Government agencies seeking to modernize operations while improving their efficiency and accuracy need technological advancements like machine learning (ML) to establish themselves with the wider public. With its powerful data processing capabilities, image classification, and detection capabilities, machine learning provides captivating opportunities for governments at all levels looking to automate repetitive and intensive processes. 

With artificial intelligence solutions in government expected to rise as much as 33% by 2024, the exciting prospect of machine learning in government operations should see an increase in digital transformation at local, state, and federal levels. Here are four prominent machine learning use cases for government operations and the benefits these use cases can generate. 

Fraud Detection 

Machine learning for government fraud is an increasingly reliable use case to detect any financial improprieties or budgeting oversights. 

Increasingly, machine learning has been used to optimize financial management and eradicate any outliers and abnormalities that can be used to improve the precision of budget audits and organizational activities. With machine learning tools, government agencies can cut unnecessary spending and speed up contracting processes to keep track of where money is going or coming from.

With machine learning at the core of operations, ML tools pinpoint any deviations from regular activity, collecting data from various sources and processes in live time to establish normal patterns while alerting administrators of any unusual happenings. Considering how costly and prevalent government fraud is, having machine learning to keep things in check provides unprecedented control for agencies and departments. 

Image Detection and Classification 

Machine learning tools are also known for their image identification and classification capabilities, helping government entities to identify criminals and criminal activity. As recognition software continues to evolve, including the refinement of facial recognition software, governments can use machine learning to spot wanted criminals in public. 

The Census Bureau’s analysts and researchers use large amounts of data to predict survey response levels and estimate populations by using satellite imagery. In the future, governments can use machine learning tools to recognize and report suspicious objects in videos or photos. 

Data Management 

Machine learning algorithms learn from data and concentrate rules from it, subsequently applying learned insight to assess new data and use their insights to solve several distinct problems like classification or clustering. 

Government builds more seamless and engaging data processing models using machine learning tools, consistently extracting information from highly dimensional and unstructured data to unlock the true value of data. By doing so, machine learning frees up high-value work while eradicating the monotony of repetitive processes, much of which includes data entry or documentation. Business productivity improves by 54% when using machine learning to automate tasks and improve data flow, allowing governments to spend more time on labor-intensive tasks. 

Making Policies Based on Machine Learning Use Cases

Thanks to the improvement of data flows and processes with machine learning tools, government entities can optimize their policy-making capabilities. Machine learning enhances decision-making processes while generating information from the public, including analyzing social trends to influence and inform public policies. 

Machine learning also supports city planning at the local level by analyzing traffic flows and road conditions. With machine learning, government entities can enact laws that people can relate to and get benefits from while gaining newfound control over lawmaking and establishing greater public trust. 

TechSur Solutions solves your problems with technology to automate your simplest and most technical tasks through machine learning tools. Learn more about our AI solutions and how we take adaptive machine learning a step further to help governments generate enticing opportunities while capitalizing on the benefits of digital transformation.

With today’s technological demands, government IT should foster cultural and engineering changes that break down barriers and implement revolutionary systems to stay agile. To achieve increased robustness, government IT requires a DevSecOps approach, encouraging open collaboration between developers and security and operations elements that focus on automation to ensure the quick and consistent delivery of a secure infrastructure. 

A DevSecOps approach facilitates increased collaboration while improving government innovation and security. Governments can collaborate with innovative partners who build and implement comprehensive solutions. This approach to software development delivers more secure and efficient services for government agencies. However, statistics show how rarely DevSecOps approaches have been adopted in government and how unfamiliar they are with these approaches. 

So, why should governments care about DevSecOps and start revolutionizing their IT frameworks?

Top Reasons for Consideration 

DevSecOps benefits for governments include the speeding up of workflows and the increase of transparency while ensuring management with minimal effort. The most successful DevSecOps teams have characterized processes by various elements, including: 

• Low redundancy
• High collaboration 
• Repeatability 

Automation and auditability are prioritized, usurping subjective decision-making to create adaptive technological solutions. Furthermore, a DevSecOps approach in government would actuate various high-value metrics to judge the efficiency of software. Deployment frequency and change failure rate are key facets that make a DevSecOps approach viable. Meanwhile, time-to-value, the time between a featured request and the realized business value from the request, is another good judge of progress for government entities using this approach. 

A DevSecOps approach around security helps governments to reduce expenses and encourage more transparency during IT development. Additionally, this kind of approach shortens development cycles and keeps pace with innovation as government functions capitalize on cloud-native technologies.

The Importance of DevSecOps Benefits In Government

Rather than mirroring software development and focusing excessively on the production phase of development, DevSecOps approaches allow for government entities to shift security left. As a result, security is prioritized early in the planning stage. DevSecOps advocates for security at the beginning of the planning stage to catch any security flaws or issues quickly. By embedding controls and increasing visibility, the software development cycle speeds up while allowing the team to reduce vulnerabilities and malicious code as well as mitigate the potential of vulnerabilities being exposed. With security at the fore, development is streamlined, and government operations are more flexible. 

