Archives: James Mersol

• Cybersecurity

IT modernization is one of the foremost initiatives across the federal government, and cybersecurity is proving to be a key component in that initiative.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Christopher Krebs did something unusual at this year’s Cybersecurity Summit.

As an early cloud adopter, GSA has closed 120 data centers, saving the agency approximately $8.5 million annually.

“We have to be intentional in understanding what our citizens are expecting and how they expect to receive those services. We have to fundamentally change how we deliver against those expectations … We need to use every lever we can to drive transformation.”

• Cybersecurity
• Workforce

Educating everyone about security is especially important as paradigms surrounding cybersecurity shift. Traditionally, experts thought of a strong perimeter as the most important way to defend critical networks and systems.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Uncategorized

The most time-consuming part of any survey or study is taking the information and categorizing it into actionable data. Some government leaders are turning to artificial intelligence to alleviate the burden.

As federal agencies work to consolidate their IT offices, modernize legacy systems and secure essential data, they can rest assured that there are leaders in Congress working to ensure they have the guidance and funding to encourage those efforts.

• Health IT

DHA has updated TRICARE Online (TOL), for example, to include several services that provide active-duty service members, veterans and their families with 24/7 access to care and online health services.

• Health IT

Cybersecurity does not have to be an impediment to delivering efficient health care if security professionals are incorporated much earlier in the development process...

The military's new electronic health record program, MHS Genesis, has moved beyond rollout at initial operating capability sites and will begin rollout in the “Travis Wave” (named for Travis Air Force Base, one of the first bases in the wave) Sept. 7.

• Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotic process automation are at the forefront of emerging technologies for both the public and private sectors.

• Cybersecurity
• Workforce

In an effort to draw upon talents and aptitudes within the federal government to close the cybersecurity workforce gap, earlier this year the Federal CIO Council created the Cyber Reskilling Academy, a full-time, three-month-long program for federal employees outside of IT roles to learn the necessary skills to become cybersecurity experts.