The world is becoming more unpredictable, with frequent and severe natural disasters, pandemics, and human-made crises. Besides the persistent global health crisis, the US has encountered an unmatched series of natural disasters in the past few years. Between 2016 and 2022, there have been 122 distinct disasters with damages exceeding one billion dollars each. Amidst this, emergency assistance and disaster recovery efforts are pushed beyond their limits. The traditional methods of emergency management are increasingly overwhelmed in the face of evolving threats and limited resources.  

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) offer powerful tools to augment the capabilities of the emergency assistance workforce and improve the outcomes of disaster response and recovery efforts. The technology is improving at breakneck speeds. TechSur Solutions envisions and plans for a world where the Emergency Management workforce can use Grants Management systems that are fully optimized, secure, and efficient. AI/ML can empower Emergency Management agencies (such as the DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency) to make risk-informed decisions and respond rapidly to emergencies for a Prepared Nation.  

Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Emergency Management 

Image: (December 14, 2021) MAYFIELD, Ky. — Louisville Emergency Management Director E.J. Meiman and Administrator Criswell discuss response operations near the Mayfield Consumer Products factory that was destroyed by a tornado late Friday. 

 The global market for incident and emergency management is projected to expand from an estimated USD 121.4 billion in 2022 to USD 163.6 billion by 2027, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The market is expected to receive a significant boost from the escalating frequency of natural disasters worldwide. In these challenging times, AI/ML can play a role in enhancing emergency management efficiency in the following ways. 

Resource Allocation

AI can help allocate critical resources, such as food, water, and medical supplies, to the most vulnerable and impacted locations. In order to optimize resource allocation in real-time, Machine Learning may examine past data on resource requirements and consumption trends. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was one event that led to the successful implementation of a similar strategy to locate vulnerable regions.

Disaster Response

Analysis of real-time data from numerous sources, such as social media, sensors, and satellites is possible with AI. This can help pinpoint regions of damage, gauge the impact, and set priorities for response actions. During the California wildfires, the WiFire Lab developed an AI system called BurnPro 3D that used real-time data to predict the spread of the fire, allowing firefighters to prioritize their efforts and adjust their strategies in real-time.

Recovery Efforts

Artificial Intelligence makes it easier to prioritize recovery operations based on the most pressing needs. It further helps estimate the cost of recovery and assess the extent of damage. For example, an AI system, xView2, analyzed satellite imagery to identify and estimate the extent of damage caused by the Turkey-Syria earthquake, allowing emergency responders to prioritize recovery efforts and allocate resources more effectively.

Benefits of Incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning  

Image: JENNINGS, La. (Oct. 11, 2020) — FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor talks about the whole-of-government response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Delta during an interview with The Weather Channel. FEMA photo by Jocelyn Augustino. 

 Integrating Al/ML into the training and skill enhancement of emergency management personnel can yield multiple advantages, including the following.

• Improved Situational Awareness: Artificial Intelligence can give emergency management experts real-time alerts and insights. This  empowers them to make quick, well-informed decisions. 
• Better Decision-Making: Machine Learning enables emergency management professionals to make data-driven decisions. It is possible by analyzing massive amounts of data and providing insights into patterns and trends. 
• Efficiency Gain: AI can automate routine processes like data collection and analysis. This allows emergency management specialists to concentrate on life-saving duties. 
• Reduced Risk of Human Error: In complicated and time-sensitive emergency management scenarios, such as resource allocation and response planning, AI can reduce the risk of human error. 

Successful Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Implementations in Emergency Management 

 DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needed a resilient, modern system. This was crucial to evaluate each property and assess its flood risk based on data from hundreds of sources. They collected meteorological, geospatial, and other types of information. The agency gained valuable insights for faster and more accurate decision-making regarding flood insurance policies. TechSur Solutions created a modern, intelligent, DevSecOps-driven system for FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s PIVOT program. Such experience empowers TechSur to take FEMA systems to the next level with our AI/ML expertise.  

 Here are a few examples of AI/ML solutions serving the Emergency Management sector:  

University of California & FEMA AI-Based System

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in enhancing disaster preparedness efforts. Artificial Intelligence can enable more precise predictions of the potential impact of a disaster on the affected population and infrastructure. AI specialists achieve this by analyzing and interpreting large amounts of data related to natural disasters. Artificial Intelligence can generate models that identify high-risk areas and recommend mitigation measures to minimize the impact of such disasters. An illustration of this is the AI-based system developed by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, which increases accuracy in predicting the impact of earthquakes on buildings in California. The system employs machine learning algorithms to analyze seismic data. It provides comprehensive information about the anticipated intensity and duration of an earthquake. The extent of damage it would inflict on various types of structures can also be determined by the system.

Similarly, FEMA used machine learning to analyze data from social media and other sources to identify areas of damage and prioritize response efforts during Hurricane Maria in 2017. The analysis enabled FEMA to deploy resources more effectively and save lives. 

Copernicus Emergency Management Service

The European Union’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service uses Artificial Intelligence to analyze satellite images and other data to assess the impact of natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, and provide real-time information to emergency management specialists. The service has improved the speed and accuracy of response efforts and helped reduce the damage caused by disasters. 

UNDP’s MHEWS System

Currently, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is developing a nationwide multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWS) in Georgia. The primary goal of this system is to reduce the exposure of communities, livelihoods, and infrastructure to weather- and climate-driven natural hazards. To achieve this, the MHEWS requires accurate forecasts and hazard maps of severe convective events, specifically hail and windstorms. The system will use AI/ML technologies to analyze data from various sources, such as weather stations and satellites, to provide timely and precise forecasts. It will also create hazard maps to identify the areas at the greatest risk. This would allow emergency management professionals to allocate resources more effectively and prioritize response efforts.  

