The Department of Veterans Affairs is at the forefront in embracing mobile solutions in support of the agency’s mission to provide healthcare, financial assistance, and other benefits for veterans.
Federal Technology Insider recently interviewed Mr. Charles De Sanno, Executive Director, Systems Engineering at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the first part of our series, Mr. De Sanno provided candid insights into the agency’s mobility efforts and offered other agencies a set of tried and tested best practices. During the second installment, Mr. De Sanno provided tips for implementing a mobile strategy.
In our final post, he discusses the concept of ‘ubiquitous computing,’ as well as provides his vision for the future of mobility and government.
Federal Technology Insider: What is your perspective on ubiquitous computing?
De Sanno: Ubiquitous computing comes down to the concept of using any device for accessing and using any type of data in a highly secure fashion. This data should be stored, whether in a private or public cloud, and the devices should be used in ways where the end-user can control how they want to use the device. Users can have access to certain secure servers in the cloud at anytime. This is the ubiquitous nature of this new innovation evolution. When you look at today’s technology, we are just about there.
In terms of BYOD, the problem is not with the technology though — it comes down to implementing the right policies. It also involves understanding that all parties have to give up certain freedoms to make this a reality and to keep the data secure. In addition, government IT departments can easily ask for the devices back for examination and management, which may not be the case with personal devices.
Ubiquitous computing all comes down to giving employees access to the information that need to be more effective. While BYOD may be a challenge right now, I view it as the future of computing and it will ultimately help agencies save a tremendous amount of money.
Federal Technology Insider: Tell us about the power of Information as a Service (IaaS) and BYOD.
De Sanno: This is the new paradigm where the mobile device is the new client and IaaS can be applied in ways that are highly cost effective. The mobile device is no different than the desktop, and it should be viewed this way when ensuring that the right data infrastructure is in place.
Mobile applications should be viewed in the same way as desktop applications. Most people go to the Apple store when they have issues with their devices. Agencies need to develop these types of help desk services for federal employees when issues arise with their mobile devices and applications.
At the VA, we crawled before we walked and walked before we ran. As such, we learned how to deliver apps with continuity, as well as responded to these changes in a more agile manner.
Again, it’s not just about delivering an app to the users. You always need to look at ROI and how it will impact the customer. Everything needs to be done for the right reason and at the right security levels.
Federal Technology Insider: Is there anything else you would like add that we did not cover?
De Sanno: Mobile computing is the most exciting thing to happen in IT in the past 25 years. Every aspect of IT can now reside in the hand of the user. If we look at how the Internet changed commerce and how we communicate, and now mobility is changing how we access information. This is ultimately empowering the end user and the technology will continue to mature in ways that allow for ubiquitous access to information in ways we never imagined.
We would like to thank Mr. De Sanno for taking part in this exclusive three-part series with Federal Technology Insider.
