On Tax Day, 2018, the unthinkable (but not unexpected) happened. The IRS’ IT system crashed after a hardware issue took down a number of apps including those that interface with third-party tax preparation software as well as the IRS Direct Pay application.

IRS IT Systems are Decades Old

Blockchain is no longer just a buzzword or simply a “technology to watch.” This database technology is being explored by agencies across government, from the General Services Administration (GSA) to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), from the Federal Maritime Commission to military supply chain professionals across the Department of Defense (DoD).

The promise of blockchain is dramatic. It can help enhance agencies’ business processes and provide far greater transparency and efficiency.

IoT Demo: Here

Blog Part 1: Setting the Stage

Blog Part 2: Architecting the Scene

What does the U.S. government have to do with “connected cars”? Quite a lot.

Government shutdowns are a costly business. The 2013 shutdown cost $24 billion in lost economic output while the 1996 shutdown resulted in $2.1 billion in government costs. We are yet to learn the impact, if any, of the three-day 2018 shutdown.

But, what we do know is that shutdowns are not universal. For many critical government employees, the lights never go out. Here’s just a shortlist:

Veterans Affairs (VA) remained operational.