Artificial Intelligence Archives - Page 12 of 15 - | ̽��Ƶ| ̽��Ƶ

Elevating State and Local Government Services in California Through Transformative Technology

Posted on by Robert Moore

State and Local Government agencies are constantly seeking ways to improve their services and processes to better serve their constituents and must embrace new technologies, prioritize cybersecurity and ensure data privacy to achieve this goal. These important topics were discussed by Government IT and industry leaders at the ̽��Ƶ Digital Transformation Roadshow in San Jose, California. Speakers covered how to implement emerging technologies, enhance customer experience and protect constituents’ privacy and security through innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data privacy solutions.

Innovating Service Delivery to Constituents

Using advanced technologies can significantly elevate service delivery to constituents in several ways. Firstly, it can enhance the speed and efficiency of Government services, allowing constituents to access information and services more quickly and easily. Secondly, advanced technologies improve the accuracy and quality of Government services through data analytics that help identify patterns and trends, reduce errors and improve outcomes. Finally, advanced technologies increase transparency and accountability, allowing constituents to track the progress of their requests and hold agencies accountable for their actions.

State and Local agencies are often faced with a lack of resources, making it imperative to leverage new technologies and processes to save time and money. The updated systems must also be secured to protect their constituents’ data which requires significant planning, resources and collaboration to achieve successful implementation. Additionally, agencies must ensure that any changes they make comply with legal and regulatory requirements, such as data privacy laws and accessibility standards.

State and Local Government Roadshow Series California Blog Embedded Image 2024

AI solutions are just one of the successful implementations that has enabled agencies to streamline processes and upgrade service offerings to constituents. The adoption of innovative technologies has facilitated faster and more efficient interactions with constituents, leading to improved customer service and satisfaction. The integration of AI technology for real-time data analysis has also empowered agencies to make informed decisions and respond promptly to community needs.

Assessing the Impact of AI

Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new content, such as images, videos and text based on data it has compiled. By studying generative AI, State and Local agencies can develop policies and guidelines for the responsible use of this technology, including measures to prevent the creation and dissemination of harmful or misleading content.

Additionally, studying generative AI helps Government agencies identify potential applications for this technology that can benefit society, such as creating realistic simulations for training purposes or prompting new scientific discoveries. By understanding the potential benefits and risks of generative AI, agencies can make informed decisions about incorporating this technology in their operations.

If leveraged for services and processes, AI could provide many benefits to State and Local agencies through several means:

Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: handle citizen inquiries, provide information about Government services and assist with simple transactions.
Data Analysis and Predictive Modeling: analyze large volumes of data to identify patterns and trends, enabling State and Local agencies to make data-driven decisions in areas such as public safety, resource allocation and urban planning.
Automation of Routine Tasks: automate repetitive and time-consuming data entry and document processing, freeing up employees to focus on more complex and high-value activities.
Fraud Detection and Prevention: detect and prevent fraudulent activities, such as tax evasion and benefit fraud, thereby safeguarding Government resources and taxpayer funds.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities by providing speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities, as well as other assistive technologies.

Cybersecurity and the Current Threat Landscape

State and Local Government agencies play a crucial role in national security, and their systems and data must be protected to prevent potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. The current threat landscape includes sophisticated cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing attacks and advanced persistent threats. Robust cybersecurity measures are necessary to defend against these evolving threats and prevent disruptions to Government services.

Sensitive citizen data, including personal, financial and health information is often handled by State and Local agencies. Therefore, it is important for agencies to maintain strong cybersecurity and data privacy to uphold the public’s trust and confidence. By adhering to data protection regulations and compliance requirements, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), agencies can preserve the integrity of Government operations.

Several agencies have successfully implemented cybersecurity and data privacy measures:

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to strengthen access controls and protect sensitive systems and data from unauthorized access.
Data encryption to protect sensitive information both at rest and in transit.
Incident response planning to effectively address and mitigate cybersecurity incidents.
Compliance with data protection regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Cybersecurity training and awareness programs to educate employees about cybersecurity best practices, phishing awareness and the importance of data privacy.
Collaboration and information sharing with other agencies, law enforcement and cybersecurity organizations to stay informed about emerging threats and best practices in cybersecurity.

