Innovation in Government®
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INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT ® Efforts to transform every aspect of government are picking up speed, just as new challenges and technologies are appearing on the horizon 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 On the Teaching Creating a Breaking down Transforming Keeping Modernization Modernizing road to agencies to culture of barriers to data into pace with and the cloud services for modernization modernize modernization collaboration value complexity conundrum veterans Learn more at carahsoft.com/innovation IT Modernization Government agencies are navigating the challenging terrain Air Force’s innovative Kessel Run project has delivered about 12 software solutions of IT modernization with the help of ever-evolving tools and that are used daily in combat, including techniques an app called Kronos that was created to alleviate problems with the F-35 fighter jet’s HE DUAL EMPHASIS on (MGT) Act. Such top-level support is Autonomic Logistics Information System. IT modernization and digital crucial for ensuring that agencies have the Kronos could form the basis for a future Ttransformation is having a resources they need to modernize. cloud-based version of the system. revolutionary impact on government. The The MGT Act, enacted in 2017, Many of those apps incorporate benefits are well-known — streamlined empowered agencies to deploy next- automation to free personnel for higher- operations, reduced costs and increased generation technologies and capabilities and value activities. According to an Air Force innovation, to name a few. However, to authorized the creation of the Technology news release: “Air Force-led software teams achieve those benefits, agencies must go Modernization Fund — a pool of money have saved warfighters 1,100 man-hours per beyond updating IT systems to modernize from which agencies can borrow to pay for month by automating labor-intensive data every aspect of government. modernization projects. entry at operations centers where combat is Some agencies are already making In addition, the new Cloud Smart orchestrated.” progress. In a 2018 survey by MeriTalk Strategy underscores the key role that Regardless of where they are on their and ACT-IAC, 69 percent of respondents cloud technology plays in modernization. modernization journeys, agencies need said their agencies were working on IT The strategy focuses on improvements to tools that support new approaches to IT modernization in a “more integrated, security, procurement and the workforce infrastructure, cloud adoption and data holistic way than ever before.” Furthermore, so that agencies can take full advantage of protection. 77 percent of respondents said they believe cost-effective, secure, mission-centric cloud Some agencies are saving money and that the wholesale change modernization solutions. streamlining IT activities through the use requires is feasible in the next five years. of hyperconverged infrastructure. HCI is a That progress is being driven by a variety A more flexible, powerful software-defined IT platform that combines of laws and policies, including the Executive infrastructure and virtualizes computing, networking Order on Strengthening the Cybersecurity Policies aside, agencies across the and storage into a pre-integrated package of Federal Networks and Critical government are embracing modern that allows for unified management. The Infrastructure, the Cloud Smart Strategy, approaches to software development clustered infrastructures pool physical the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act and because they offer the ability to quickly resources and share them between virtual the Modernizing Government Technology solve complex problems. For instance, the machines running on any host in the cluster. ParabolStudio/Shutterstock/FCW Staff 2 SPONSORED CONTENT IT Modernization 83% $90M 12,000 175 ZB $17.1B Share of finance, IT Amount the Number of labor hours Predicted amount Projected value of and procurement Technology the General Services of data captured the hyperconverged decision-makers who Modernization Fund Administration worldwide by 2025 infrastructure market said their agency’s approved for seven expects to save by (1 zettabyte equals 1 by 2023 future mission projects at five using robotic process trillion gigabytes) success depends on agencies in its first automation to handle Sources: GSA, IDC, MarketsandMarkets, MeriTalk, Office of modernization year routine activities Management and Budget HCI got a big boost in 2017 when the Cultivating trust in new Digital Tutor to more quickly and General Services Administration added 10 technologies effectively train Navy personnel to be hyperconverged cloud solutions to its IT In the same article, CIO Dana Deasy IT professionals. And the Bureau of Schedule 70. The contract vehicle covers noted that cloud’s computing power Labor Statistics uses AI to analyze data “the most common HCI applications and is essential for reaping the benefits of on workplace injuries, completing in a will enable agencies to simplify their data another modernization technology: day what it took a person a month to do, centers and transition away from legacy artificial intelligence. “It’s almost a according to an article in the Professional infrastructure to a more operationally fundamental imperative to have a cloud in Services Council’s magazine. efficient, modern and optimized platform,” place to do great things with AI,” he said. With so many modern applications, a GSA announcement states. Other government leaders also such as AI, relying on data to function IT infrastructures are also being recognize AI’s importance. President well, protecting that data is essential. In a transformed through the use of cloud Donald Trump’s Executive Order on white paper released in November 2018, technology, with many agencies adopting Maintaining American Leadership in IDC states that “data is at the heart of hybrid cloud environments that combine Artificial Intelligence states that AI digital transformation.” Furthermore, on-premises, private and commercial “promises to drive growth of the United data will continue to grow exponentially, clouds based on mission and security States economy, enhance our economic fueled in part by the expanding internet needs. That approach offers flexibility, and national security, and improve of things. scalability and seamlessness to users while our quality of life.” The order calls for To encourage responsible adoption of recognizing that no single solution fits all increased investment in AI research and that emerging technology, NIST has created needs. development. a program dedicated to IoT cybersecurity. For example, the Defense Department In addition, the National Institute of Its mission is to “cultivate trust in…IoT Cloud Strategy released in December 2018 Standards and Technology said AI “has and foster an environment that enables states that the optimal cloud environment the potential to impact nearly all aspects innovation on a global scale through provides “application and data efficiencies of our society” but adds that AI “must standards, guidance and related tools.” for hybrid cloud and multi-vendor be developed in a trustworthy manner to IT modernization promises to solutions.” Accordingly, an article on ensure reliability, safety and accuracy.” revolutionize government operations, but DOD’s website says DOD’s commercially Several AI applications are already it is a massive undertaking that requires a run general-purpose cloud — the Joint finding success in the federal sector shift in government culture and the Enterprise Defense Infrastructure — in a wide range of areas. For example, development of new skills to support new “cannot meet every DOD need, [so] the the Department of Homeland Security technologies. By modernizing department will also have special-purpose uses AI-based tools to detect network technologies and processes now, agencies — also known as fit-for-purpose — and intrusions. The Defense Advanced are on the road to creating a more ParabolStudio/Shutterstock/FCW Staff internal-purpose clouds.” Research Projects Agency developed streamlined and innovative government. SPONSORED CONTENT 3 IT Modernization Teaching agencies to modernize The U.S. Air Force provides a model for organizations that Cameron Chehreh Chief Technology Officer, want to modernize across the enterprise Federal Sector, Dell EMC HE U.S. AIR Force’s Air and the IT team to simply add another node focus on higher-value activities, such as Space Operations Centers are when it reaches capacity. evaluating the quality of the algorithm and T responsible for command and Based on the success of the tanker ensuring that the application supports the control of all the service’s air and space refueling app, the Air Force created a Air Force’s overall mission. operations across the globe. When the Air unit called Kessel Run that will apply Force wanted to modernize aspects of its its new modernization strategies to the 3 keys to modernization success AOCs, we brought them to Silicon Valley development of other software-based Based on the Air Force’s experience, to explore commercial best practices, weapon systems. Developers are also agencies should keep three key specifically regarding agile development. exploring the use of machine learning considerations in mind as they seek to Working with Pivotal Labs, airmen to gain even more efficiencies from the modernize. First, they should identify took a series of workshops to learn how to applications they build. When algorithms small programs that roll up into a broader create