Law enforcement and national security depends on adaptation—adaptation to the economy, adaptation to technology and adaptation to criminal methodologies. As budgetary cutbacks become commonplace in the Federal government, creativity in new technology initiatives must take precedence as agencies are increasingly expected to do more with less. Law enforcement agencies and officers will need to use new tools, including, data analytics, secu...

The budget has become more than just a battleground for agencies and IT shops, it’s become an issue of national debate. The result: a $1.2 trillion cut to federal spending over the next decade. With no agency or department off-limits, initiatives like data center consolidation, cloud computing and mobile government become even more important. But to be successful in this new environment, agencies will need to consider more than individua...

25-Point Plan: What’s Next in IT Management Reform in 2012 In April, Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra gave an update on the 25-Point Plan to reform information technology. During that update, it was noted that seven objectives had already been delivered and all but two were on track including reducing duplicate data and consolidating data centers. As the new Federal Chief Information Officer takes over the top IT post, how...

In the last ten years, the number of data centers has more than tripled. With the mandated consolidation policy put into effect in February 2010, departments are beginning to follow recently developed roadmaps for shrinking server farms. The aim of this consolidation policy is to reduce IT costs, lower energy consumption, occupy less real estate, strengthen IT security and expand the use of cloud computing. While there is no set timeline to co...

The Federal government invests $70 billion per year in information technology. This might seem like a sizeable amount to go around; however, government agencies are constantly challenged to do more with less, and they are learning ways to be nimble and deliver additional services with fewer resources. The Administration’s Open Government Directive signaled the reemergence of IT innovation and the Web as a platform for collaboration and c...