DISA’s Latest Data Strategy

In March 2025, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) released its FY25-FY27 data strategy. The strategy consists of three lines of effort (LOE) and follows DISA’s Data Strategy Implementation Plan for FY 2022-2024. IT Companies interested in contracting with DISA should be aware of the data strategy as the strategy will influence DISA’s IT procurement decisions over the next two years.

LOE 1: Strengthen Data Architecture and Governance

The first line of effort in DISA’s FY2025-2027 data strategy is to strengthen data architecture and governance. It contains three sub-lines of effort:

• Treat and secure data as a strategic asset
• Streamline data infrastructure and promote robust data sharing
• Increase data maturity using robust governance and management

Line of Effort 1 focuses largely on internal data governance policies, though it still indicates agency goals offering opportunities to private companies. For example, the plan’s call to implement data tagging and metadata management means there will likely be more demand for metadata services and data management and cloud services making data tagging easier should see a boost in marketability to the agency.

This line of effort also seeks to consolidate data sharing requests, implement centralized data warehouses, improve interoperability through data standards and information models, and continuously evaluate and improve data quality. These initiatives all create opportunities for savvy IT companies seeking to sell to DISA.

LOE 2: Integrate Advanced Analytics

This line of effort entails such initiatives as creating and implementing analytical models to support decision-making, increasing the use of DISA Data Lab self-service analytics tools and platform, optimizing data infrastructure to enable the infrastructure to better support AI/ML models and implementing interoperable data solutions compatible with different cloud platforms. Like line of effort 1, LOE 2 also includes three sub-lines of effort:

• Facilitate data-driven decision-making
• Accelerate AI and ML adoption across [DISA’s] services
• Interoperability frameworks and data standards

The second line of effort demonstrates a strong interest by DISA in further incorporating AI/ML into its big data services. Based on LOE 2, vendors selling AI/ML services and vendors selling non-AI/ML services that still facilitate the implementation of AI/ML, such as certain cloud platforms, should expect to see a boost in marketability to DISA. Cloud computing, high-performance computing, and similar services will all be additional targets for DISA as the agency works to expand its analytical capabilities. If you sell such data infrastructure, tout your infrastructure solutions’ scalability, as DISA’s data strategy states its AI and ML adoption will be achieved, in part, through investing in scalable data infrastructure.

Furthermore, the agency plans to implement data further into its decision-making processes, increase automation and data sharing, establish data standards, identify authoritative data sources and streamline model development. Expect additional opportunities for model-development tools and automation solutions and tout any efforts you take to ensure the quality of the data your tools utilize.

LOE 3: Cultivate a Data-Centric Culture

The final line of effort in the two-year data strategy is about building a workforce trained to take advantage of data. Like the previous two lines of effort, LOE 3 contains three sub-lines of effort:

• Increase data literacy through professional development opportunities
• Embed data stewardship roles and responsibilities into [DISA’s] workforce
• Mature the use and awareness of knowledge management

While the third line of effort focuses on internal workforce policy, LOE 3 still offers some guidance for IT companies wishing to sell to DISA. For example, e-learning companies providing data literacy education may find numerous opportunities through DISA’s workforce initiatives. Additionally, given line of effort three includes a stated initiative to increase the number of DISA data visualization agents, opportunities for data visualization are likely to increase. DISA will likely be interested in those tools that can help monitor and manage the effectiveness of these training and recruitment programs.

IT companies would be wise to consider this two-year plan when selling to DISA. Emphasize if your solutions can facilitate the implementation of AI/ML, enhance data interoperability, or assist in data management. Data analytic tools that can help monitor training and recruitment programs, assist in data interoperability and streamline the model development process should also see interest from DISA. Additionally, solutions rely on data, such as AI models that have been pre-trained or you sell data sources will assure DISA of the accuracy of your data sources. Cost savings, reducing technical debt and data management will remain key focus areas for the agency over the next two years.

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About the Author:
Gabriel is a Sr Market Insights Data Analyst at TD SYNNEX Public Sector whose work focuses on using quantitative and qualitative analysis to provide actionable insights to TD SYNNEX’s vendors and resellers in the public sector.