ITL Newsletter January - February 2021

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 01/29/2021 10:28 AM EST

View As Web Page

Information Technology Lab (ITL) at NIST

January - February 2021 Newsletter

B.Hayes/NIST

NIST Software Tool Improves Your Doctors Vaccination Advice

Behind the scenes at your doctor’s office, there’s a complicated set of information that your providers have to absorb before telling you which vaccinations to get and when. A software tool created at NIST is helping them make better decisions.

The software tool — called the Forecasting for Immunization Test Suite, or FITS — is helping ensure that your doctors are getting correct and up-to-date recommendations about when patients should get their vaccines. While your doctor remains responsible for the final decision, computers are vital resources in the process, as immunization schedules change in response to new medical research and providers must work to stay abreast of it. The FITS tool allows state health care systems to test these computers to find out whether they are providing valid answers for a patient’s circumstances.

“Children get more vaccinations these days and get them more often,” said NIST computer scientist Mike Indovina. “As medical knowledge is constantly being updated, the schedules become a moving target. It’s difficult for doctors to keep up and know which vaccines a patient should get next — especially if life happens and, for example, their patient misses a visit.”

CULTIVATING TRUST IN IT AND METROLOGY

FEATURE STORIES

NIST Releases Draft Guidance on IoT Device Cybersecurity

As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows to connect an amazing diversity of devices to electronic networks, four new NIST publications offer recommendations to federal agencies and manufacturers concerning effective cybersecurity for these devices. The four related publications will help address challenges raised in the recently signed IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 and begin to provide the guidance that law mandates. Together, the four documents — NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-213 and NIST Interagency Reports (NISTIRs) 8259B, 8259C, and 8259D — form a unit intended to help ensure the government and IoT device designers are on the same page with regard to cybersecurity for IoT devices used by federal agencies.

Happy First Birthday, NIST Privacy Framework!

This January marks the first birthday of the NIST Privacy Framework. To celebrate, NIST released a collection of new resources and multimedia content supporting framework adoption and reflecting on accomplishments from the past year. Check out what’s new on the Cybersecurity Insights blog, including a quick start guide for small and medium businesses, an infographic, and an animated discovery video. Feel free to share these new resources with your colleagues!

The Future is Now: Spreading the Word About Quantum Cryptography

NIST publishes cryptography standards so that government agencies know how to safely use crypto. These standards are documents that specify exactly how to implement various cryptographic algorithms in a standard way, so that a user’s computer will be able to securely communicate with the intended recipient’s computer. NIST’s crypto standards are well regarded and are used by most public and private organizations around the world.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Doug Montgomery

ITL, Manager, Internet and Scalable Systems Research
Congratulations to Doug Montgomery, who was inducted into the IPv6 Forum’s New Internet IPv6 Hall of Fame 2020 “for leading the USGv6 Program at NIST that provides the technical infrastructure (i.e., standards profiles, product test programs, test and measurement tools, and security guidance) necessary to drive the US Government’s adoption of IPv6 technologies.”

Irena Bojanova

ITL, Computer Scientist
Congratulations to Irena Bojanova, recipient of the 2020 IEEE TCCLD Outstanding Service Award. Irena is being recognized for founding the IEEE Technical Committee on Cloud Computing (TCCLD) and for overall leadership service to IEEE and the world. The award will be presented at the next scheduled TCCLD sponsored conference.

Bonita Saunders

ITL, Mathematician
Congratulations to Bonita Saunders, recipient of the 2020 Diversity, Inclusivity and Equal Employment Opportunity Award. Dr. Saunders is recognized for her exemplary service as a role model, mentor, and tutor in support of STEM careers by women and minorities while maintaining a vigorous research program at NIST's Information Technology Laboratory. Through her own strong ambition, drive, and talent, Dr. Saunders persevered to become one of the very few African American women mathematicians in the early 1980's. She has selflessly dedicated herself for more than 30 years to promoting careers in mathematics for African Americans and women at both the national and the local levels.

ITL IN THE NEWS

Recalls in Review: IoT Products | LexBlog
The Government Wants to Scan Your Face When You Enter the US. It Hasn’t Gone Well So Far. | Mother Jones
New Jersey Man Jailed 10 Days after He’s Misidentified by Facial Recognition Sues Police | Face2Face Africa
Legal Requirements for IoT Security Start to Emerge | EDN
NIST SP 800-128 – Because Patching May Never Fix Your Hidden Flaws | Security Boulevard
U.S. Law Sets Stage for Boost to Artificial Intelligence Research | Science Magazine
CMMC: The Dramatic Year of the Pentagon’s Contractor Cybersecurity Program | Nextgov
IoT Cybersecurity Act Successfully Signed into Law | AT&T Business
In a Zero Trust World, Compliance Doesn’t Equal Security | Nextgov

PUBLICATIONS

LOOKING AHEAD

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

On February 2^nd-3^rd, NIST will host the 2nd Open Security Controls Assessment Language (OSCAL) Workshop.

On February 23^rd, NIST will host the Federal Computer Security Managers' Forum - 1/2 Day Meeting.

SUCCESS STORIES

Illustration on blue background shows first responder communication images like fire, ambulance, police car, phone, computers.

How NIST is Helping First Responders Stay Connected

What do first responders do? It’s an easy question, and I used to think I knew the answer. Firefighters put out fires; police officers enforce the law; EMS workers treat injuries; 911 operators answer 911 calls and dispatch first responders to the scene. Simple, right? I am a computer scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducting research focused on human-centered computing and human-computer interaction. I have worked in the field for over a decade, researching ways to help people with their real-world technology problems. My research, by nature, requires me to learn about different communities in order to assess their technological needs. For public safety, I thought I had a pretty decent grasp of the community. After all, what they do is woven into all our lives.

NOTABLE QUOTES

“Legislation requiring IoT devices to incorporate security is already on the books in some states, and is being added to federal law as well.”

- Katerina Megas, ITL, Program Manager