Telework Exchange

CIO Council Report Reflects Mobile Technology Challenges

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In a follow up report to the Digital Government Strategy, the Federal CIO Council conducted a survey and interviewed 21 agencies on their use of mobile technologies. The “Report on Barriers, Gaps, and Opportunities for Government Use of Mobile Technology” addresses Milestone Action 10.2 of the Digital Government Strategy which aims to “evaluate opportunities to accelerate the secure adoption of mobile technologies into the Federal environment at reduced cost.”

The results offer insight into three key considerations for the use of mobile technologies: opportunities and barriers; gaps; and risks, threats, and vulnerabilities. Keep reading →

 /  Published December 19, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Tiny Coast Guard Unit Makes Big Waves With Telework

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It can be difficult to change 222 years of military heritage and tradition. Just ask Jesse Rangle, team lead and senior planner for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Exercise Support Division, which designs rigorous all-hazard and contingency preparedness exercises nationally for Coast Guard field units and helps execute and support those events.

Even though the Coast Guard established a telework policy in 2005, Rangle ran up against a cultural brick wall every time he tried to acquire the senior management support and endorsement he needed for his division to telework on a regular basis. Keep reading →

 /  Published December 6, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Business Case, Performance Trump Resistance To Telework Culture

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With the savings on real estate, energy costs and travel expenses along with improved productivity and worker satisfaction, some might think managers and employees would embrace the transition to a telework culture. But that hasn’t been the case for many in the federal workforce.

Still, telework comes with too many benefits to ignore, said panelists at the Telework Exchange Town Hall meeting Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Strong business cases, capable technology, improved employee performance (see GSA performance tracking dashboard video, above) and mandates to reduce greenhouse gases and federal real estate space make telework worth the culture change effort. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 26, 2012 at 1:00 PM

A Vision Beyond BlackBerries

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For all the progress federal agencies have made toward mobile technology, CIOs still long for industry innovation that leads to a secure, virtual solution for devices other than BlackBerries.

The sentiment came through at a panel discussion Tuesday moderated by Rick Holgate at the Telework Exchange’s Fall 2012 Town Hall Meeting in Washington, D.C. Holgate is chief information officer at the Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 25, 2012 at 2:30 PM

Tripling Of Mobile Attacks Prompts GAO Call For Stronger Safeguards

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Citing a near tripling in the number of malicious software programs aimed at mobile devices in less than a year, a Congressional report is recommending the FCC and other federal agencies take a greater role urging private industry to develop stronger mobile security safeguards.

Cyber criminals are taking increasing advantage of inherent weaknesses in mobile devices and the applications that run on them, said Gregory Wilshusen, director of information security issues for the Government Accountability Office, an investigative arm of Congress.

Wilshusen, who oversaw the just-released report, said that in less than a year, the number of variants of malware programs has risen from about 14,000 to 40,000, or about 185%, according to figures supplied by Juniper Networks. These threats and attacks exploit vulnerabilities in the design and configuration of mobile devices, as well as the ways consumers use them.

Attacks against mobile devices generally occur through four different channels of activities, the report found: Keep reading →

 /  Published September 25, 2012 at 12:45 PM

Video Conferencing Could Save $5 Billion Annually

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This is one in an occasional series exploring how federal agencies are finding and implementing innovative ways to drive efficiency and cut costs.

The federal government could save almost $5 billion annually by substituting video conferencing for face-to-face meetings and conventions, according to a new study by Telework Exchange, a public/private partnership emphasizing telework. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 25, 2012 at 7:00 AM

Telework Takes Off At Federal Agencies

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Nearly 169,000 federal employees are teleworking at least one day a week but there is a long way to go before the government’s entire workforce of 2.1 million can join the office of the 21st century, OPM said in a report to Congress.

The 2012 Status of Telework in the Federal Government report to Congress, released on July 6, is the first comprehensive look at the government’s telework world and the emerging changes in a culture that once required federal employees to physically be in the office at all times. Keep reading →

 /  Published July 9, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Town Hall: Mobile Workforce Grows While Security Issues Remain

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As hundreds of public and private industry executives gathered for the Spring 2012 Telework Exchange Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, it was clear technology and the efficiency has pushed mobile workforce efforts farther ahead. But security issues remain the chief concern across federal agencies.

Panelists addressed various issues surrounding mobility and telework at various sessions held in the Washington Convention Center. While many told mobile workforce success stories, they clearly remain perplexed regarding security. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 2, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Mobile Report: Most Federal Agencies Are Telework IT Ready

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Most federal agencies indicate having above-average IT programs for enabling telework and mobility and expect mobile device use to increase 20 percent by next year, according to a report released this week.

The report, released by the Telework Exchange, offers a snapshot of where federal agencies stand on enabling remote workers, and delivers a forecast for mobile IT investments. Keep reading →

 /  Published April 11, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Telework Week Sets Stage For Mobile Future

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Apparently one of the biggest challenges teleworkers had during a week devoted to the practice was remembering to bring power cords to their workspaces.

The common snag was indicative of what GSA Administrator Martha Johnson said remains the main challenge when it comes to transforming federal workers into a mobile workforce. But ironing out these issues, Johnson said, are what Telework Week is all about. Keep reading →

 /  Published March 9, 2012 at 12:00 PM
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