The path to elevating State and Local Government services requires a strategic incorporation of transformative technologies, notably AI, cybersecurity and data privacy. Leveraging advanced technologies can enhance interactions with constituents, fostering efficiency and transparency. Amidst resource constraints, agencies must implement AI solutions while also prioritizing robust cybersecurity measures. Agencies must navigate digital transformation with responsibility, ensuring the delivery of efficient, secure and privacy-focused services, thereby forging a future where technology elevates governance while upholding public trust.

Explore more resources and learn more about ̽��Ƶ’s State and Local Roadshow Series: Digital Transformation by visiting our Roadshow portfolio.

EdTech Talks: Modernizing Education with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Posted on by Tim Boltz

Schools must embrace change alongside their growing generations to equip students for the future. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are two evolving, expansive technologies that are creating a monumental impact in the private and Public Sector, with education institutions being no exception. At ̽��Ƶ’s annual EdTech Talks Summit, education leaders explored how AI and ML are changing the way teachers instruct, the way students learn and the way administrators approach technology in schools.

As a baseline, when considering AI for K-12 and higher education, administrators should follow several guiding principles for responsible and trustworthy use of AI.

Human-centricity: Promote human well-being, individuality and equity
Inclusivity: Ensure accessibility and diverse perspectives
Accountability: Proactively identify and mitigate adverse impacts
Transparency: Instruct students and teachers on proper usage, including potential risks and how decisions are made
Robustness: Operate reliably and safely while enabling mechanisms that assess and manage potential risks
Privacy and security: Respect the privacy of data subjects

Generative AI in Education

Generative AI is still fairly new to the education space and educators are on both sides of the spectrum of acceptance—some prefer to erase it from their schools while others are open to embracing the up-and-coming technology for use cases not only in the classroom, but also to prepare students for the future workforce.

For example, one of the first technologies educators may be inclined to use when adopting AI in the classroom is detection tools. Dr. Anand Rao, Professor of Communications Chair of the Department of Communications and Digital Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia recommends against this technology implementation because it could negatively affect vulnerable students. AI detection is not 100% correct in every instance. For some students, English may not be their first language and a detection tool could potentially identify their work as AI generated because it may be more formulaic. While detection tools can be utilized in a positive way to ensure honesty is upheld within students’ work, teachers and professors should use their discretion to determine the results of detection tools.

AI literacy is one of the most important principles for instructors to explore, deliberate and establish guidelines for. Since generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and other tools like detection programs are still modernizing, students and faculty should go through a test period to learn how they work and understand whether they are comfortable utilizing them. As a next step, IT teams must be prepared to begin implementation and consider cybersecurity in that process.

Analytics and Data in AI

Education data grows exponentially with each new school year; however, collecting, evaluating and taking action based on the insights of that data is a long yet vital process. Instructors and administrators must leverage platforms that can help automate and analyze new and archived data to make the most informed decisions for their schools using the AI analytics lifecycle. This includes managing data efficiently, interpreting observations made about data and finally, creating a plan to incorporate constructive action to address needs discovered via the data. Using this strategy, schools can be better prepared to tackle real world questions and scenarios and provide students and teachers with the tools and processes they need to be successful.

This year’s EdTech Talks Summit event aimed to educate academic IT decision makers and end users about the current challenges and solutions surrounding student growth and development, security, AI and ML and cost-saving, modernization benefits of today’s leading EdTech solutions. The Education sector faces new challenges every school year, and it is imperative now more than ever that the IT industry and Government work together to provide the most safe and successful learning environments for all students.

Visit the EdTech Talks Conference Resource Center to view panel discussions and other innovative insights surrounding security, AI and student success from ̽��Ƶ and our partners.

