Continuing Cloud Innovation

Use of Cloud Computing is now standard practice across federal, state, and local government agencies, but that does not mean the technology is growing stale. Organizations are finding new ways to use the flexibility of cloud computing to deliver on their missions.

Radio in the Clouds

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is examining options for a "transition from hardware-based ground radio processing to cloud-based software applications." In practice, this would mean digitizing NOAA radio frequencies using devices that are software-driven, rather than traditional hardware-based devices, to support the agency's satellite programs' need for telemetry processing--the reading and transmission of data from a remote source.

Assessing Financial Risk

Use of cloud technology enables complex analysis to happen quickly, arming people with insights that can drive more informed decisions. As the COVID-19 pandemic was having its initial impact on the economy in 2020, Fannie Mae used cloud systems to assess potential risks and to develop new tools to help homeowners. The Bureau of Fiscal Service at the Department of Treasury is using cloud to store, access and analyze data from across the department; break down data silos, and build a platform to support AI and machine learning. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the nation's securities industry self-regulator, uses cloud platforms to give hundreds of analysts and partners access to terabytes of financial trading data daily to queries that inform investment advice.

Modernizing Supply Chain Management

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced they will stand down the use of the server-based Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS) system for managing internal medical logistics at military hospitals or clinics, including in war zones. The legacy system was proving unable to scale to meet the needs of all facilities and allow for integration across the department. Instead, the VA's new supply chain system will be cloud-based and managed by a new Office of Enterprise Supply Chain Modernization.

GovEvents and GovWhitePapers have numerous resources that detail the current cloud usage and future applications of, and developments with, cloud technology.

• ITModTalks (March 15, 2023; Arlington, VA) - Join the top decision-makers from government and tech as they discuss ongoing efforts in federal IT modernization, the continued move to modern, cloud-based systems, and what is in store with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
• Informatica World (May 8-11, 2023; Las Vegas, NV) - Featuring some of the world's brightest minds in cloud, data and AI, this event allows attendees to connect, network and learn the latest cloud data management strategies and best practices.
• Hybrid Cloud Best Practices (June 1, 2023; virtual) - This virtual workshop will share a few examples of successful hybrid cloud deployments and associated lessons learned.
• Building for Secure MultiCloud Environments within State and Local Agencies (white paper) - While managing a decentralized ecosystem presents many challenges and complexities, the rewards can be huge-improving delivery of critical services through an optimized workforce, increased security, improved cloud cost-effectiveness, lowered technical debt from legacy applications, and an acceleration in time-to-business value. Read insights and ideas shared by Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from state and local governments about their multicloud experiences.
• How Cloud Computing is Enabling Artificial Intelligence (white paper) - Technology experts from various federal agencies discuss ways the cloud has evolved to allow for new and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as share some of the challenges they face when developing and testing new technologies in current environments.

For more on government cloud usage trends, visit GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.