Getting Mobile Government Moving

Given that we all walk around with a device in our pockets that has more computing power than it took to put a man on the moon, mobile is a key channel for government to use to reach citizens and get work done. This ubiquity has led to mobile being an integral part of every agency's IT strategy. While this has opened a new medium for citizen interaction, it also raises issues around security and privacy. Today, agencies are looking to balance the opportunities presented by mobile with implementation challenges.

Mobile devices are quickly becoming a channel of choice for emergency communication and coordination. Many in the DC area experienced this firsthand with the Wireless Emergency Alert System test in April. This is in addition to regular use of mobile messaging for localized missing child Amber Alerts nationwide. To support this type of alerting and collaboration the FirstNet network was set up to be a wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. A recent hack-a-thon helped encourage the development of new applications on the network.

Beyond emergency alerts, agencies are looking at mobile as a preferred platform for citizens to use when interacting with government services. As we discussed previously, improving citizen service is a huge priority of the administration, and with an added pressure to modernize service delivery, mobile is a focus of efforts government-wide.

In addition to being an effective means to communicate with citizens, mobile devices, both consumer-grade and specialty products, are a great way to make the government workforce more efficient. Mobile-focused systems help field teams capture and enter data immediately, rather than having to manually enter data back at the office.

Of course with all of these great applications for mobile, there are security concerns both for the device and the networks. Luckily there are many events that help make sense of the security, the infrastructure, and the applications helping agencies make a move to mobile.

• Mid-Sized City/County CIO Summit (July 18; Virginia Beach, VA) - This gathering of IT leaders from cities with fewer than 500,000 residents and counties with less than 1,000,000 residents focuses on how to meet the shared challenges with limited resources and budgets. Discussions will include tips for moving into the mobile
• IoT Workshop: Assembling the IoT Ecosystem (July 25; Washington, DC) -- Most federal agencies, without realizing it, have already done half the work of developing Internet of Things-based applications. This event focuses on how to put in place the policies, processes, and technologies to leverage the data coming in from mobile devices.
• Gartner Catalyst Conference (August 20-23; San Diego, CA) - Mobile is one of the "game changers" that will be discussed at this event. Experts, including respected Gartner analysts, discuss the skill sets needed to utilize emerging technologies to create new digital opportunities.
• ATARC Federal Mobile Technology Summit (August 30; Washington, DC) - This event will examine the mobile tools and techniques being used by the Federal Government to provide agencies with greater efficiency and cost savings. The event qualifies for 7.5 CPE credits.
• DC5G: The Path to Commercialization (November 12-13; Washington, DC) - With 5G rolling out in 2020, the 5G community is coming together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of this next generation of connectivity.

Let us know where you are getting your mobile education. Share your must attend events in the comments.