2013 was clearly a year of challenges and opportunities for federal IT. We witnessed a dramatic increase in big data, cloud computing, and mobility solutions, while sequestration and the government shutdown created significant budget challenges. Here are Federal Technology Insider’s picks for the Top 10 stories in 2013 that highlighted key trends and insights in federal IT.
#10: NIST Director Patrick Gallagher Discusses Headway on Cybersecurity
Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Department of Commerce’s NIST, provided Federal Technology Insider with an overview of the cybersecurity framework that he is heading.
#9: Will Your Network Survive The Big Squeeze?
In the next budget cycle, IT managers are being asked not only to make government networks more secure, but also to improve their operational efficiency, enable mobility, and open both networks and data to deliver mission critical services.
#8: The Importance of Public-Private Partnerships: NIST and McAfee Join Forces to Bolster Cyber Security
Tom Gann, Vice President of Government Relations for McAfee, discussed McAfee’s role in NIST’s National Cybersecurity Excellence Partnership, which is part of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE).
#7: Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative Needs More Work in 2013
Nearly two years after the launch of the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative (FDCCI), there is still much more work to be done.
#6: Securing Our National Critical Infrastructure: How Public-Private Partnerships Work Together to Address Rampant Vulnerabilities
Marc Blackmer, Senior Manager of Industry Solutions at Sourcefire, discussed why creating a separate plan for critical infrastructure is an imperative party of network protection.
#5: FISMA Scores Fall Slightly, Number of Cybersecurity Incidents Continue to Rise
According to a report released by the White House computer security incidents affecting the federal government increased by 5 percent in 2012 over 2011 numbers. Along with death and taxes we can now be assured that the number of cybersecurity incidents will continue to rise.
#4: Charles De Sanno, Executive Director, Systems Engineering for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Discusses Mobility
Charles De Sanno, Executive Director, Systems Engineering at the Department of Veterans Affairs, offered his insights into the agency’s mobility efforts – providing a case study for other agencies to follow.
#3: Anil Karmel, Deputy CTO of the National Nuclear Security Administration, Discusses Next-Generation Cloud Efforts with YOURcloud and Much More
Anil Karmel, Deputy CTO, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) shared his insights into YOURcloud, the agency’s cloud computing environment for managing data more securely, efficiently, and effectively.
#2: Software Defined Networking – Here’s What You Need to Know
2013 proved to be a popular year for Software Defined Networking (SDN) implementations by federal government agencies. Agencies are using SDN to meet growing application and user demands without the need to replace, or purchase, physical devices.
#1: Kimberly Hancher, CIO of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Discusses BYOD Successes
Kimberly Hancher, CIO of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), provided some candid insights regarding the agency’s new Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) pilot program.
In your opinion, what were the biggest federal IT trends for 2013?
