The Fed Mission Success Round Up: Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Technology, and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification in Federal Agencies

Welcome to the Fed Mission Success News Round Up brought to you by Makpar. Each week, we will provide a summary of actionable news and insights to help aid in overall mission success for Federal agency IT decision-makers and influencers. 

Top 12 Ways Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Healthcare

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a number of advantages over traditional analytics and clinical decision-making techniques.  Learning algorithms can become more precise and accurate as they interact with training data, allowing humans to gain unprecedented insights into diagnostics, care processes, treatment variability, and patient outcomes.

Deputy Defense Secretary Says US Needs to Defend Its Artificial Intelligence Better

Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety is often overlooked in the private sector, but Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks wants the Defense Department to lead a cultural change.

Homeland Security Wants to ‘Cut Through the Hype’ of AI, Find Best Uses Only

Something fundamental to AI and machine learning is data cataloging, and while the Department of Homeland Security has several data architecture efforts underway, the bulk of AI activities will revolve around moving from data centers to cloud computing.

Lawmaker Says Pentagon Cloud Migration Shouldn’t Stumble Because of JEDI Delays

While Department of Defense (DOD) officials and experts say cloud at DOD has advanced steadily since JEDI was originally awarded to Microsoft in 2019, many agree that the agency still needs an enterprise capability. Whether that means the Pentagon stands by JEDI, tries for a JEDI redux, or pursues a new solution entirely remains to be seen.

GSA Set to Alter Cloud Buying Landscape with New Policy

GSA released its second draft policy to industry in May that would let agencies buy cloud services “by the drink” through the schedule contract. A second draft policy created by Jeff Koses, GSA’s senior procurement executive, outlines how this buying approach would work under the schedule contract, including not requiring the Price Reduction Clause, which mandates vendors give the government their lowest price at all times, and what type of contract and how the funding would work.

Pentagon CMMC Review Aims to Address Small Biz Cost Concerns, ‘Restore Trust’ in Assessment Processes

The Pentagon’s high-level review of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification remains ongoing, but officials are intent on addressing small business concerns about compliance costs among other changes to the much-debated program.

Electronics Manufacturers Send Warning Shot Across CMMC’s Bow

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program recently reached an important milestone, naming the first several certified third-party assessment organizations. The question now is whether vendors will decide it’s not worth the time or cost.

From the Makpar Blog …

In case you missed it, here are our latest blog posts:

• Beyond Passwords: Identity Access Management in the Digital Age

• Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with Asian Immigrant Contributions to Tech

• Tips for Remote Agile Scrum Ceremonies: How to Optimize for Success

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• Increasing Federal IT Efficiency: How to Streamline the ATO Process Leveraging DevSecOps

• Tackling the Challenges of Big Data for Federal Agencies

• How Agencies Can Score Quick Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) Victories

• PODCAST: How the Federal Government can Overcome Barriers to Agile Transformation

• CIO-SP4 BPA, BIC MAC, and POLARIS Contracts to Drive Further Government Innovation

• Makpar Applauds Appointment of First Native American U.S. Cabinet Member

• The Cybersecurity Framework That Keeps You and Your Family Safe as You Access Your IRS Records for Stimulus Checks

• Data Security Win: Virginia is Second State in U.S. to Pass Data Protection Legislation

• How Decentralized Decision Making Can Help Federal Agencies Adopt a More Agile Practice

• 4 Ways to Migrate a Workload to the Cloud for Federal Government Agencies

• PODCAST: The SolarWinds Breach Points to Need for Cyber Fundamentals

• In Response to The SolarWinds Breach: The Need to Return to Cybersecurity Fundamentals.

• Is the Product Owner the Most Important Role in Government Agile Development?

• Cloud Migration Primer for Federal Agencies

• Breaking Down Cultural Barriers to Cloud Adoption for Federal Government Agencies

• Cybersecurity Best Practices for Federal Agencies, Small/Medium Businesses, and Individuals

Makpar has over a decade of experience providing high-level strategic and project management services, focused on cybersecurity and cutting-edge technologies. Please contact us here for more information about how we can enhance mission success for your agency.