Federal agencies increasingly are looking to adopt innovative technologies to improve the management and delivery of services. Data, in particular, is seen as a critical resource, with advanced analytics providing critical insights that help agencies meet their missions.
94% of enterprises say data and analytics are important to their business growth and digital transformation. – Forbes
However, data needs context or its insights will remain unclear. A data fabric, which works across clouds and on-premise data, can help agencies understand their data. Combined with cloud’s scalability, a data fabric makes an ideal foundation for advanced analytics on any amount of data. With advanced analytics, agencies can gain intelligent perspectives in real time for smarter decision-making.
On average, between 60% and 73% of all data within an enterprise goes unused for analytics. – Mike Gualtieri, VP, Principal Analyst at Forrester
Safeguarding Data Integrity
Trustworthy data is vital for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). AI machines mimic human cognitive behaviors, such as learning, making the tools potentially revolutionary.
“Our most critical asset today is data, we’re collecting data in amounts we’ve never seen before… What we forget in our exuberance is that the success of those technologies depends on that data…”
–Kiersten Todt, former Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity
“What we forget in our exuberance is that the success of those technologies depends on that data,” Todt said of the excitement for emerging technologies. “It’s about making sure data isn’t poisoned. The integrity is something we can stand by.”
Cloud, then, is a potential game changer for agencies because it can weave all their data together accurately. Agencies can use the resulting data fabric to enable any tool they need for mission success. Data fabric encompasses all an agency’s data from its various locations and sources. Gradually, agencies that combine their data with cloud can become as innovative as any private business.
This article is an excerpt from GovLoop’s recent report, “Narrowing the Divide Between Federal and Commercial Tech,” download the full report here to learn how to navigate digital transformation with Cloud Smart.