Conclusion 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning has enormous potential to empower the emergency management workforce. It can proficiently improve the outcomes of disaster response and recovery efforts. AI/ML enhances situational awareness, improves decision-making, increases efficiency, and reduces human error. This enables emergency management professionals to respond effectively to evolving threats and save lives. Federal government agencies and other organizations can greatly benefit from incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into their emergency management strategies and training programs.

TechSur Solutions leads AI/ML initiatives at several Federal agencies, including the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (with an award-winning AI program) and DHS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). TechSur implements Artificial Intelligence at USCIS to predict operational issues before they occur to support users and improve immigration processing used by 19,000 government employees and contractors working at 223 offices worldwide. TechSur Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of services. This includes platform engineering, application modernization, and AI-driven analytics. These help transform Emergency Management Grants Systems into a secure, streamlined, and user-centric system that aligns with agency strategic goals. 

To learn more about how AI and machine learning can benefit your organization, contact TechSur, your agency’s partner in transforming emergency management. 

Herndon, VA – TechSur Solutions, LLC (TechSur) is pleased to announce an award in support of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) Technology Solutions Office (TSO) for IT Support Services in emerging technologies and digital modernization, initially valued at $34M. This award was the first Prime contract for TechSur, a Small Business Administration (SBA)-certified 8(a) and Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Small Disadvantaged Business.  

AOUSC’s Chief Technology Officer has established a roadmap for secure transformative technology for the next generation of cloud-native technology solutions. The mission of the TSO is to provide strategic vision and support to Courts and AOUSC Program Offices with modernizing technology critical to the Judiciary’s mission. TechSur supports TSO’s initiatives leading the Judiciary’s digital transformation through the establishment of technical standards, research and innovation efforts, and modernization consulting services. TechSur Solutions supports TSO’s collaborative efforts with Judiciary units to empower the implementation of innovative technologies and services to drive business-focused IT transformation. The immediate priorities are focused on assessments and implementation strategies for Enterprise DevSecOps, Enterprise Architecture, Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM), Cloud Migration, Hybrid Multi-Tenant Cloud Strategies, Enterprise Portfolio and Program Management, Agile Adoption, and Multi-Factor Authentication.  

Rupinder Yadav, President and co-founder of TechSur Solutions, says, “We are proud to have built on nearly 7 years of success and guidance under the SBA through their programs for women-owned companies to arrive at this point of readiness to help modernize the Courts.” 

About TechSur Solutions  

TechSur Solutions is an Emerging Technologies & Digital Transformation company serving Federal Enterprise customers since 2016. We deliver IT Services for Mission Platform Engineering (DevSecOps, Data Analytics, Cloud-Native Application Development), Hyper-Automation (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Robotic Process Automation), and Multi-Channel Digital Engagement (Website Design & Development, Strategic Communications). This SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Economically Disadvantaged Minority Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) was ranked by Washington Technology as the 7th fastest-growing small Government Contractor on their Fast50 List. In recent exciting news, an Artificial Intelligence solution delivered by TechSur Solutions to a Federal customer was awarded a Disruptive Technology Award! 

Contact 

info@techsur.solutions  

Image: (March 24, 2023) The Smithsonian Institution and FEMA Co-host a Disaster Simulation for Protecting Cultural Artifacts.

Hyper-automation integrates diverse advanced technologies to automate and optimize complex Enterprise activities. Benefits of hyper-automation include the consolidation of operations, significantly reduced overheads, and enhanced overall efficiency. It leverages the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and other tools to automate repetitive tasks and minimize errors. Read on to discover how our expertise in platform engineering, application modernization, and AI-driven analytics can revolutionize grants management systems, streamline processes, and enable data-driven decision-making.

Potential Impact of Hyper-Automation on Grants Management 

Image: (February 14, 2023) A Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) traveled to Florida to learn about Hurricane Ian’s effects on the built environment.

In the context of grants management, hyper-automation plays a pivotal role in expediting and simplifying the grant management process. Grants management covers a wide range of processes and activities, including application review, data entry, budget tracking, and performance reporting. By automating these activities, public sector organizations can not only save valuable time and resources but also augment the precision and effectiveness of the overall process.

According to a report by Gartner, the adoption rate of structured automation in organizations is expected to increase from 20% in 2021 to 70% by 2025. This trend of automating processes for improved operational efficiency is referred to as “hyper-automation” and is the next evolutionary step in this domain.

Hyper-automation can simplify the grants management process in the following areas:

1. Intelligent Document Processing 

 A recent study conducted by PwC discovered that employing even basic AI-powered data extraction methods can result in a reduction of 30–40% in the time typically dedicated to such procedures by organizations. Utilizing advanced AI and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technologies, hyper-automation enables rapid extraction, classification, and validation of data from grant applications and supporting documents. This significantly reduces manual data entry errors and accelerates the review process, demonstrating the transformative potential of automation in managing grants.

2. Streamlined Budget Tracking 

 Through automating the monitoring of budgets and costs, organizations can achieve considerable time and resource savings. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can be used to automate budget development and monitoring, ensuring that organizations stay within their spending limits and don’t go overboard.

 Consider a scenario where an agency has received a grant to fund a particular project. The agency is required to submit regular reports on the project’s progress and budgetary expenditures to the grantor. With the help of automation, the agency can automate the process of tracking and monitoring its budget. This can involve setting up a dynamic workflow that automatically aggregates data related to the project’s expenses and evaluates them against the financial stipulations of the grant, thereby optimizing budget management and compliance.

3. Improved Performance Reporting and Evaluation 

 Hyper-automation can streamline the reporting process by automatically aggregating, analyzing, and visualizing grant performance data in real time. This empowers organizations to evaluate the impact of funded projects, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance future grant-making strategies.

4. Predictive Analytics and Decision Support 

 By leveraging ML algorithms and data analytics, hyper-automation can generate predictive insights and recommendations to guide decision-makers in evaluating grant applications and allocating resources. This can optimize the selection process by identifying high-potential projects, avoiding possible risks, and ensuring funds are utilized effectively.

