DoD defines mission-critical IT.  Leveraging advanced computing platforms that level silos, scale, and bring advanced capabilities like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile computing – all wrapped in superior security –  increasingly define winners and losers on the battlefield.  […]

The path to government cloud migration is cluttered with myths and misunderstandings. Will migrating hinder performance? Is cloud too expensive? Is it too risky to store classified government data?

With the majority of agencies headed for a hybrid cloud environment1, Federal IT managers must find a bridge between today’s aging infrastructures and tomorrow’s cloud future.  And despite endless mandates pushing modernization, fears around change and a loss of control have stifled Feds’ progress.  However, Feds say next-generation hyper converged infrastructures (HCIs) may be the […] […]

Now that the Modernizing Government Technology Act is official, Federal CIOs and IT managers face more pressure than ever to break free of aging infrastructure.  But, the volume of data locked in legacy systems and slower-than-anticipated cloud adoption has slowed progress. 

With the Data Center Optimization Initiative (DCOI) deadline extended to 2020, Federal IT leaders must push hard to keep data center modernization momentum moving forward. With the right technology, agencies have the opportunity to reduce OpEx and establish an infrastructure that is able to scale quickly, integrate emerging technology, and effectively support dynamic missions – but are they?

With the advent of cloud, IoT, and other next-gen technologies, the Federal government’s digital footprint is growing at an exponential rate.  But as the amount of data continues to explode, so do the number of cyber adversaries and vulnerabilities in our government’s networks.  And without the proper resources and capabilities to manually defend against this deluge of cyber threats, artificial intelligence (AI) could be the missing link in fully securing our government.

With the non-stop cloud chatter, too many Federal agencies think that they need to choose between “all cloud” and “no cloud at all.”  But the reality is not either, it’s both.  For most agencies, their end result will be a combination of physical servers, private, and public cloud – a hybrid environment. As agency infrastructures evolve, security must evolve as well. 

Modern demands are changing the way the government purchases, builds, and delivers data center solutions. Federal agencies are calling for a data center transformation that empowers IT and accelerates mission performance. Converged infrastructure promises simplicity and speed, responsiveness, dependability, and affordability to offset data center demands.

As Federal agencies move more resources to the cloud, the cybersecurity stakes are higher and the potential channels for data loss are more complex. Insiders pose the greatest risk for government data exposure and loss, but defending against insider threats has become even more challenging with cloud adoption, endpoint multiplication, and growth of the remote workforce.

As agencies move more resources to the cloud, the cybersecurity stakes are higher and the potential channels for data loss are more complex. Insiders pose the greatest risk for government data exposure and loss, but defending against insider threats has become even more challenging with cloud adoption, endpoint multiplication, and growth of the remote workforce. Federal agencies are increasing their focus and implementing formal insider threat prevention programs. But is it enough?

Threat remediation shouldn’t be a fire drill. Federal cyber teams need new options to streamline workloads, accelerate responsiveness, and increase incident handling accuracy with improved collaboration across IT and security functions – stopping threats from spreading like a forest fire.

How are Feds utilizing big data to support new missions and encourage collaboration across teams? And, what will they accomplish with the flood of IoT data?

Agencies are finding themselves inundated with structured and unstructured data – calling for a new Federal Big Data playbook. New roles, including the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Chief Data Scientist, have been created to help agencies manage and leverage their data. Are they making an impact? And, what are they doing to help?

Big data is revolutionizing intelligence, but the data analytics that drive intelligent solutions are no longer just an IT back-office support service – they are a mission function. MeriTalk surveyed 150 Federal IT executives familiar with their agencies’ big data strategies to understand the challenges they face when adopting and implementing big data solutions, and […] […]

Agencies deal with a greater volume and velocity of cyber threats today than ever before. To achieve actionable cyber awareness and drive continuity of vital operations, Federal cyber leaders must speed cyber response times for threat prevention, detection, and mitigation for known, and more importantly, unknown threats.

The journey to the cloud starts with a single step. Federal IT leaders must assure their data is secure, accessible, and actionable; and that they can scale as fast as the mission requires.

Cloud adopters are stepping on the gas – from police stations and state colleges to our nation’s capital. But how do these agencies and institutions determine the best route? And, which applications do they take along for the ride? MeriTalk asked Federal, state and local, and higher education cloud adopters about their cloud strategies.

To keep our data, systems, and enterprises secure, cybersecurity executives must nail down the many moving parts – training, governance, budgets, and innovation. But while cybersecurity strategies are evolving, agencies still aren’t up to code. What’s the holdup on the Hill?

The cybersecurity waters are swimming with threats, and agencies do not have the personnel, utilities, or time to properly handle their massive amounts of data. However, with the ability to allow agencies to sift and sort through the very data they are sinking in, big data may be agencies’ lifeline.

From social media and Web 2.0 to hyperscale environments and a mobile workforce, data is growing at an alarming rate. In fact, the digital universe doubles in size every two years – and by 2020, it’s projected to reach 44 zettabytes. Are agencies ready for the data deluge? And more importantly, how can they store, manage, and protect their growing data resources?