About ̽��Ƶ in the Education Market��

̽��Ƶ. is The Trusted Education IT Solutions Provider™.����

Together with our technology manufacturers and reseller partners, we are committed to providing IT products, services and training to support Education organizations.����

̽��Ƶ is a leading IT distributor and top-performing E&I Cooperative Services, Golden State Technology Solutions, Internet2, NJSBA, OMNIA Partners and The Quilt contract holder, enhancing student learning and enabling faculty to meet the needs of Higher Education institutions.��

To Learn more about ̽��Ƶ’s Education Solutions, please visit us at

To learn more about ̽��Ƶ’s AI Solutions, please visit us at /solve/ai-machine-learning

The Evolution of Technology in the Defense Industry at DoDIIS

Posted on by Francis Rose

Innovation in Government benefits the changing and growing needs of the nation, and the Department of Defense (DoD) leads the way in both innovation and security. The Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) is a conference for the nation’s top military and technology specialists to share insights revolving around the show’s theme – ‘Chaos to Clarity: Leveraging Emerging Technologies.’ Fed Gov Today joined ̽��Ƶ on the show floor to discuss IT and OT updates, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and priority technology updates with military thought leaders.

Departmental Shift to Information Technology

The DoD aims to refresh technology and standardize user experience across the department as a response to employee feedback. These standards are partially inspired by Zero Trust models and codifying existing standards. Through the implementation of office management and hiring defense digital service experts, agencies will update hardware and endpoints, refresh outdated technology and enhance overall IT capabilities. Executing these standards will require time and financial resources, and to properly utilize all acquired resources, a new generation of industry professionals will need to be onboarded. By building off effective processes from previous initiatives and hiring new talent that is optimally suited for these processes, the department can make strides in software such as cloud computing, generative AI and Zero Trust. The introduction of the Joint Operational Edge Cloud (JOEC) is also critical in accelerating cloud computing for combat tactical edge usage during the interim shifts in technology. At record speeds, the DoD must move from hardware defined enterprise towards modifying software.

AI Evolution

While AI is in its infancy, prototypes show a promising and interesting future where machines are trained to complete work. With more than 1,200 AI applications across civilian agencies, and various similarities and differences in the way AI is used by Government and commercial agencies, there is a lot the Federal sphere can learn from commercial agencies. In the private sector, companies tend to build back-end architecture for AI, providing fast access to all data. The Federal Government can optimize this plan by automating AI/ML to gain tactical advantage against machine adversaries. AI can also aid in predicting component failure. This helps agencies get hardware and software back on track as soon as possible, as well as help with mission planning. The private sector offers a myriad of ideas the Government can leverage for efficiency, such as AI in healthcare, sustainable energy and creative component and finance management.

DIA Initiatives

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), a service provider on behalf of the defense industry, has a comprehensive IT strategy made up of five key priorities:

Among both classified and unclassified networks, the DoD should implement top secret connection.
With the transition to working from home, employers must enable workplace inclusivity through technology, especially for employees with disabilities.
Enable workers to access data applications from one fully integrated place by consolidating network systems, such as desktop environments.
As internally shared information becomes more complex, the DIA must update technology to strengthen intelligence sharing.
Authorize worldwide connectivity for the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS), the DoD’s house for sensitive information. This means a reliable and secure connection regardless of environment and its proximity to data centers.

By maintaining pace with world class technology such as the cloud and AI, the DoD will lead the nation in secure communication and strategies.

Check our more resources, interviews and highlights from the event floor at DoDIIS at

Applications of Technology in Higher Education at EDUCAUSE

Posted on by Tim Boltz

Technology advancement has resulted in many potential usages for university students and faculty, educational and research institutions and Government agencies. For agencies focused on higher education, taking advantage of new technology can help bolster security and ease student and faculty daily procedures. Industry and education experts joined together at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference for an immersive experience that facilitated collaboration and discussion to promote the advancement of higher education by using information technology (IT).

Leveraging Security Technology Against Ransomware

With the increasing technology usage in everyday life, many higher education agencies are susceptible to cybersecurity threats like ransomware. The education sector is no exception, with attacks ranging from exploited vulnerabilities, to compromised credentials, malicious emails, phishing attempts, brute force attacks and malicious downloads. As ransomware comes with financial loss, it is important for higher education agencies to invest accordingly in cybersecurity. According to industry statistics, 70% of organizations have successfully recovered data using backup mechanisms. This data recovery is not only much simpler than paying the ransom, but it also removed the attack incentive since paying the ransom encourages bad actors to continue attacks. Higher education institutions own and maintain a significant amount of intellectual property as a source of data wealth and research. To protect this information and ensure the safety and financial success of educational institutions, higher education must focus on creating backups and position IT security staff as trusted advisors, fortify their cybersecurity infrastructure and foster a vigilant culture amongst students and faculty.

