanced to better meet your needs as an AFCEA member. Each issue will highlight events that are taking place in your area, as well as news about your chapter, the association, AFCEA benefits and fellow members. Also featured will be industry news and commentary from other SIGNAL media to provide a comprehensive package of information.

Young summer campers whose focus is cybersecurity rather than swimming or working on their tan had a chance to show their skills and maybe earn a scholarship recently in Virginia. It is part of the latest in a series of U.S. Cyber Challenge Camps taking place across the country as part of an effort to get more young people to seriously consider careers in the high-demand field of cybersecurity and information assurance.

Joining AFCEA provides business-building opportunities. Your company’s visibility is elevated through its corporate profile listing in the AFCEA Source Book.

Under a memorandum of understanding announced on July 14, the U.S. Coast Guard Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Technology (C4IT) Service Center will leverage AFCEA resources for providing market research, identifying technology trends and raising awareness of ongoing initiatives.

AFCEA headquarters lost power right in the middle of the production cycle of this issue of SIGNAL Connections. Rumor has it that road construction taking place in the area caused the glitch. Without access to computers and VoIP phones, staff members emerged from their work spaces like bears after hibernation and actually talked to each other face to face. The incident brought to light an escalating issue that is often ignored: technology is a tool; it’s not communication.

A large cyberespionage campaign has been ongoing for five or more years, with its targets ranging from private companies to nations. Commercial cybersecurity experts say all the evidence so far points to a “state player” as the source of the attack, and they have located server logs outlining the extent of the attack.

According to a recent story in Bloomberg News, the Department of Homeland Security tried a little experiment by dropping CDs and thumb drives in the parking lots of government building and private contractors. Well, one would imagine this would be a great opportunity for our government employees and the specialized contractors that support them to show off their cyber security chops. After all, isn’t it a given that these people would have cyber security and information assurance best practices drilled into them?