5. Compliance Monitoring and Risk Management 

 With the integration of AI/ML technologies, hyper-automation can continuously monitor grant recipients’ compliance with grant terms and regulatory requirements. By identifying discrepancies and potential risks early on, organizations can proactively address issues, ensuring the successful execution of funded projects.

Hyper-Automation and DHS Agencies  

Image (January 13, 2023) C-SPAN: U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell Announces Launch of National Fire Strategy (FEMA Photo)

A study by Deloitte suggested that adopting cognitive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to streamline U.S. federal government office operations, potentially saving up to 25% of work hours and cutting costs by as much as $41 billion.

Streamlining and improving business performance for DHS agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is crucial for optimizing operational efficiency, resource allocation, and decision-making in response to natural disasters and other emergencies. By leveraging advanced AI through hyper-automation, these agencies can better optimize the grant application, review, and disbursement processes, reducing manual intervention and improving accuracy and efficiency.

Moreover, streamlining processes, such as budget monitoring and performance reporting, enables seamless communication and coordination among various stakeholders, including federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector. Enhanced collaboration not only speeds up response times but also minimizes duplication of efforts and reduces administrative overhead.

Ultimately, optimizing performance using hyper-automation for agencies like FEMA is critical to safeguarding public safety, ensuring resilience in the face of emergencies, and promoting the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Hyper-automation can simplify the grants management process, resulting in a Ready FEMA that is better prepared to serve the nation.

Real-World Example of Hyper-Automation in Grants Management 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent agency of the U.S. Federal government, provides library grants, museum grants, policy development, and research. TechSur Solutions implemented Adaptive Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver solutions that meet IMLS current needs and continues to grow with their evolving needs. We integrate AI technologies to drive advanced automated tasks with actionable results from core business processes to the added-value chain.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) First Check review process was originally performed by Program Officers going through application files and databases to validate a grants application manually, taking up to 2 weeks. TechSur’s First Check tool reviews hundreds of applications in 1-2 hours and has been implemented as the initial reviewer for grant applications. The tool automates 95% of the First Check rules which allows Program Officers to focus on validating tool’s results and performing rule checks outside of the tool’s scope. An internal website is included in the tool as a centralized space for viewing, validating, and exporting First Check results.

TechSur and IMLS’ First Check program recently won a Disruptive Tech award, which recognizes Federal IT programs that are working every day to take calculated risks and positively disrupt the Federal market. We look forward to celebrating all 2023 award winners at the 2023 #DisruptiveTechSummit on April 12, 2023. http://bit.ly/426jGXg @FedHealthIT.

Conclusion 

To make hyper-automation work for grant management, it’s essential to have everyone on board and create systems that support your automation journey. Even more important is having the right know-how and a smart plan to adopt automation technologies in your organization. By doing this, public sector organizations can tap into the true power of hyper-automation and make grant management more efficient and effective.

Looking to simplify your grants management processes and improve efficiency through hyper-automation? Get started on the path to a smarter, more resilient Grants Management System. Contact TechSur Solutions today for a consultation and see how our innovative solutions can help you achieve your strategic goals.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for protecting the US from a wide range of threats. This includes terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and cyberattacks. To ensure the nation’s safety, DHS security strategies must remain effective and up-to-date. DevSecOps is a tried-and-true practice that can help DHS modernize its security strategies to better protect against digital threats.

A recent IBM survey revealed that security is one of the main motivators behind government IT infrastructure modernization. 70% of US government IT decision-makers identified security risks as the primary obstacle when transitioning to cloud-based platforms. DevSecOps allows for both modernization and enhanced security. It thus becomes a logical choice for federal agencies that prioritize security when modernizing.

DevSecOps in DHS Security Strategies

DevSecOps, plays a crucial role in modernizing the security strategies of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is a combination of development, security, and operations that focuses on integrating security into the software development process from the beginning rather than adding it as an afterthought. This approach ensures that developers build security into the system from the start. It also allows any vulnerabilities to be detected and fixed early in the development process.

In the context of the DHS, DevSecOps can help improve the security of critical infrastructure and prevent cyber-attacks. The DHS has a broad mandate to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, which includes everything from energy and water systems to transportation and communication networks. DevSecOps can help modernize the security strategies of the DHS by providing a more agile and iterative approach to software development that is better suited to the fast-paced, rapidly evolving threat landscape.

By adopting DevSecOps practices, the DHS can improve collaboration and communication between the development, security, and operations teams. This will allow them to work together more effectively to identify and address security issues. DevSecOps also encourages automation, which can help reduce the risk of human error. It further ensures that organizations have consistently applied security controls across all systems and applications.

How DevSecOps Can Enhance DHS Security Strategies

DevSecOps can significantly improve the agency’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats by integrating security into every stage of the software development lifecycle. Here are some ways in which DevSecOps can help modernize DHS security strategies.

Improved Security Posture

This approach to development emphasizes the integration of security into every stage of the software development lifecycle. It promotes the use of automated security testing tools that can continuously scan code and applications for vulnerabilities. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early, DHS can improve its security posture and reduce the risk of cyber-attacks.

Moreover, DevSecOps encourages collaboration between development, security, and operations teams. This helps to ensure that everyone is working together to improve security. This assists in breaking down silos and improving communication, resulting in better security outcomes.

Early Detection of Security Issues

DevSecOps can help the DHS detect security issues early in the development lifecycle. This, in turn, allows developers to fix vulnerabilities before they become a more significant problem. Little to no vulnerabilities lower the overall chances of cyber-attacks. Moreover, the use of automated security testing tools can detect vulnerabilities that a human developer may have missed during manual code reviews. This makes it easier for the DHS to address security issues proactively. All of this aligns perfectly with the vulnerability reduction pillar of the DHS cybersecurity strategy, which aims to protect the federal enterprise by minimizing its organizational and systemic vulnerabilities.