Digital Services in Education

With a strong cybersecurity base, universities can reap the benefits of both external and internal digital services. External market data can be used to predict internal performance. Data can help define popular markets, from student demand for majors, future employment opportunities and university competitor information. Educational institutions can utilize technology to analyze data and make millions of calculations in a minimal amount of time. With these predictive analytics, education administrations can make informed decisions when forecasting program sizes, enrollment numbers, scholarships and revenue margins.

Universities can utilize digital applications to offer user-friendly functions to support faculty and students with daily tasks such as helping locate class schedules, campus maps, facility wait times, task notifications and other essential remedies for success. Digital applications with collaboration tools and platforms can connect peers and faculty members in a simple and pragmatic way, facilitating communication on projects and learning objectives. On the administrative side, digital services can reduce time spent by automating functions such as credit transfers and transcript evaluations. Institutions can also utilize digital applications to offer automated aid for student requested services, which reduces call center wait times, manual processing errors and delayed accommodations.

The Varied Applications of AI

In the educational space, AI has a multitude of use cases:

AI can detect cyber threats and vulnerabilities, thus protecting student, faculty and stakeholder sensitive information.
By facilitating the automation of routine security tasks, patches and system updates, AI can free up more time for cybersecurity professionals to focus on more complex initiatives, thus creating a more robust security infrastructure.
Schools can utilize AI’s advanced authentication mechanism to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and provide seamless account access for students, faculty and staff.
Institutions are currently using AI to understand the best methods for student retention, a common concern in higher education. Methods such as text-based chat apps are designed to send encouraging messages, tutoring or counseling to students who have been identified as needing additional resources. Text applications can also be used to connect students to enrollment services, tutoring or counseling.
AI’s use of data analytics can facilitate customized learning experiences based on each student’s strengths, weaknesses and learning pace. This includes tailored content, question and answer chatbots and virtual assistants.
Adaptive learning platforms powered by AI can assess individual student performance and deliver tailored content, allowing students to grasp complex concepts at their own pace. This personalized approach enhances student engagement and motivation, ultimately leading to improved academic outcomes.

Since AI will always contain human bias, it is important to apply AI as an additional tool, and not a standalone operation. In maintaining the priority for equality and privacy in the educational sphere, each individual institution must find where AI best fits into their respective organization.

Technology can be utilized to enhance cybersecurity infrastructure, detect compromised systems, analyze data to improve common educational institution functions and improve student performance and morale. By partnering with the IT industry, higher education institutions can posture students and faculty to lead the way to success for the next generation of learners.

To learn more about utilizing IT for education initiatives, view ̽��Ƶ’s Education Technology Solutions Resources.

��

About ̽��Ƶ in the Education Market��

̽��Ƶ. is The Trusted Education IT Solutions Provider™.��

Together with our technology manufacturers and reseller partners, we are committed to providing IT products, services and training to support Education organizations.��

Learn more at

5 Ways to Protect Your Organization from a Cyberattack in 2024

Posted on by Jeff Stewart

As we say goodbye to 2023, we need to prepare to say hello to new cybersecurity threats in 2024. The Department of Homeland Security is already there, having published its annual , which predicts “more evasive cyberattacks” thanks to cyber actors using artificial intelligence (AI) and other modern technologies to circumvent company defenses.

Protecting your organization will require a sound strategy that wards off threats and takes the fight to the attackers. Here are five best practices to help you do both.

1. Develop a playbook of response strategies and tactics

Your playbook should include detailed instructions on how to handle a cybersecurity incident, from start to finish, and who’s responsible for what. Key components of a cybersecurity playbook include:

Descriptions of potential attack methods
Steps required to effectively respond to and contain an attack
Roles and responsibilities of response team members
Remediation procedures
Details on how to handle media inquiries, customer, and partner communications, etc.
Processes for a post-incident review and analysis

Hopefully, you will never have to use your playbook. If you do, it will provide you with a standardized blueprint that will allow you to respond to an attack methodically and effectively.

