Automation, more specifically IT Automation. What is it, who's using it, why is it important?

Lets start with what it is. . . IT Automation is the use of software to create repeatable instructions and processes, also known as a playbook, with the intention of replacing or reducing the amount of human interaction required with IT systems.

But wait. . . Doesn't that mean they're coming for our jobs?!?! No, but it does mean that instead of running around your environment putting out fires, you can spend more time focusing on big picture items and other processes.

Government agencies store large volumes of information. Yet poor data quality and a lack of collaboration across functions can be stumbling blocks to information governance.  Some of the data is dirty, messy, and non-standardized making data sharing a challenge. Without holistic data governance, data is chaotic

But some organizations still see data governance as it used to be – siloed projects focused on compliance. Government enterprises spend all their time struggling to implement data governance. And, in the end, no one trusts the data.

When it comes to network modernization and security, federal IT may be experiencing a case of dueling personalities. On one side, network modernization is essential to a better security posture. This is because outdated legacy IT systems are more prone to vulnerabilities and were never designed to handle today’s threat landscape. However, the very act of modernizing networks may actually be making those networks less secure, at least in the short term.

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

Shutdown, sequestration, budget cuts. With challenges like these, how can government agencies even attempt to build and sustain an engaging workplace where employees are satisfied, productive, committed and, let’s face it, less likely to leave.

There’s a lot of buzz about blockchain these days, even in government. In fact, we predict that 2018 will be the year of blockchain in government. Blockchain’s inherent security makes it resistant to data manipulation, making it a great tool for securely recording transactions between two parties, everything from medical records, contracts, transactions, even online voting.

On October 18th, DLT competed at a fun and spirited “Demo Jam” contest during the Red Hat’s public sector annual meeting at Kingsmill.  The demo had to be live, no longer than eight minutes and had to showcase at least one Red Hat product.  We included nine Red Hat products, plus quite a few other technologies, taking a lighthearted look at the internet of things.  Against stiff competition and by audience selection, we won first place!  Unfortunately, the audio on any recording of the event itself was drowned out by cheers, tambourines and cow bells,

No sooner do you have your arms around one cybersecurity vulnerability then another surfaces. This time it’s Meltdown and Spectre, both of which can cause data leak from kernel memory. These vulnerabilities are particularly worrying since they impact practically all computers and involve multiple IT vendors including processor players Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and ARM.

When you think of learning or professional development in the workplace, what thoughts spring to mind? Enduring another lunch and learn where a colleague shares their insights? Struggling to stay awake through another PowerPoint?

That kind of learning can be drudgery, even if it does come with a free lunch. But it doesn’t have to be that way. As Natalie Portman said: “I don’t love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.”

The 70:20:10 Rule

There’s been a lot of buzz about blockchain in 2017. It was only a few months ago in March 2017 that Betanews predicted that blockchain would be the buzzword that would take 2017 by storm. And it did, expanding beyond the financial community where it’s had a home for several years and breaking into other enterprise sectors.

But few foretold that blockchain would have such a hand in government digital transformation in 2017. In fact, the two go hand in hand.

What is Blockchain?