Continuous Monitoring

The DevSecOps approach involves continuous monitoring of systems and applications, which can help the DHS detect and respond to security incidents in real time. Better visibility into the system status can help cut down on the time between detection and response. This makes it easier to mitigate the impact of a cyber-attack.

Automated Remediation

Shifting security to the left as part of DevSecOps promotes the use of automated remediation tools that can fix security issues as they are identified. With this, the agency can shrink the amount of time and effort required to address security issues, enabling the DHS to respond more quickly and effectively to security incidents.

Infrastructure as Code

DevSecOps supports the use of infrastructure as code, which means that infrastructure is treated as code and is version-controlled. This can ensure that the DHS configures its infrastructure securely and consistently, significantly reducing the risk of misconfigurations leading to security breaches.

Regulatory Compliance

The DHS must comply with various regulations and standards related to security and data protection, such as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. As per the DHS strategic plan, 

they must create procedures to ensure that the agency is held accountable and compliant with information security policies, regulations, and controls.

DevSecOps can help the DHS achieve compliance by integrating security into every stage of the software development lifecycle. Through this, the agency can ensure that they meet security requirements throughout the development process. Subsequently, they can reduce the risk of compliance failures.

The Future of DHS Security Strategies

DevSecOps has the potential to revolutionize how DHS manages its security strategies. By adopting a DevSecOps approach, the agency can build more secure systems, reduce the risk of cyber-attacks, and respond more effectively to security incidents. With the right investments in place, DHS can modernize its security strategies and achieve a more proactive and preventative approach to security, helping to safeguard the nation against cyber threats.

TechSur Solutions’ DevSecOps REPLAY Platform can help federal agencies quickly produce secure code with existing technologies and staff. Get started now and experience the ease of cloud-native solutions with built-in auto-scaling at platform and component levels.

TechSur leadership recently sat down with OrangeSlices.ai to preview our exciting DevSecOps Platform that’s making waves in Federal agencies! We are finally at a point where DevSecOps is moving from a capability to a representation as a platform – a one-click platform that we can simply demo by running a quick command prompt. Read our article below about the 5 benefits to Federal agencies who implement this end-to-end Enterprise DevSecOps platform, then reach out to our team for your own demo.

OrangeSlices.ai Article
March 14, 2023

Across the GovCon space, there are companies that catch our attention for a variety of reasons. One that recently made us sit up a little straighter is an SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Economically-Disadvantaged Minority Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), TechSur Solutions. An interview with Amit Yadav (co-founder and Chief Technology Officer), Craig Park (Senior Vice President of Operations), Jessica Gressett (Director of Growth), and Jen Falcone (Director of Marketing), provided insight on how this team is growing and winning. The team also shed some light on DevSecOps opportunities for Government agencies and how industry can help move the needle forward.

The Benefits of DevSecOps for Government Clients

More Excited Federal Employees

One of TechSur’s founding goals was a desire to make the work life of government clients easier, more efficient, and even fun – really! “Whether it’s a worker at NOAA excited about tracking and counting fish to ensure the size and health of fish populations, or a civilian employee in the health sector concerned with service delivery to beneficiaries, people who work in government are often passionate about their specific mission.”

Recognizing that if people could be freed from routine tasks, unburdened from having to work in multiple systems for each task, and having IT work for them so they can move faster, the evolution of DevSecOps has created an environment for better-enabled and better-served Federal employees.

“Younger Federal workers have expectations for how they will complete their daily tasks. This next generation of government workers simply will not tolerate clunky systems built over a decade ago that have been hacked to fit together. We need to energize these new users – if they are freed of some of their burdens, they can really harness the passion, the mission, the bigger picture view they have.”

Safe Space for Innovation

Within TechSur there is a mantra that leadership never expects perfection from employees, only continuous improvement. “Working under a fear of failing is not a comfortable place for anyone. There must be discussions about what has gone well, or not as well. But that discussion should be done within a framework that avoids blame and is positioned to take lessons learned and move forward from those lessons.”

Within a DevSecOps environment, where models are set and feedback is gathered along the way, agencies can move quickly, learn from stakeholder feedback and from issues noted along the way, then pivot quickly.

“Whether it is a senior manager or a junior developer, this safe space changes the conversation to one in which no one person failed. Rather, a lesson was learned, and the team can move forward from there.”

Security Embedded

The “Sec” is no longer an optional component of Development, Security, and Operations (DevSecOps). Security is a mandatory component in TechSur’s software development fast-release cycles and present at the heart of all their DevSecOps initiatives. “Security cannot be an afterthought. Security must be baked into what you do from the start and be part of the direction of everything you do.”

There exists within government the dual challenge of getting new products into the hands of users fast enough to satisfy their demands, and the challenge of ensuring the high levels of security any government product, application, or digital experience must meet. “DevSecOps creates a repeatable process for capabilities focused on quality and security that allows the capabilities to move faster and with the assurance that security has been considered at every step along the way.”

Understanding that no government agency is a single entity – that all have multiple levels, subagencies, and layers of engagement – the ability to work from a place of platform delivery that successfully connects and meets the requirements of all those touchpoints is key.

“Government wants the ability to deploy in any cloud of their choice. TechSur has observed that DevSecOps is moving from being a capability to representation as a platform. When we think of DevSecOps from this lens, we can start to think of it as a product, of how we can improve on it, how we can engage users for the best experience, how it can continue to evolve as the industry changes and as technology changes.”

Avoiding Ground Zero

TechSur’s view of DevSecOps as a platform (which they term their “DevSecOps REPLAY Platform”) also avoids the time and money required when starting from scratch time after time. It saves the client cost and effort when DevSecOps is viewed as the engine that powers product delivery.