2. Conduct fast and effective diagnostics

Time is of the essence during a cyberattack. Therefore, it is essential to conduct accurate and effective diagnostics as fast as possible.

Not only will you want to identify where the attack originated, but you’ll also need to quickly ascertain where it has or could spread. This requires finding gaps and vulnerabilities in your network where a virus or piece of malicious code could take root. Unfortunately, network complexity gives attackers better cover and more opportunities to hide.

Observability solutions cut through the noise and provide visibility across your entire ecosystem. Observability is different from traditional network monitoring; whereas the latter is more reactive, observability proactively detects anomalies before they become real issues. Plus, with complete visibility into the entire ecosystem, there’s no need to waste time sifting through alerts or hunting down problems. Teams can respond quickly, ensuring high resiliency.

3. Communicate openly, honestly, quickly, and continuously

Effective communication is critical to cybersecurity threat mitigation. When a threat manifests, alert impacted internal departments through secure channels so as not to tip off the attackers that you know they’re in your network. Then, communicate with law enforcement, including the FBI. Finally, reach out to customers and partners. Keep all parties apprised in the weeks and months following the attack.

If you have created a playbook, you will know who to contact and how—because you will have planned for it. You will know, for example, that it will be up to your communications team for outreach to the press, customers, and other third parties.

Your communication must be clear and honest. Tell your stakeholders what you know when you know it. Inevitably, someone is going to ask, “Am I affected?” You may not know, and that is OK—just tell them what you do know. Likewise, you will likely be fighting misinformation. Do not get sidetracked. Continue to tell the truth and communicate openly as much as possible.

4. Enlist third-party partners for help

There are many reasons why you should not take on a cyberattack alone. First, an attack can be too complex and far-ranging for your internal team to handle on its own. It is better to have an outside party that can help with auditing your networks to ensure gaps have been remediated in the wake of an incident. Second, third-party cybersecurity experts can be invaluable in providing guidance, investigative support, and consultation as you navigate through the attack. Your team is going to be busy handling any number of tasks and will appreciate their perspectives.

Outside parties can also help get your truth out to the public. Following the SUNBURST attack, we enlisted the help of reputable organizations like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), the Krebs Stamos Group, and others. In addition to assisting in the investigation, they helped us tell the story of what happened, which went a long way toward combatting misinformation.

5. Implement a “Secure by Design” approach

You have likely heard about shifting left—building security into the foundation of your products, rather than adding it on later. I recommend taking this mindset a step further and adopting a Secure by Design approach, where security becomes a cornerstone of your entire organization.

Secure by Design includes all the best practices listed here, as well as building out your cybersecurity team, auditing applications throughout their development, and engaging with the broader community to learn and share information. It also entails adopting an “assume breach” mindset, where you assume that an asset has already been breached, determine the possible implications, and come up with fixes to limit exposure.

As we turn the calendar page, attackers may have the advantage, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Hopefully, these best practices will help gain the upper hand—and protect your organization in 2024 and beyond.

Reach out to the SolarWinds team to learn more about how you can prepare your organization.

The 12 Artificial Intelligence Events for��Government in 2024

Posted on by Mike Adams

Last year set a landmark standard for innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Federal, State, and Local Governments and Federal Systems Integrators are eager to learn how they can implement AI technology within their agencies. With the recent Presidential Executive Order for AI, many Public Sector-focused events in 2024 will explore AI modernizations, from accelerated computing in cloud to the data center, secure generative AI, cybersecurity, workforce planning and more.

We have compiled the top AI events for Government for 2024 that you will not want to miss.

1.

May 2, 2024, Reston, VA | In-Person Event

The AI for Government Summit is a half-day event designed to bring together Government officials, AI experts and industry leaders to explore the transformative potential of AI in the public sector. As Governments worldwide increasingly adopt AI technologies to enhance efficiency, improve services and address complex challenges, this summit will serve as a platform for collaboration, discussion and sharing knowledge on the latest advancements and best practices in AI deployment within Government organizations.

