Data plays a vital role in an agency’s ability to make strategic decisions that drive mission goals. However, many agencies still rely heavily on outdated legacy systems that hinder their ability to use data strategically. To improve data management, many agencies are transitioning to hybrid or multi-cloud environments. However, since this data is often spread across multiple environments, it can introduce new challenges, such as increased data complexity and decreased visibility as a result. To overcome these challenges, agencies can use a data virtualization platform to improve their ability to leverage data as a strategic asset at every stage of the cloud journey.
Many federal agencies are already utilizing a hybrid or multi-cloud environment or are in the process of migrating data sets to a cloud environment. However, for many agencies, migrating to the cloud has been anything but simple as Paul Moxon, SVP Data Architectures & Chief Evangelist at Denodo, explained in a recent webinar. “It’s not the physical movement of the data that’s the challenge,” Moxon said. “The big challenge is really around how do I manage my data? How do I let users access my data? How do I minimize the impact of the migration on the user community? They’re the challenges that you really face.”
Moxon went on to explain that a data virtualization platform could help agencies use data strategically at every stage of their cloud journey. Data virtualization platforms provide users with access to real-time, verified data stored across multiple environments on a single screen without moving the data. Using one of these platforms can help to decrease complexity and increase an agency’s data visibility and data sharing capabilities.
In an interview with CDO magazine, Justin Marsico, Chief Data Officer and Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the U.S. Bureau of the Fiscal Service, explained how many government executives are facing the same challenges on their cloud journey. To overcome these challenges, Marsico recommended that agencies integrate tools to create an environment that can leverage data as a strategic asset. “Digital native companies view data as more than a byproduct of a transaction,” he said. Marsico went on to say that agencies with a data-first mindset design their systems to use data strategically, rather than trying to “shoehorn” legacy systems to produce the same value.
Data virtualization platforms can enable a data-first mindset by making data-driven decision faster, which can help agencies to meet Executive Orders around improving cybersecurity and modernizing federal services. By improving data visibility, agencies can enable better data security, data hygiene, and data sharing capabilities, which will help to establish more proactive cybersecurity. In addition, these same benefits can help to improve public trust by providing more secure services and using data strategically to find new ways for improving customer experiences.
Data will continue to play an important role in government to improve cybersecurity and modernize services. To best use this data, agencies need to adopt tools that help them to navigate the challenges of the cloud and improve data visibility. With a data virtualization platform, agencies can use data strategically to further mission goals.
Learn more about how agencies can improve their ability to use data strategically with a data virtualization platform here.