“It can be challenging for small companies to make the investment to develop something ahead of time, but we are evolving into a space where we cannot just walk in, ask our client what they need, and then start inventing on their time. Instead, the focus needs to shift to coming to the table with a capability – with the thought process – and something that will demonstrate capability already in place. Though challenging, this must be a priority for industry and will take commitment from a vendor’s leadership to ensure they are prepared. We are deliberately at a point with this platform where we can simply demo the one-click platform by running a quick command prompt.”

Improved User Experience

The commercial sector has long challenged the user-experience of the government client, pushing the boundaries of what is expected. COVID shed a light, both on user-experience gaps and on those agencies that were able to meet the demands of customer experience abruptly. That user, whether citizen or government employee, is the most important element to every agency.

Through a DevSecOps framework, agencies can take feedback from users along the spectrum and act on that feedback in an Agile way. Users across the agency benefit from faster rollout, more up-to-date and current versions, and can see their concerns or challenges being addressed, leading to greater confidence and satisfaction with the agency.

Within TechSur, a passion for the mission results in decisions across the company that are made with the customer in mind. That same ability to put mission and people first can help government better engage with and deliver to its stakeholders.

Delivering, Guided by a Culture of Ownership

TechSur was founded with a view of ownership, of enabling decision-making. This foundational view creates a culture of supporting a greater passion. Taking it a step further, TechSur extends that same opportunity to those within the government space. “When the systems are in place, when there is input and a direction has been set, people are encouraged to act, to move forward on their own, knowing their role as part of the whole, and as leaders.”

Stretching their boundaries because they believe in the mission – because they are part of the team – sets a foundation for creative energy, for bringing their best to the table every day. “People stretch to improve, to do better, because they are in it together. As a company, we are deliberately building a system of systems to ensure there is alignment and that processes are met across delivery, marketing, operations, etc. – but then our TechSur employees are the owners of those systems.”

That view of culture also ensures conversations are ongoing. Rather than waiting for an annual review to check in with team members, ongoing dialogue means challenges are resolved as they happen, feedback is available as needed, so everyone is continuously growing and improving.

The Lens of Partnership

Still a small business, TechSur has followed a path that is common to many – starting with multiple subcontracts, then graduating over the past year to securing six Prime contracts. Whichever role they play, their role as a partner does not change. “Whether we are there as the Prime or the subcontractor, we are there for the client and we meld with our partner to act as one team. We are not there for short-term relationships but instead develop strong partnerships with our partners so that no one is part of this team or that team. We are all one. We support each other mutually and both sides are better for it.”

As it grows, TechSur is eager to grow in its relationships, with partners and with clients, as is always open to new introductions and new partners.

About TechSur

In August 2016, a wife and husband duo in the D.C. metropolitan area had grown increasingly frustrated by the conversations about government IT modernization. They formed TechSur Solutions with the belief that government agencies deserve a better answer to their complex technical challenges. There is a path forward to transform Federal work life without sacrificing requirements or excluding current contractors or platforms. Government deserves better engagement.

Shifting DevSecOps from a Set of Capabilities to a Repeatable Platform: 5 Benefits to Federal Agencies

TechSur Solutions implemented Adaptive Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver solutions at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent agency of the U.S. Federal government which provides library grants, museum grants, policy development, and research. The IMLS First Check Program was originally performed by Program Officers going through application files and databases to validate a grants application manually, taking up to 2 weeks. With TechSur’s First Check Program,  application reviews happen in a fraction of the time, saving thousands of manpower hours and resources. TechSur Solutions is delighted to announce that FORUM (formerly FedHealthIT) have recognized the IMLS First Check Program with a 2023 Disruptive Technology Award! This award recognized Federal IT Programs that are working every day to take calculated risks and positively disrupt the Federal market.

At IMLS, TechSur AI Engineers:

• created digitized PDFs from unstructured data to structured;
• implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline the verification process;
• used Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract key data elements and document similarities, summarizations, and keyword searches; and,
• employed image detection for legal document verification.

As a result, the tool automates 95% of the First Check rules which allows Program Officers to focus on validating tool’s results and performing rule checks outside of the tool’s scope. TechSur Solutions looks forward to accepting this honor at the #DisruptiveTechSummit on April 12, 2023. Congratulations to all the other winners of this prestigious award!

http://bit.ly/426jGXg

@FedHealthIT

The recent Cybersecurity Ventures report predicts that in 2023, the global annual cost of cybercrime will exceed $8 trillion. This figure could potentially be much higher than initially thought. With the rise of cyber threats and attacks, government agencies must adopt a proactive approach to protect their networks, data, and systems. As such, DevSecOps, a combination of development, security, and operations, is essential for government cybersecurity.

Recently, President Biden issued an Executive Order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity, and federal agencies have responded by releasing DevSecOps best practices based on the Enduring Security Framework. As a result, government organizations are taking steps to implement and standardize their DevSecOps processes for addressing current cybersecurity threats.

Here is a closer look at why DevSecOps is critical for government cybersecurity, how it can improve local and federal government cybersecurity, and some examples of how government agencies have successfully implemented DevSecOps practices.

Why DevSecOps is Critical For Government Cybersecurity

Traditionally, government agencies have followed a waterfall approach to software development, where each phase of development is completed before moving to the next phase. This approach can be time-consuming and costly, and it does not prioritize security. In contrast, DevSecOps is a continuous process that integrates security into every phase of the development lifecycle, from design to deployment and beyond. Government agencies can then detect and remediate security vulnerabilities early in the development process, reducing the risk of cyber-attacks.

In addition to this, DevSecOps fosters a culture of shared accountability for security by promoting communication between operations, security, and development teams, breaking down organizational barriers. By working together, these teams can more effectively and efficiently detect and handle security issues. This results in a reduced cost of cybersecurity for the organization as a whole. 