Sessions to look out for: Cybersecurity & AI – Safeguarding the Government and Generative AI Government Use Case Panel��

̽��Ƶ is proud to host this inaugural event alongside FedInsider. Join us and over 100 of our AI & machine learning technology and solution providers as they speak towards AI adoption in our Public Sector and how they are using AI to solve our government’s most critical challenges. Attendees will also hear from top government decision-makers as they share unique insights into their current AI projects.��

2. ��

March 18 – 21, 2024, San Jose, CA | Hybrid Event

Come connect with a dream team of industry luminaries, developers, researchers, and business strategists helping shape what’s next in AI and accelerated computing. From the highly anticipated keynote by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to over 600 inspiring sessions, 200+ exhibits, and tons of unique networking events, GTC delivers something for every technical level and interest area. Whether you join us in person or virtually, you are in for an incredible experience at the conference for the era of AI.

Sessions to look out for: What’s Next in Generative AI and Robotics in the Age of Generative AI��

̽��Ƶ serves as NVIDIA’s Master Aggregator working with resellers, systems integrators, and consultants. Our team provides NVIDIA products, services, and training through hundreds of contract vehicles.

̽��Ƶ is proud to be the host of the on Tuesday, March 19^th. ��

Please visit ̽��Ƶ and our partners at the following booths:

Government IT Solutions: ̽��Ƶ (#1726), Government Acquisitions (#1820), World Wide Technology (#929)
AI/ML & Data Analytics: Anaconda (#1701), Dataiku (#1704), Datadog (#1033), DataRobot (#1603), Deepgram (#1719), Domino Data Labs (#1612), Gretel.AI (G130), H2O.AI (G124), HEAVY.AI (#1803), Kinetica (I132), Lilt (I123), Primer.AI (I126), Red Hat (#1605), Run:AI (#1408), Snowflake (#930), Weights & Biases (#1505 & G115)
AI Infrastructure: Dell (#1216), DDN (#1521), Edge Impulse (#434), Lambda Data Lab (#616), Lenovo (#1740), Liqid (#1525), Pure Storage (#1529), Rescale (#1804), Rendered.AI (#330), Supermicro (#1016), Weka (#1517)
Industry Leaders: AWS (#708), Google Cloud (#808), HPE (#408), Hitachi Vantara (#308), IBM (#1324), Microsoft (#1108), VAST Data (#1424), VMware (#1604)

3. ��

March 21, 2024, Falls Church, VA | In-Person Event��

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual AI Summit, where federal leaders and industry experts converge to explore the transformative power of artificial intelligence. Discover innovative AI advancements, engage in dynamic discussions, and forge strategic collaborations with key partners at this annual gathering of the movers and shakers in the AI field. Hosted by Executive Mosaic, this summit will be held in Falls Church, Virginia.��

Sessions to look out for: Leveraging Collaboration to Accelerate AI Adoption in the DoD and Operationalizing AI in Government: Getting Things Done with Automation��

̽��Ƶ is the master aggregator for Percipient AI, a Silver Sponsor, and Primer AI, the Platinum Sponsor. Mark Brunner, President of Federal at Primer AI, will also be speaking at the event.��

4.

April, 4, 2024, Arlington, VA | In-Person Event

Join 300+ intelligence and national security professionals at INSA’s Spring Symposium, How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the IC, on Thursday, April 4, from 8:00 am-4:30 pm at the INSA/NRECA Conference Center in Arlington, VA. Key leaders from government, academia, and industry will discuss cutting-edge AI innovations transforming intelligence analysis, top priorities and concerns from government stakeholders, developments in ethics and oversight, challenges and opportunities facing the public and private sector and more!

Session to look out for: AI Ready? Challenges from a Data-Centric Viewpoint

Meet with ̽��Ƶ partners AWS, Google Cloud, Intel, and Primer.

