Providing the right information to the right people at the right time is at the heart of national security. But there are many technical and cultural challenges to data collection, storage, access, and integration that must be addressed to fully leverage digital technologies, enhance collaboration, and ensure the protection of critical information.

At the 2023 DoDIIS Worldwide Conference, GovExec interviewed Col. Michael Medgyessy, Chief Information Officer for the Air Force Intelligence Community, and me on how the U.S. Department of Defense can embrace the innovative implementation of cloud and data integration and how industry partners can support these cloud and modernization efforts through effective collaboration, secure information sharing and innovative solutions. To view the full interview, click here (opens a new window).

Key Takeaways from our 2023 DoDIIS Dispatch:

Zero Trust Data Sharing Cost Savings:
According to Col. Medgyessy, Zero Trust not only applies to security, but to information sharing. This creates potential costs savings in collapsing separate networks for health data, secure data etc. into one network where information is protected and controlled at the data layer. 

“Capabilities are being delivered at the speed of relevance.” – Col Medgyessy

Mission Advantages of Hyperscale Cloud Environments: 

The amount of data to be processed is exponentially growing. Pattern recognition and decision-making must happen at a speed that can’t be done without automation. Leveraging supporting industry cloud technology and services lets teams focus on their unique capabilities and mission objectives.  

“Accreditation for platforms where multi-domain or multi-level security is necessary can take 18 to 24 months. Mission objectives can't wait that long.” – Tony West

Matching the Speed of Innovation:
Access to controlled, sensitive, classified data is at the heart of decision making. The capabilities are there today, but policies and technology must innovate in tandem to keep up with the security needs of modern use cases like AI and ML. Accreditation for platforms where multi-domain or multi-level security is necessary can take 18 to 24 months. Mission objectives can't wait that long. 

Consolidated Data Standards:
Competing opinions and governance around intelligence community and DoD data create a challenge. Policy maker support for standardization on one data model and accredited data types lets industry vendors offer solutions that deliver consistent security standards for moving data. They can develop innovative concepts for data aggregation, synthesizing and dissemination across agencies and global governments securely. 

Watch the full interviews (opens a new window) and hear more about the strategies we discussed around safely enabling collaboration and information sharing while also moving at mission speed – whether on the ground, in the air, at sea or in an office.