Additionally, a Dev SecOps approach for government IT eliminates friction between the development, security, and operations teams while leveraging modern technologies. And, DevSecOps addresses the main causes of vulnerabilities to prevent continuous security issues, including the strengthening of test tools and improving coding strategies. 

Eradicating Misconceptions of DevSecOps Adoption in Government 

While the implementation of a DevSecOps approach in government is exciting and prepares government IT for refreshed perspectives and unique opportunities, there are some typical misconceptions associated with its adoption that the leaders of government entities should look out for. 

There’s a purveying thought that adopting DevSecOps is a signal that government IT is giving up control, especially when partnered with an innovative partner that regulates technological requirements and permissions. However, DevSecOps brings automation that allows IT to best achieve consistency with compliance requirements, enforcing the necessary access controls more effectively than traditional, manual processes.

Another misconception is that DevSecOps strictly focuses on speed, with faster deployment at any time. While speed is one of the benefits of DevSecOps that government IT can enjoy, speed is a byproduct rather than the central aspect. Compliance, stability, and quality are the core functions of DevSecOps, generating improved business speed by automating key IT processes. 

DevSecOps makes everything look simpler while strengthening IT infrastructures across various levels of government. TechSur Solutions solves your problems with technology to automate your simplest and most technical tasks. Learn more about our enterprise DevSecOps solutions and how they improve government operations. 

Being cloud-ready in today’s landscape is a necessity for governments to keep up with the consistently changing demands of the public sector as well as modernize infrastructures and preserve important information. Cloud readiness depends on the availability of resources that a government has, any specific government requirements, and the ability to scale business operations. 

It’s also a smart strategic move considering how much financial investment cloud migration costs, going up to five figures in the most complex cases. To avoid costly ramifications and ensure your move to the cloud is fluid, here are some refreshers on how to do a top-notch cloud assessment and make your migration worthwhile. 

Identifying the Right Scope, Business Cases 

Before going full speed ahead with migration, governments need to truly understand the purpose behind the migration and the degree of migration that’s necessary. As exciting as cloud migration is, going into it blindly without knowing the true scope and business cases defeats the purpose entirely, costing governments precious time and money. 

Successful cloud migration is meant to actuate several business cases. These cases include: 

• Scaling different government resources to make them faster and easier to use
• Boosting data resiliency thanks to backup services and disaster recovery software
• Reducing costs caused by maintaining data centers and hardware replacements

When local, state, and federal governments conduct a cloud readiness assessment, there should be a clear idea of what to transfer to the cloud knowing which applications and data need to be moved. Not all data or apps need to be migrated, especially if, for instance, privacy and security regulations demand that governments know where data is being stored, maintained, and accessed. 

Assessing Infrastructure Demands

Doing internal research into the IT infrastructure and environment is necessary to determine the applications, data, and workloads that make the most sense to transfer to the cloud or can be removed outright. With this knowledge, governments know the requirements for the future cloud environment and conduct a thorough cloud assessment. 

Applications typically change to adapt to the modernized infrastructure, with the changes either involving a few changes to the application’s core or a complete rebuild. In other cases, the government can opt to leverage a software-as-a-service (SaaS) application for improved adaptability. 

Security Requirements 

Government regulations typically influence the security posture of organizations within the cloud and affect what’s included in cloud migration. When governments engage in cloud migration, the same thought process should apply, with a regular inventory of data taken to have a full view of what’s available. Knowing the degree of security that’s necessary puts governments in full control when conducting a cloud readiness assessment, using various measures such as

• Encryption 
• Access Management
• Web App Firewalls 
• Identity Management

Data leakage/loss and confidentiality have long been concerns regarding cloud security. Cloud assessment best practices help governments at every level examine every scope regarding security so that all sensitive data is fully protected and preserved. 

Timeline and Budget 

A migration timeline and budget to facilitate it are two vital elements when creating the optimal cloud strategy. 

The timeline is key so governments can track and hit certain milestones set for the cloud migration process. During a cloud readiness assessment, timelines also allow governments to identify setbacks and their reasons. 

A cloud assessment should also include a close tracking of the migration budget, with the budget consistently aligned with the aforementioned business use cases. The budget should include the total cost of ownership, labor costs, migration training, and licensing costs. It may take less time to put apps in the cloud with minimal periphery changes. However, such a minimalistic approach may dampen the benefits of cloud migration. Governments that are rebuilding applications may spend more time but can achieve greater cloud functionality and flexibility.

