Government agencies strive to lower the cost of products and services to save taxpayers money. They also aim to shorten “procurement administrative lead time,” or PALT—the time from identification of need to delivery of value—to expedite their missions without delay. 

Case work is the universal working style of government agencies. Everything from handling customer service inquiries to issuing permits to responding to weather events—in short, any workflow a public sector organization handles—is a “case” that requires a systematic approach from start to finish.

Edge computing is transforming the public sector, providing increased efficiency, better decision-making, and improved services. The use of AI and machine learning is driving the adoption of edge computing in both federal and state/local government sectors. We will be examining what edge computing means for the public sector, explore recent developments and specific federal contracts, and discuss opportunities for information technology (IT) vendors and partners in this growing field.

This is part of a podcast series where the TD SYNNEX Public Sector Market Insights team provides insights and analysis on IT opportunities across the public sector. This episode features Kevin Shaker, Senior Manager of Lead Gen & Market Intelligence where he discusses the opportunities around, and how to navigate, the federal government’s fiscal year-end. Listen to the full podcast here.

Recently, we covered the top highlights and technology pinpoints to hone in on for the DoD’s share of the FY24 federal budget request. We’ll take a look at the civilian side of things as well, spotlighting five agencies in particular that will likely have among the biggest IT projects and initiatives across the federal civilian landscape in the next fiscal year. Spoiler alert – there’s a lot of funding to go around.

It’s March again, and that means the madness of the tournament, or rather the federal budget process, has begun. It’s the time of year when the federal government places its bets on priorities and initiatives that will require funding in the coming year(s). We’ll take a look at the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) specific call-outs, what to watch for, and where you might place your own technologies across the complex landscape of agencies.

Readiness, R&D, and Dominance

The Department of Navy (DON) recently held its annual WEST Conference, this year with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity. The conference brought together key decision-makers from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, along with experts from various industries and government officials. The discussions were broad-ranging, covering topics related to naval warfare, technology, innovation, and cybersecurity.

At a recent Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) DC luncheon, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Director Lt. Gen. Robert J. Skinner highlighted three key priorities for the fiscal year 2023: posture, position and partnerships. These priorities reflect the agency's ongoing efforts to meet the changing threats of today and secure the future of its information systems.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has seen increased malicious activity with ransomware attacks against K 12 educational institutions. Malicious cyber actors target school computer systems, slowing access, and rendering the systems inaccessible to essential functions, including remote learning. In some instances, ransomware actors stole and threatened to leak confidential student data unless institutions paid a ransom.

Ransomware attacks on US government organizations cost $18.9bn in 2020.

The Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) conference took place in San Antonio, Texas from December 12-15. Its annual gathering of industry and government personnel invites networking, exhibitors and speakers to take on the top IT challenges currently facing the Department of Defense (DOD). Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Dr. Stacy Dixon, spoke to the audience at large regarding data, its challenges, and opportunities within the intelligence community (IC).