The other day we reported that Federal CIO Vivek Kundra had made good on his word to implement a federal IT dashboard. The web-based initiative has a bold objective: to provide an open and transparent way for the public to track the US government’s $74 billion investment in federal technology projects. With your own projects under greater scrutiny, it seems as good a time as any to familiarize yourself with the dashboard. Check out the video below — you’ll find Kundra and Macon Phillips, director of White House New Media, fielding questions from the general public on the dashboard:

What would you like the dashboard to accomplish in its next iteration? Share your comments here.

Recently we reported that Federal CIO Vivek Kundra planned on leveraging dashboards to further government transparency and accountability. In particular, Kundra envisioned a dashboard as a way to gauge the productivity of the US government’s $74 billion investment in federal technology projects. That vision has now become reality. Just yesterday, Kundra unveiled the US Federal IT Dashboard at the Personal Democracy Forum 2009 in New York City.

“This administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government and the IT Dashboard exemplifies that goal,” said Kundra in a statement. “Through the dashboard, we are putting critical information about IT spending at people’s fingertips. We are putting ourselves on the line for better management of taxpayers’ dollars and better results from technology initiatives.”

The most critical part of the IT Dashboard is its Investments page. There you’ll find reports on the overall performance of every major investment in the government’s IT portfolio. Performance is measured in terms of cost performance, schedule performance, and evaluation by agency CIO, with the overall score computed from those factors. For more details on the dashboard and how to navigate it, check out this 8-minute tutorial:

What do you think of the IT dashboard? Share your comments here.

Vivek Kundra addresses POC

Hold on to your hats, the federal government is set to lead the way in IT innovation. Federal CIO Vivek Kundra drove home that point in a talk before a packed audience of the Potomac Officers Club yesterday. 

“For too long, the federal government has had a self-image that it can’t innovate — I reject that view,” said Kundra, who was appointed the country’s first federal CIO in early March.

Kundra’s first 100 days: What’s next
Since taking office, Kundra has focused on implementing the Obama administration’s commitment to technology as a driver for more open, efficient government. In his POC talk, Kundra reiterated that commitment — and outlined priorities for his own first 100 days:

• Investment in IT: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act showcases Obama’s seriousness about IT investment, said Kundra. With its focus on everything from computerizing health records to providing broadband access nationwide, ARRA amounts to the single largest boost to investment in basic research in American history, said Kundra.

• Ensuring government transparency. In tough economic times, we can’t afford business as usual, said Kundra. For the government, that reality means rethinking the length of the procurement cycle, and balancing it against the need for greater cybersecurity and privacy.

• Rethinking technology. “Technology investments for technology’s sake are useless,” said Kundra, adding that government should not simply build “gov-centric platforms.” “We need to be where the people are,” said Kundra.

That innovation, he added, won’t come without open collaboration with the private sector. Kundra extended an “open invitation” for  dialogue with the private sector on how best to work together and said he’s “super-excited” about future collaboration.

What do you think? How can the private sector help the government drive transparency and more efficient services? Share your thoughts here.

In a rare public appearance, the nation’s first-ever Federal CIO, Vivek Kundra, will be speaking at the Potomac Officers Club on May 5th at the Tyson’s Corner Ritz Carlton.  Kundra is destined to make an impact within the industry and has already been recognized as one of the country’s top 25 CTO’s; earning the title 2008 IT Executive of the Year.  Kundra is determined to prove the government has the wherewithal to not only keep stride with technological advances from the private sector, but to eventually overtake the lead.

President Obama recognized Kundra’sefforts to drive transparency and engage citizens while reducing operational cost.  According to the President, Kundra brings ”a depth of experience in the technology arena…[and] will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible.”  This is a tall order these days, as Kundra will be part of an integral team whose goal is to oversee and safeguard the country’s IT resources from a multitude of Cyber threats, as well as the added challenges wrought by a widely dispersed set of architecture.  Click here to register to hear Vivek Kundra speak!

Cyber Espionage Network Gains Ground

This past week we learned about ”GhostNet”, a spy network with links to web locations in China. GhostNet is using phishing emails as well as malicious websites to infiltrate international organizations.  The network came more into focus this week when news broke out that the Dalai Lama was targeted.  According to the Wall Street Journal, the Dalai Lama is far from being alone, as the spy network counts numerous, sensitive government computers across 103 countries as victims.  Foreign embassies and ministries and even NATO have all come under successful attack.

The sophisticated methods employed by these hackers are indicative of a continuing trend in cyber espionage; one that is continually highlighted by noteworthy thought leaders such as Melissa Hathaway, who was chosen to lead President Obama’s Cyber Security Review.  According to Hathaway, “When it comes to cyber security, government and the private sector need to recognize that an individual vulnerability is a common weakness.”

According to Ron Deibert and Rafal Rohozinski, two University of Toronto researchers who spent ten months tracking GhostNet, there is real cause for concern.  “These organizations are almost certainly oblivious to the compromised situation in which they find themselves.  The computers of diplomats, military attachés, private assistants, secretaries to prime ministers, journalists and others are under the concealed control of unknown assailant(s).”  Click here to read their eye-opening report.

Names to Know in Cyber

ExecutiveBiz has been busy this week lining up interviews with key players in Cyber Security. Be sure to read Bob Gourley- interview, William “Bill” Crowell – interview, Amit Yoran-interview and  Rob Housman-interview .

It’s been a whirlwind last few days for Vivek Kundra. Last Thursday, FBI agents raided his former office at the District of Columbia’s technology department, where a former employee of his was charged with bribery. While Kundra was not a target in the raid — the FBI stated as much — the ensuing publicity was enough for Kundra to take leave from his new federal job as CIO.

Fortunately, winds of calm have prevailed. Yesterday, Kundra quietly returned to his position, according to a report from TechPresident.com. The other week, Kundra had discussed his goals as CIO — first and foremost to strengthen government technology’s competitive edge. Kundra’s goals in that arena include extending the use of cloud computing in the federal government and creating a data.gov web site.

For a look at how Kundra’s work might unfold, check out our recent interview with him in which he offers his take on bringing a “digital public square” to you. Welcome back, Kundra!

President Obama has just named Vivek Kundra the Federal Chief Information Officer at the White House. During his campaign, Obama had stated he would create a technology czar to help government run more efficiently. In the newly created federal position, Kundra will be responsible for policy and strategic planning of federal IT spending.

“Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position,” Obama said in a statement. “I have directed him to work to ensure that we are using the spirit of American innovation and the power of technology to improve performance and lower the cost of government operations. As chief information officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible.”

Industry insiders are praising Kundra’s appointment. Aneesh Chopra, Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, tells Executive Biz: “Vivek is an exceptional choice … he blends operational excellence with innovation and will deliver on President Obama’s vision of a more open, participatory and collaborative government.”

Kundra formerly served as the District of Columbia’s chief technology officer. Back in the spring of 2007, Kundra was appointed to the role by Mayor Adrian Fenty. Along the way, Kundra pioneered ways to make government services more effective, accessible, and transparent through online innovation, and engaged citizens through what he calls a “digital public square.”

To learn more about Kundra, check out our recent interview with him.