5. ��

April 9 – 11, Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event��

Explore new horizons in AI at Google Cloud Next ’24 in Las Vegas, April 9–11 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Dive into AI use cases, learn how to stay ahead of cyberthreats with frontline intelligence and AI powered security and boost data and thrive in a new era of AI. Plus, see our latest in AI, productivity and collaboration, and security from Google Public Sector.��

̽��Ƶ will be a sponsor of Google Next ‘24 with a significant public sector presence and plans to host a reception as well.��

6. ��

November 17 – 22, 2024, Atlanta, GA | Hybrid Event��

Supercomputing (SC) is the longest running and largest high performance computing conference. SC is an unparalleled mix of thousands of scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, programmers, and developers. Hosted by The Association for Computing Machinery & IEEE Computer Society, SC24 is hosted in Atlanta, Georgia.��

̽��Ƶ is proud to attend SC24 for a fourth year as the master aggregator serving the public sector. ̽��Ƶ will be hosting an extensive partner pavilion showcasing daily demos of our technology and solution partners, demonstrating use-cases in AI and HPC intended for higher-ed organizations, research institutions, government agencies, and more.��

Join us at our public sector reception for a night of networking with leading decision-makers and solution experts on November 20.��

7. ��

March 13, 2024, Pentagon City, VA | In-Person Event��

Join top Federal program executives and IT leaders to learn firsthand how advances in data management, search and analytics capabilities are helping agencies turn data into mission value faster and more productively for citizens and Government employees. Learn how agencies are leveraging these capabilities for cybersecurity, operational resilience, and preparing for the new era of generative AI. FedScoop, Elastic and ̽��Ƶ will co-host this summit in Pentagon City, Virginia.��

As a top-level sponsor of Elastic’s Public Sector Summit, ̽��Ƶ will host a pavilion on the exhibit floor that features Elastic’s foremost technology partners for the hundreds of projected government attendees.

8. CDAO Government

September 17 – 19, 2024, Washington DC | In-Person Event��

This event brings together the latest technological advancements and practical examples to apply key data-driven strategies to solve challenges in Government and greater society. Join a unique mix of academia, industry and Government thought leaders at the forefront of research and explore real-world case studies to discover the value of data and analytics. Located in Washington, D.C., CDAO Government will be hosted by Corinium Intelligence.��

̽��Ƶ was proud to be a Premier Sponsor at the 2023 CDAO Government, involving numerous of our vendor partners, Cloudera, and HP, Alation, Informatica, Progress|MarkLogic, Snowflake, and Tyler Technologies, Alteryx, Coursera, DataRobot, Databricks, Elastic, Immuta, Primer AI, and Qlik.��

̽��Ƶ looks forward to participating as a leading sponsor again at the 2024 CDAO Government.��

9.

November 5 – 6, Reston, VA | In-Person Event��

The world is at a transition point where technology is enabling rapid changes that can drive both positive and negative outcomes for humanity. It is also empowering many bad actors and poses new threats. The essence of OODAcon lies in its capacity to forge a robust community of leaders, experts, and practitioners that serve as a collective force that can propel us towards a brighter future.��

Join us at the ̽��Ƶ Conference and Collaboration Center to discuss how disruptive technology can solve the most pressing issues of today.��

10. ��

June 26-27, 2024, Washington DC | In-Person Event��

Join ̽��Ƶ and our partners for two days on innovation, collaboration and global representation. Designed to unite the global cloud computing community, AWS Summits are designed to educate customers about AWS products and services, providing them with the skills they’ll need in order to build, deploy, and operate their infrastructure and applications.��

As a top-level sponsor of AWS’ Public Sector Summit, ̽��Ƶ will host a pavilion on the exhibit floor that features AWS’ foremost technology partners for the thousands of projected government attendees.��

Learn More About Previously Held Events

11. CDAO Advantage DoD24 Defense Data & AI Symposium��

̽��Ƶ was at CDAO’s inaugural Advantage DoD 2024: Defense Data & AI Symposium from February 20th to 22nd at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. The symposium provided a platform for over 1000 government officials, industry leaders, academia, and partners to converge and explore the latest advancements in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence in support of the U.S. Department of Defense mission. ̽��Ƶ had a small tabletop partner pavilion, featuring our vendor partners Alteryx, DataRobot, Collibra, Elastic, Databricks, PTFS, EDB, Weights & Biases, and Clarifai.

Throughout the symposium, attendees from diverse backgrounds, including technical programmers, policymakers, and human resources professionals, gained valuable insights into emerging technologies and best practices for integrating data-driven strategies into organizational frameworks. Attendees also enjoyed two networking receptions hosted by Booz Allen Hamilton and C3.ai.

