Tag Archives: Government

FedRAMP’s Ongoing Evolution

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The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is entering its teen years, having been established in 2011. Just as age 13 brings a host of changes for humans, it's also proving to be just as momentous for the program that provides a standardized, government-wide approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products.

FedRAMP has evolved to meet the growing importance of cloud services to the daily operations of the government. However, the speed at which FedRAMP grants cloud service status has consistently been an issue. In 2022, Congress enacted the FedRAMP Authorization Act, making FedRAMP law. The bill included a laundry list of modernization steps for the program to speed up its work and expand its capacity, including through the use of more automation technologies. There have been a number of modernization efforts this year, implemented to help FedRAMP meet the demands of agencies and live up to its promise as a secure way to deploy cloud in government. Continue reading →

Quantum Computing Brings Promise and Risk

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Now that we've all got our heads wrapped around the idea that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a reality and is helping us be more productive (rather than taking over the world), in comes quantum computing.

Quantum computing is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which examines the properties and behaviors of the smallest particles that make up everything around us. When applied to computing, this means utilizing aspects of computer science, physics, and mathematics to solve complex problems faster than on classical computers. To date, no machine has achieved this feat, but experts agree that quantum computing will become a reality for the workforce within the next five years. Continue reading →

Building Blockchain in Government

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Use of blockchain is steadily rising across government as a secure, transparent, and cost-effective way to track the movement of goods, services, and data. From 2020 to 2023, government spending on blockchain more than doubled. In fact, spending may be even higher as blockchain may be used as part of other solutions, like the cloud, so spending on it is buried in larger technology procurements. Additionally, more and more procurements are specifying the need for blockchain expertise.

Blockchain in Government Today

Blockchain is being used to meet a wide variety of key government challenges, from combating fraud to reducing spending waste to improving the transparency of government services. The IRS is using blockchain data analytics to track down transactions and confirm their legitimacy. The Air Force is looking at it as a key component to drive predictive maintenance. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is exploring how blockchain can secure systems against quantum computing threats to modern encryption. Continue reading →

GovEvents Presents the Government AI Event Top 10

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AI conference

Improvements in citizen experience, employee experience, government business efficiency, and cybersecurity have been key goals of the Biden administration. At the same time, as agencies have worked to meet mandates and goals for these focus areas, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a mainstream technology to automate manual tasks and provide new insights to decision-makers. Applying AI as a way to meet administration goals has been a key discussion point in meeting rooms, the media, and government-industry events.

Earlier this year, GovEvents highlighted a number of events uniquely positioned to provide the right access to insights from technologists, implementers, and executives on the integration of AI into government systems and processes. The opportunities for AI-related education remain strong, with nearly 680 AI events listed on GovEvents.com this year. Continue reading →

Closing the Government Workforce Gap with Innovation in Hiring and Training

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Younger workers are not replacing the aging and rapidly retiring federal government workforce at an equal rate. Additionally, the work of government has changed, requiring specialized skills in cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) not just in technology jobs but in careers across all departments. There are simply not enough candidates to fill these positions (40,000 in cybersecurity alone) utilizing standard hiring practices. Given this reality, hiring officials are getting innovative in how they fill technical roles.

Utilizing Existing Programs

The Biden administration has worked to modernize internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to attract younger, less experienced workers to build their resumes within government. The pay for participants in these programs has been raised considerably, making them more attractive and practical to a wider base of people. An apprenticeship sprint for cybersecurity resulted in 7,000 apprentices being hired. These programs are also being used to fast-track development efforts, giving participants real assignments to develop solutions that can be put into use in government today. Continue reading →