Improving Local Government Cybersecurity with DevSecOps

Local government agencies often have limited resources and expertise in cybersecurity. They may also be more vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to their reliance on legacy systems and software. DevSecOps can help these agencies improve their cybersecurity posture. This is done by prioritizing security in the development process and providing a framework for collaboration between teams.

Improving Federal Government Cybersecurity with DevSecOps

Federal government agencies face unique cybersecurity challenges. This is mainly due to the sensitivity of the data they handle and the potential impact of a cyber-attack. These agencies must comply with strict security regulations, such as the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework. DevSecOps can help these agencies comply with these regulations by integrating security into every phase of their development process. It further provides a framework for continuous monitoring and remediation of security vulnerabilities.

Other Benefits of DevSecOps

Apart from the specific benefits DevSecOps offer for government agencies, there are many other prominent advantages to adopting this approach. Here are a few of the more common ones.

Reduced Risk of Cyber-Attacks

By integrating security into every phase of the development process, DevSecOps reduces the risk of cyber-attacks that could compromise sensitive government data or systems.

Increased Speed of Software Delivery

DevSecOps enables faster and more frequent software delivery. The main reason for this is the automation of many aspects of the development process without sacrificing security or quality.

Improved Efficiency

Increased collaboration and communication between teams in DevSecOps can reduce errors and redundancies and increase overall efficiency.

Enhanced Accountability

With DevSecOps, agencies can promote a culture of shared responsibility for security, which can help ensure that security is a priority at every level of the organization.

Better Compliance

DevSecOps can help government agencies meet security regulations. This is done by providing a framework for integrating security into the development process. It further allows continuous monitoring and remediation of security vulnerabilities.

Reduced Cost

Detecting and remedying security vulnerabilities early in the development process is possible with DevSecOps. This can reduce the overall cost of software development and maintenance for government agencies.

Why Some Government Organizations Resist the Implementation of DevSecOps

A survey conducted by ATARC and the U.S. Air Force, underwritten by GitLab and Red Hat, interviewed almost 300 technical professionals across 27 federal departments, government entities, and state and local governments. The results revealed a complex DevOps environment in the public sector. The teams often faced challenges managing numerous disparate tools and working with legacy development models. The survey highlighted the following reasons for the hesitation toward DevSecOps implementation.

• Cultural resistance: Traditional government organizations may resist DevSecOps because it requires a cultural shift towards a more collaborative and agile approach to software development. This may be perceived as a challenge to the existing organizational culture, structures, and adherence to the waterfall methodology. 
• Complex Tools: According to the survey, only 28% of the respondents reported using five or fewer tools in their software development lifecycle, while almost 40% used ten or more tools. The use of multiple tools creates a complex development process. This in turn requires teams to dedicate significant time to managing the tools. The same time could instead be used for building and delivering critical applications for their organizations.
• Regulatory compliance concerns: Some government organizations may be concerned that implementing DevSecOps practices could potentially compromise their ability to meet regulatory compliance requirements.

It is crucial to understand that these reasons for resistance are not insurmountable. Government organizations are capable of overcoming them. Agencies can effectively implement DevSecOps methods to strengthen their cybersecurity posture with the correct assistance, training, and leadership. 

Conclusion

DevSecOps is essential for government cybersecurity, both at the local and federal levels. By integrating security into every phase of the development process and promoting collaboration between teams, government agencies can improve their cybersecurity posture while reducing the overall cost and time required for software development. Successful implementation of DevSecOps practices requires a cultural shift towards shared responsibility for security and a commitment to continuous improvement. As cyber threats continue to evolve, government agencies must remain vigilant and proactive in their approach to cybersecurity, and DevSecOps provides a framework for achieving this goal.

TechSur Solutions’ DevSecOps REPLAY Platform can help government agencies strengthen their cybersecurity posture, improve collaboration and efficiency, and reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you in implementing DevSecOps practices tailored to your agency’s unique needs and requirements.

The world has entered the digital age, where technology has become a central aspect of daily life and business operations. The internet and digital devices have created a vast network that connects people from all over the world, enabling instant communication and access to information. Such a transformation, along with the rapid growth of the digital economy, has created a high demand for US digital services, and governments have had to adapt to keep pace with these changes. 

Overview of the Demand for US Digital Services 

In recent years, the demand for digital services has increased dramatically, and this trend is only expected to continue. A recent Accenture report indicates that the demand for digital services from US citizens has grown, as reflected in the increase of those who wish to have more digital interaction with their government: 39% of respondents in 2022 compared to 29% in 2019. 

Customers and citizens expect easy access to government services and information online. They want these services to be fast, efficient, and reliable. This has put pressure on government organizations to upgrade their digital offerings. They now must keep up with the evolving needs of their constituents.

Meeting the demand for US digital services would mean government organizations can improve their efficiency and effectiveness in serving the public. By leveraging technology and modernizing their systems, they can streamline processes, reduce costs, and provide better, faster service to their customers. Additionally, the use of digital services can improve the transparency and accountability of government operations, leading to increased trust and confidence in government institutions. However, as with any transformation, success in this endeavor isn’t without its challenges.

Challenges Faced by Federal Government Organizations in Meeting Demand

Despite these benefits, federal government organizations are facing numerous challenges when it comes to meeting rising demands for digital service.

Difficulty in Adapting Legacy Systems

Many government agencies have been using outdated systems for decades, and upgrading them to modern technology can be a complex and costly process. In addition, the integration of these legacy systems with new technology can be difficult. They may not be compatible with the latest digital services.

Lack of Resources and Budget Limitations

Upgrading technology and modernizing systems can be expensive, and many government agencies have limited budgets for these types of projects. The shortage of skilled personnel who are able to implement these upgrades further complicates the process.

Security and Privacy Concerns

Governments are responsible for safeguarding sensitive information, such as personal and financial data, and ensuring that this information is protected from unauthorized access and use. They must also be able to detect and respond to cyber-attacks and data breaches. This can have significant impacts on the security and privacy of their customers and citizens.