TechSur Solutions solves your problems with technology to automate your simplest and most technical tasks. Learn more about our cloud-native application solutions and how these solutions generate enticing opportunities as you migrate to the cloud. 

Cloud migration is an intriguing time for the business adopting this approach, accepting the need to modernize and scale operations while improving the infrastructure. Migration is a value proposition for the businesses implementing it and for the clients who benefit from it. 

Governments at various levels have been increasingly trying to move to the cloud for years. But, there are challenges of cloud migration that must consistently be navigated to realize the technological, operational, and financial benefits it offers. From compatibility and security issues to the lack of a clear vision, cloud migration challenges can compromise the advent of such dynamic technology. Plus, a failure to address these challenges adds expenses, including the hidden costs of migration. 

Here are the biggest pitfalls to cloud migration that government agencies must address to realize the cloud’s full value and innovative possibilities. 

The Compatibility Issue 

One of the simplest ways to migrate applications and data to the cloud is to lift and shift them into the ideal cloud environment without any redesigning of the apps. While it seems easy enough to make such a shift in real life, it’s not, especially if there is a minimal (or non-existent) knowledge base of cloud technologies.

Additionally, suppose governments or any other industries have legacy applications that aren’t compatible with a cloud environment. In that case, the migration either loses all purpose or requires an extensive/expensive overhaul of the infrastructure in place. 

Practical approaches to the above-mentioned cloud migration challenges include: 

• Shifting apps that don’t require compatibility changes
• Aligning virtual networks to interact with the existing infrastructure 
• Re-architecturing certain applications while rendering others obsolete

Any compatibility decisions depend on the types of applications used and their impact on business capabilities. 

Wrong Strategy Configuration 

The wrong cloud migration strategy can set back your organization considerably, especially if it doesn’t fit business requirements. It’s supposed to provide a clear roadmap for the complete process of assets to a cloud infrastructure. But, when the strategy and business demands/use cases don’t align, it leads to a dead-end for the governments adopting them, causing a diminished return on investment (ROI) and lower uptimes, causing serious operational issues. 

As mentioned above, the lift and shift method is a simple migration method but isn’t a one-size-fits-all migration strategy. When application runtime environments differ from cloud environments, lift and shift methodologies are rendered useless. 

Deciding on a suitable strategy requires analyzing business requirements, assessing use cases, and having a thorough cloud assessment to audit the current system data, as well as analyzing scalability needs. 

Scope Creep 

Scope creep, or cloud sprawl, typically happens when clear business use cases for cloud migration aren’t identified and initial budgets are exceeded along the way. Various cloud instances emerge without a clear reason, leading to expenses spiraling and diminished operational efficiency. 

Measuring costs is one of the biggest challenges of cloud migration but can be done by analyzing them alongside performance to assess ROI to determine the success or failure of the migration. 

Security Weak Points 

Governments must be diligent in securing sensitive data and eradicating siloed data infrastructures. Comprehensively assessing core services and essential data allow governments and other industries conducting cloud migration to understand the necessity for secure migration practices. However, various risk assessment initiatives lack a formidable framework to create a reliable management plan. 

Risk management frameworks require a clear identification of security policies and risks to counter them, considering strategic, external, and preventable risks. Having a centralized security policy with strong authentication methods and critical access checkpoints is a key element of enforcing enhanced security for cloud migration. 

Lack of Skills To Operate the Refined Infrastructure

Skill shortages are oft-talked about in today’s business landscape and that applies to cloud migration as well. Migration typically necessitates upskilling for existing employees, especially when a legacy infrastructure is in place. The lack of skill on hand is one of the most concerning cloud migration challenges for governments and businesses opting for migration, spending a lot on training. 

Studies show that cloud monitoring and cloud environment skills are among two of the highest skill shortages around. Cost and architecture skill sets are also low, requiring potential partnerships with cloud management entities for deployment and management purposes. If possible, establishing such a partnership allows governments, courts, and other industries to see the full, enticing benefits of cloud adoption and migration. 

TechSur Solutions solves your problems with technology to automate your simplest and most technical tasks. Learn more about our cloud-native application solutions and how these solutions generate enticing opportunities as you migrate to the cloud. 

TechSur Solutions is pleased to announce a terrific new collaboration in the form of a strategic Joint Venture (JV) and Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) with Guidehouse!

View Press Release on Cision PR Newswire

1DTS provides innovative digital transformation solutions across the Federal Government

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Guidehouse, a leading global provider of consulting services to public sector and commercial clients, and technology solutions provider TechSur Solutions are pleased to announce a strategic Joint Venture (JV) and Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) through Guidehouse’s acquisition of Dovel Technologies, LLC and its JV with TechSur, 1DTS. 1DTS successfully integrates the expertise of the two firms that specialize in digital transformation, bringing cloud-native applications, solutions, and analytics to government organizations.

