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Weekly Roundup
April 17 – April 24 2015

A Note From Our President & Founder Jim Garrettson

One of the country’s most notable weapons manufacturers announced a new play into the cybersecurity market this week as it seeks to bring the same technology it makes for the military into commercial markets.

Under a multi-faceted deal, Raytheon and investment firm Vista Equity Partners will together form a new joint venture that will offer cyber products and services to commercial companies in a push to help businesses combat security threats.
Raytheon will pay $1.9 billion to acquire the Vista-owned company Websense, then integrate the firm with Raytheon’s cyber products division to form the JV, which Raytheon will hold an 80-percent stake in and Vista will own the other 20 percent.
In a subsequent call with investors, Raytheon and Vista executives said they want the future venture to address demand in the commercial sector for “defense-grade” cyber products and build on Websense’s presence in 155 countries.
“Commercial companies are evolving their infrastructure with cloud computing, mobility and the internet of things to stay competitive and, as a result, they have become more vulnerable than ever,” said David Wajsgras, president of Raytheon’s intelligence business segment.
The evolution of how cyber attackers work and an increase in both the number and types of threats has led many agencies to reimagine how they protect their computer networks, Nick Urick of FireEye told ExecutiveBiz earlier this year.
Urick, head of FireEye’s federal business, highlighted the company’s “adaptive defense” approach that seeks to blend technology with cyber intelligence and push to facilitate information exchanges between the private sector and government.
“If the government starts moving toward a shared model, it not only gives a lot more insight to detect and prevent but it also gives a lot of situational awareness,” Urick said.
“Today this is lost because the government doesn’t share attack information.”
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The current state of cloud computing in the federal government and what could be in store going forward will be the item of discussion at the Potomac Officers Club’s “FedRAMP Forum” May 14 in Falls Church, Va.
Matt Goodrich, who leads the FedRAMP program for the General Services Administration, will address the breakfast event for GovCon and government executives, as will Claudio Belloli, FedRAMP’s cyber program manager.
We are also excited to announce that Katie Lewin, one of FedRAMP’s architects in her former role as cloud computing director at GSA, will offer her insight and perspective to the audience.
Click here to register for the FedRAMP Forum and to view the POC event calendar.

THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES
BAE to Examine Potential US IT Services Division Sale
Any potential deal would not include BAE’s U.S. geospatial intelligence business or the company’s Applied Intelligence arm.
Ashton Carter Unveils New DoD Cyber Strategy
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence will consider whether to implement additional guidelines on how companies should protect data networks that support defense customers.
Jeh Johnson: DHS to Open Silicon Valley Office
The department aims to tap into the region’s technology talent pool as part of larger efforts to build up a national workforce for cybersecurity defense.
Accenture Awarded $966M to Extend Financial Aid System Services Work
The company will perform system operations and application maintenance work for the next 10 years.
KPMG Buys Triad’s ServiceNow Professional Services Practice
ServiceNow carries out IT service management support and full lifecycle implementation services for public sector clients.
Chris Alexander on Parsons’ Cyber Market Push and Info Sharing’s Place in Network Security
Parsons’ government services global BD lead also discusses company’s new Centreville cyber hub and its main focus areas in Q&A.
Jack London: Hires for Character Key to Ethical Cultures in Organizations
CACI’s chairman pens a guest-oped for ExecutiveBiz offers his five keys for how to recruit for character.
GSA Issues RFP for 3rd-Gen Leasing Support Services Contract
The federal government’s landlord plans to award nine 12-month contracts for broker and leasing support by September 4.
Robert Coen: NIH Seeks to Adapt IT Needs in ‘Evolving’ Marketplace Through New GWAC
Coen outlines the agency’s goals for its newest potential five-year, $20 billion vehicle to acquire IT commodity items.
Adam Szubin to be Nominated Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism, Financial Crimes
Szubin has led the Treasury’s office of foreign assets control since 2006 and holds the undersecretary role on an acting basis.
Deltek’s Alex Rossino: DARPA’s Big Data R&D Programs Present Business Opportunity
Rossino projects DARPA’s big data spending to jump 69 percent to $164 million by fiscal year 2016 from FY 2014 figures.
Ray Mabus: Navy Should Embrace Autonomous Tech as ‘New Normal’
The Navy secretary predicts the F-35 to be the branch’s last manned aircraft buy as it moves toward greater use of unmanned platforms.
Adm. Michael Rogers: US Military Must Follow Law of War in Cyberspace
The NSA and Cyber Command chief says both offensive and defensive cyber operations fall under those laws.
Robert Work: Space Infrastructure ‘Central’ to US National Security Efforts
DoD’s number two official tells the Space Symposium industry also has a role to play in space asset protection.
The Wash100 is the premier group of private and public sector leaders selected by Executive Mosaic’s organizational and editorial leadership as the most influential figures in the GovCon sector. Click through to read the full list of inductees for 2015.
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