Strategies for Meeting Rising Demands for Digital Service 

Despite these challenges, there are strategies that federal government organizations can use to meet rising demands for digital service. 

Leverage Existing Technologies and Resources

One strategy for meeting the demand for digital services is to leverage existing technologies and resources. Government organizations can take advantage of existing systems and infrastructure to implement digital services and improve their efficiency. For instance, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can be a valuable tool for the US government in meeting the rising demand for digital services. By integrating RPA, the government can automate routine and repetitive tasks within its existing infrastructure. This will improve efficiency and free up resources to focus on more valuable activities. 

The success of such initiatives has been experienced by the US government when battling COVID-19 challenges. The US federal government adopted Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to help its agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Institutes of Health, and the Internal Revenue Service, increase the efficiency of their staff. RPA allowed these organizations to shift their personnel from low-value tasks to more important activities. They could effectively manage a surge in demand for their services. In a similar way, the US federal government can utilize its existing systems to provide efficient digital services to citizens.

Invest in Modernization

Another strategy is to invest in modernization by upgrading technology and modernizing systems to meet the changing needs of their customers and citizens. This can include the development of new digital services, the implementation of cloud computing and data analytics, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

A key example of such an initiative is the inclusion of AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots that can assist government agencies in providing efficient digital services.

On the other hand, cloud technology has the ability to scale quickly, allowing federal government organizations to make a seamless transition to digital services. For instance, in 2020, 90% of California’s 200,000 state employees were able to easily switch to telework due to the state government’s early adoption of cloud technology. This shift not only allows employees to work remotely but also helps governments reach citizens through omnichannel cloud-based communication tools.

For example, Singapore utilizes “postman.gov.sg” to send bulk messages with critical updates to citizens. Leveraging cloud technologies in this way can further improve citizen satisfaction and enhance the quality of government services in the US as well.

Upgrade Security and Privacy Standards

Finally, upgrading security and privacy standards is a critical component of any strategy for providing digital services to the public. Government agencies must invest in robust security and privacy measures. This is essential to protect sensitive information and ensure the safety of their customers and citizens. This includes implementing strong encryption, developing security policies and procedures, and investing in cyber security and data protection technologies.

One major point of concern is that, despite numerous proposals, there has yet to be a comprehensive federal law created to govern data privacy in the U.S. that has been accepted by federal government organizations. Developing and implementing data privacy policies, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, can help ensure that sensitive information is collected, stored, and processed in a manner that is secure and compliant with privacy laws and regulations.

Conclusion 

As we enter the digital age, citizens are expecting consumer-grade experiences from the federal government. All generations are now looking to the government to provide a streamlined digital experience. The US federal government has the opportunity to meet these demands and enhance its services. However, it comes with plenty of challenges. 

To ensure success, federal government organizations must rise to the occasion. Fortunately, there are strategies that organizations can use to overcome these challenges. This includes leveraging existing technologies, investing in modernization initiatives, and upgrading security and privacy standards. By taking these steps, organizations can create a more efficient system that meets the needs of citizens in the digital era.

TechSur Solutions leverages the latest technologies to help you overcome your challenges and gain a competitive advantage in this digital era. Reach out to us today for more information about our enterprise solutions and our dedication to optimizing governmental operations.

In the modern digital world, the way organizations manage their security has dramatically changed. As a result of the increase in remote work, cyber threats, and the adoption of cloud-based technologies, organizations are looking for new ways to secure their data and systems. This is where zero-trust architecture comes into play.

On May 2021, an executive order was issued that required the U.S. Federal government agencies to invest in technology and personnel in order to make it easier to access cybersecurity data, migrate to secure cloud architectures faster and work towards a zero-trust architecture.

Following this, government organizations are constantly striving to implement and strengthen a zero-trust architecture. Fortunately, as one of the leading cloud-based platforms, ServiceNow can provide invaluable assistance in this endeavor, allowing for the integration of people, processes, and systems within a secure framework. 

Why is Zero-Trust Architecture Important

Zero-trust architecture is a security approach that assumes that all network traffic, whether internal or external, is untrusted until proven otherwise. The aim of this approach is to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to the network. This is particularly important for federal government organization. These organizations handle sensitive information and must maintain a high level of security. With the increasing number of cyber threats and the complexity of modern networks, traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer sufficient.

A zero-trust architecture provides a more comprehensive and flexible security solution, allowing federal government organizations to better protect their critical assets and data. By implementing such a security architecture, organizations can reduce their risk of security breaches and improve their overall security posture.

Improving Zero-Trust Architecture in Federal Government Organizations 

Federal Government Organizations can enhance their zero-trust architecture through the utilization of ServiceNow. The Now Platform offers several solutions and integrations to support a comprehensive security strategy. This includes automating processes and streamlining security operations. Here are some prominent ways federal government organizations can leverage the capabilities of ServiceNow to augment their security architecture.

Establishing a ServiceNow Platform 

Establishing a ServiceNow platform can significantly improve the zero-trust architecture of government agencies. The platform offers a centralized, unified data model and powerful cross-functional workflows. This can streamline security operations and enhance communication between people, functions, and systems. With the ability to automate security processes, ServiceNow makes it easier for government agencies to enforce their zero-trust policies and reduce the risk of security breaches. 

Additionally, the platform provides a variety of security-focused solutions and integrations. This includes multi-factor authentication, encryption, access control, and continuous monitoring. These features support government agencies in their efforts to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of their security operations. In turn, this helps to ensure the protection of sensitive information and assets.

Integrating with Existing Security Tools and Systems 

Another way to improve zero-trust architecture is by integrating ServiceNow with existing security tools and systems. This integration enhances network visibility. Better visibility allows for quicker identification of potential threats and enabling organizations to secure a robust zero-trust environment. 

