One of the foundational tenets of zero trust architecture is Identity – providing credentials for every person and device – in order to manage access to government systems, whether entering from the outside or moving laterally from within. In other words, identity, credential and access management (ICAM) should be addressed as a whole, not as separate point solutions. This applies across all systems, all platforms, and all environm...

After several high-profile cyber incidents resulting from exploited vulnerabilities, the Office of Management and Budget released a memorandum (M-22-09) in 2022 that requires agencies to adopt a Federal Zero-Trust architecture. This new architecture includes a key element: requiring agencies to meet specific cyber standards, including application security testing, by the end of 2024. Two elements of modern software are growing in importance fo...

For government agencies, case management – delivering services to people and businesses – is the heart of their mission. In almost all cases, however, case management systems have gotten more complicated, more difficult to manage, and more expensive. Agencies today depend on legacy, siloed systems that have changed through kludges, “an ill-assorted collection of parts assembled to fulfill a particular purpose.” Rip-and-...

One of the biggest social issues the U.S. faces today is how to achieve health equity, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach and maintain their best level of personal health. The challenges are many, systemic, and interconnected – economic, institutional, educational, and social barriers prevent many with the greatest needs from being able to access the care and information they require. Over the past decades there have...

Government agencies below the federal level – whether state, local, tribal, or territorial (SLTT) – face the same cyber threats as their national counterparts, but without the same level of resources dedicated to their protection. To help address this problem, in September the Department of Homeland Security announced two new grant programs specifically to boost cybersecurity for SLTT agencies, and published the Notice of Funding O...

As agencies pursue their zero trust goals in line with Executive Order 14028, “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity,” and the Office of Management and Budget’s memorandum setting a Federal Zero Trust Strategy, it is easy to focus on technology solutions. But that overlooks something fundamental about both the challenge and the purpose of moving to zero trust – the human beings that actually will use the redesigned...

Providing for our national defense, responding to natural disasters, and securing our infrastructure are just a snapshot of the kinds of services Americans expect of their government. Behind these activities are the 2.1 million federal civil servants who bring government agencies to life. These organizations are only as strong as their workforces are empowered and motivated. That motivation must be built on a combination of an unbreakable comm...

The upheaval in the American workforce due to the Covid-19 pandemic and volatility in the nation’s economy provide a perfect opportunity for the government to retain the next generation of employees. Gen X workers are generally between 40 and 54 years old, in the prime of their lives, concerned with stability and opportunities to improve their own and their families’ quality of life. The Gen Z cadre, roughly 20 to 24 years old, are...

There is increased focus within agencies at all levels of government on “environmental, social and governance” (ESG) policies – already making an impact in the business world – as a framework for agencies to minimize their environmental impact while creating an inclusive and values-led culture for employees. It’s also about creating equitable experiences for the people and organizations they serve. For instance, i...

It’s that time of year again, when agencies must deal with the effects of operating under a congressional Continuing Resolution. This is not a new exercise – according to an August report by the Government Accountability Office, the federal government has had to operate under CRs in 43 of the past 46 years. While a CR generally continues the funding levels set in the previous fiscal year’s budget, it hurts agencies’ abi...