Page 9 - FCW, August 2017

NETWORK MODERNIZATION THE FOUNDATION OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Transform Government for a Digital Future
A reliable network and hybrid IT services are critical for government agencies’ ongoing digital transformation.
e stand on the brink of a technology transformation that
will mark significant changes in the way we live, work, and relate to one
another. Advancements in network communications, digital systems,
machine learning, and large-scale data analysis are driving this transformation.
The next industrial revolution will be driven
by government and industry working together to integrate these rapidly moving technologies. They will help achieve greater operating efficiencies, improve user experiences, and run mission critical applications with the potential to change the world.
LIVING IN AN AGE OF DISRUPTION
These possibilities come from millions of people connected to powerful mobile devices, multiplied by emerging technology breakthroughs disrupting almost every industry sector. From cloud to cybersecurity to IT modernization, federal agencies are facing myriad pressures and initiatives to transform.
Two examples are the Cloud First policy, which states agencies should consider adopting cloud technologies above other application solutions, and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), which updates federal cybersecurity practices. These initiatives encourage agencies
to revisit their approach to acquiring IT services, providing better services, securing data, and creating operating efficiencies to execute their mission.
Amidst all of this change, government IT leadership are looking both forward and back. They’re faced with difficult decisions as they consider exactly how to spend their IT budgets, with an eye toward both investing more in new solutions and supporting
legacy systems.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IT SPEND
Within the size and scope of the U.S. federal IT budget, there is serious consideration on next steps. Government agencies are looking to invest in new technologies and platforms to enhance the services they provide and enable secure access to those services from all types of devices.
It’s up to government IT leaders to implement secure and future-proof solutions by building an evolution plan into acquisition decisions. Modernization is a journey, so the next version of each technology should already be part of the plan. The General Services Administration (GSA), for example, has done an outstanding job developing procurement vehicles to ensure technology improvements are an expected part of the acquisition process.
Sponsored Content
Joe Techapanupreeda / Shutterstock.com