The combination of security tools and the Now Platform provides a coordinated response to security events. With this organizations can set up automated processes to alert security personnel and quarantine devices that may be compromised. Further, they can patch vulnerable assets, and suspend accounts that appear to be suspicious. Also, the Now Platform provides a unified view of security information and risk. This enables administrators to make informed decisions with the help of streamlined, real-time data.

Implementing Policies 

By implementing security policies, federal government organizations can ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data or systems. This will help protect critical assets from malicious actors by establishing a secure zero-trust architecture with defined security policies. These policies include controlling hardware and software configurations on the production network, onboarding new capabilities, software packages, services, IT hardware, cloud providers, and personnel roles.

Using the Now Platform, federal government organizations can create robust and secure onboarding workflows to ensure that all purchases and installations are properly evaluated for security and risk. This can provide a layer of governance to the acquisition process. Such governance will make sure that all technology purchases are in line with agency policy.

Zero-Trust Architecture for Government: A New Era of Cybersecurity

Zero-trust architecture is a critical aspect of modern cybersecurity, and ServiceNow provides an effective solution for organizations looking to augment their security systems. With its single data model, powerful cross-functional workflows, and automation capabilities, ServiceNow is a highly secure and effective solution for organizations looking to implement the zero-trust architecture. As cyber threats continue to increase, organizations must take steps to augment their security systems, and ServiceNow provides a solution that will help organizations stay ahead of the curve.

TechSur Solutions understands the nuances of governmental operations and the importance of cloud integration to enhance operations and security. Our team of experts is here to assist government agencies in cloud deployments. We work to ensure a streamlined transition from legacy systems to cloud infrastructure with no compromise on security.

Government agencies across the U.S. have rightly recognized the need for greater integration and innovation of new technologies, such as UiPath RPA, to meet the growing operational complexity. This is especially true with the significant workloads that agencies face. This includes multiple applications for government subsidies and persistent legislative changes while managing these responsibilities with limited staff.

As government agencies strive to provide their citizens and employees with the best possible experience, they increasingly turn to Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to achieve this goal. RPA technology is a powerful tool that can help automate repetitive and manual tasks, allowing government agencies to focus their resources on providing better services to their citizens and employees. 

UiPath RPA coupled with AI assists public sector organizations in rethinking the quality of citizen service and discovering new approaches to local, regional, and national problems. It has provided the government with various advantages, including positive performance for citizens, more efficient processes, and increased work engagement for government employees, allowing them to devote time to more significant responsibilities.

Here are some examples of how RPA can benefit government agencies and help them deliver better citizen and employee experiences.

Crucial RPA Use Cases in the Public Sector

The Uipath service is highly applicable in many government entities and procedures, making it a valuable asset for the public sector. The advantages are evident across five distinct areas, namely national governments, municipal governments, law enforcement, medical care, and education. The following list includes some of the most pertinent use cases from various public sector operations that can provide quality citizen services. 

1. Document Handling and Validation

Document management and validation are essential tasks for public institutions and government departments. Even though these routine tasks are necessary for an agency to function correctly, they may take up the bulk of a shift, leaving the staff with little time to devote to the activities that can have a positive impact. 

According to a recent survey by Deloitte, 40% of Generation Z and 24% of millennials would quit their job within two years if they considered it to be uninteresting and repetitive. Quick turnover rates can cause havoc within governmental departments as quickly finding replacement employees can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it is essential to use Uipath RPA and AI to streamline mundane and monotonous document-handling jobs. Round-the-clock software bots can significantly speed up documentation analysis, extraction, entry, and storage. These bots can also improve the quality of service and lower the capital expenditures associated with document processing and validation.

2. Reconciliation and Reporting

All public sector organizations have varying requirements for reconciliation procedures and assets. Therefore, a robust and adaptable staff is necessary to achieve these objectives using this procedure. Automating these operations with RPA bots leads to effective resource utilization and substantial savings, and can improve comprehensive monitoring, ledger account reconciliation, and the activation of current assets. Agencies can upgrade or downscale processes using the Uipath service without issue. Optimizing efficiency can improve public services to benefit employees and citizens alike. 

3. Financial Management and Audit Trail

For government sectors to succeed and provide improved citizen services, automating these rule-driven operations is essential. RPA can assist government departments in managing finances with high precision and accuracy. Eliminating keyboard inaccuracies can lead to nearly risk-free  audit preparation. Uipath RPA can manage finances quickly and without error for numerous tasks such as transaction monitoring, invoicing, and expenses.

Today, the public sector struggles with providing the level of service that citizens expect. Legacy systems and time-consuming procedures are mostly to blame. RPA can help the public sector achieve new levels of effectiveness and accountability, allowing for more efficient and productive processes and transforming the government into a digital entity.

4. Delivery to Citizens

Government agencies must establish strategies for providing swift and effective citizen-focused services. However, it would be challenging to meet the quality of the criteria demanded by the general public. This challenge is commonly caused by the time-consuming procedures associated with processing and distributing funding, response, monitoring, and fulfillment. 

Maintaining the citizens at the center of government service, RPA can decrease or eliminate numerous barriers to achieve quick and practical outcomes. The U.S. State of Federal RPA December report claimed the “federal RPA community has reduced over 1.4 million hours of low-value work across the [U.S.] government to date.” An automated system like this, for example, could handle the backlog of VA applications. 

Conclusion 

The public sector has been leveraging the power of robotic process automation (RPA) to increase efficiency and productivity, saving time and money. RPA can reduce the expenses associated with labor-intensive tasks such as report generation or data entry by automating them for faster completion. RPA enables staff to focus on mission-critical work over monotonous operations while maintaining compliance standards without compromising accuracy or speed. The government agencies that adopt RPA are well positioned to augment their internal processes, improving citizen and employee experiences.

TechSur Solutions uses RPA technology to automate repetitive operations to solve your challenges, allowing you to be an agency hero. Contact us today to find out more about our enterprise solutions and our commitment to enhancing governmental operations.