Guidehouse and TechSur have combined decades of experience providing innovative solutions across the federal government to include U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 1DTS is the culmination of that collective experience. As an 8(a) and EDWOSB, 1DTS can take organizations to the next levels of maturity through focused and impactful digital transformation strategies improving the mission of our customers.

“TechSur offers proven core competencies in mechanizing and automating the process of IT modernization while Guidehouse brings commensurate expertise in digital transformation and IT consulting,” said Guidehouse CEO Scott McIntyre. “We look forward to significant collaboration through this joint venture to deliver innovative solutions for our Federal clients and team to address today’s complex challenges for a more resilient tomorrow.”

Under the MPA, Guidehouse provides mentorship to TechSur as they seek opportunities in the Federal space for digital transformation, cloud native applications, legacy modernization, enterprise DevSecOps, data analytics, and adaptive artificial intelligence for mutual clients.

“This partnership strengthens and highlights the technical savvy and expertise of both organizations,” said Amit Yadav, Chief Technology Officer of TechSur Solutions. “Guidehouse is a powerhouse and increases our resources exponentially. We are very excited about this JV and the potential for delivering high-quality, timely, and customer-focused IT services while helping our clients solve their complex technical challenges.”

Guidehouse brings strength in the design and implementation of modernized enterprise architecture, systems integration, and agile-based software development, operations, and maintenance. TechSur Solutions is passionate about crafting aggressive and intentional technical solutions, all while remembering that at the end of the day, human beings have to want to use the technology.

For more information about 1DTS, please visit: https://1dts.solutions/.

Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has more than 13,000 professionals in over 50 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information about Guidehouse and its acquisition of Dovel please click here and visit www.guidehouse.com.

TechSur Solutions is a premier IT consulting services small business with a philosophy and a focus on invention. Their rich service portfolio offers Federal Agencies and commercial clients Digital Transformation and Modernization services. TechSur is an 8(a) certified Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) built on the belief that government deserves better engagement and a terrific user experience. For more information, please visit https://techsur.solutions/.

Guidehouse
Cecile Fradkin cfradkin@scprgroup.com

TechSur
contact@techsur.solutions

SOURCE Guidehouse

Remote work is here in force, and here to stay for many workers. Depending on mission, this can extend to Federal agencies, many of whom are now focusing on low-code and no-code application development platforms to support remote work for developers. According to Business Wire, low-code/no-code platforms are expected to grow at 44.4% by 2022, reaching $27.23 billion (up from $4.32 billion in 2017). IDC estimates that more than 500 million apps could be created with these platforms by 2023. But how can they best support the Enterprise? 

Large Enterprises rely on software applications to build and run core business functions (sales, marketing, supply chain, logistics, business intelligence, and others). They can be integrated or interconnected with other applications to create an overall Enterprise system. Even though Enterprise software is created to support large-scale organizations, the reality of implementation can take up more technical support resources than they’re supposed to spare. 

Low–code and no-code advantages, for Enterprise and beyond:

• Bandwidth Issues: Internal cross-Enterprise IT teams may have little time to manage client or Enterprise-level applications.  
• Cost-Constraints: Purchasing semi-custom apps or hiring a mobile/web application development firm can rack up a huge bill quickly. 
• A faster time to market: The most significant benefit is that the development duration is cut between weeks and months or days. In addition to bringing your app to market quicker, it is also possible to quickly take feedback from users and create the latest features.  
• Multiple Deployments: These development platforms allow businesses to create applications deployed on several platforms simultaneously. No-code, low-code mobile application development makes deploying an app to a platform much simpler.  
• Reduced Errors: Less code equals fewer errors, equals less dev time.  
• Lower Development Costs: Due to the reduced development process, the faster speed and less resource requirements development costs for low-code and non-code applications are lower.  

Low-code and no-code dev allows companies to build applications with visual development techniques, thus eliminating other development methods that require the writing of many lines of code. While low-code applications and no-code software development work best when combined, there are fundamental differences between low-code and no-code: 

• No-code platforms let teams that do not know about software development or coding use functional, reusable components to build applications.  
• Low-code platforms require a certain level of programming, but they allow developers to create applications developed in faster turnaround times.  

Top Low–Code and No-Code App Development Platforms: 

• Siemens Mendix 
• Microsoft PowerApps 
• Appian 
• Out Systems 
• Airtable 
• Amazon Honey code 
• Salesforce.com Lightning Platform 
• Zapier 
• Google AppSheet

Great care must still be given to ensure the necessary governance of the full business process while using such platforms. When done thoughtfully, developers are able to tackle workflow and process issues with greater speed, even remotely. Rest-assured there is still demand for traditional programming techniques for complex applications – but expect to see big increases in corporations and agencies investing funds and strategies in these low-code and no-code platforms. Have you used any of the platforms? Which is your favorite?