The agenda featured compelling speaking sessions including topics such as:

Task Force Lima – The Way Forward (Goals and Progress)
LLMs and Cybersecurity: Practical Examples and a Look Ahead
DoD GenAI Use Cases and Acceptability Criterias

12. ��

This intimate one-day 500-person conference curated data science sessions to bring industry leaders and specialists face-to-face to educate one another on innovative solutions in generative AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, and best practices. Attendees saw a mix of use-cases, technical talks, and workshops, and walked away with actionable insights from those working on the frontlines of machine learning in the enterprise. Hosted by Data Science Salon, the event was held in Austin, Texas.

̽��Ƶ partners NVIDIA and John Snow Labs were in attendance; two leading AI and Machine Learning solution providers. ̽��Ƶ serves as the master aggregator for both NVIDIA and John Snow Labs to provide government agencies with solutions that fulfill mission needs from trustworthy technology and industry partners.

While the landscape of government events has always been in flux, the pace of change in 2024 feels downright dizzying. From navigating hybrid gatherings to crafting data-driven experiences, the pressure is on to connect, inform, and engage. This is where the power of AI steps in, not as a silver bullet, but as a toolbox brimming with innovative solutions. ̽��Ƶ’s curated list of Top 12 AI for Government Events is just the starting point. So, do not let the future intimidate you; embrace it. Dive into the possibilities, explore these AI tools, and get ready to redefine what a government event can be. Your citizens—and your data—will thank you.��

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events please contact us at AITeam@carahsoft.com. For more information on ̽��Ƶ and our industry leading AI technology partners’ events, visit our AI solutions portfolio and events page.��

The Evolving Landscape of Cybersecurity in the Healthcare Sector

Posted on by Tim Boltz

As the nation becomes increasingly interconnected through technology, industries are also utilizing new technology to meet patient expectations for quick diagnoses and access to results. However, when this technology usage includes personal or healthcare data that may be sensitive for patients or health systems, cybersecurity becomes paramount and necessitates the implementation of new cyber standards. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a global society focused on information and technology in the health ecosystem, held its annual HIMSS 2023 Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum in September. Here, industry professionals converged to innovate and discuss strategies for safeguarding the healthcare sector against cyber-attacks. To protect against breaches, the healthcare system must integrate and scale to achieve a more connected technological landscape across the industry to better serve patients.

Ransomware and Cybersecurity in Healthcare

By connecting and improving interoperability between healthcare systems/EHR platforms, overall patient service is improved; however, with features such as digital integration, migration to the cloud and the incorporation of remote workers, cyber vulnerability has simultaneously increased. Bad actors oftentimes target healthcare agencies with ransomware for hire. With the increased capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), even inexperienced bad actors can create sophisticated and dangerous attacks. Due to the immense financial loss of these attacks, it is vital that agencies prioritize cybersecurity. Hospitals, other healthcare centers, and especially their third-party stakeholders, now face a new barrage of ransomware attacks and data breaches.

There are a couple of steps administrators can take to protect hospital systems, patients and stakeholders.

Implement ‘Security-by-Design,’ a strategy where providers ensure that all products are secure by design and default, with all IT solutions and enterprise environments.
Maintain pace with the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and utilize it to defend against bad actors.
Standardize a detailed incident response plan that includes a thorough business continuity plan.
Exchange defense strategies between stakeholders — a united front is stronger than trying to face threats alone.
Implement multi-factor authentication and zero trust on all end users so information is accessed by the parties that need to know.
Apply data encryption to systems to protect sensitive information against hackers.

AI in the Healthcare Industry

While bad actors have utilized the capabilities of AI, the healthcare industry can also use it to improve cybersecurity. AI does not need breaks, and therefore can run all day reducing the time needed to identify a security breach by analyzing large amounts of data in real time. On a similar note, AI can identify multiple devices and manage network endpoint detection for large networks. AI has been used to predict Domain Name System (DNS) attacks before occurrence, preventing and mitigating these attacks. It can implement Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), analyze identities and manage risk. With its strength of detecting patterns, AI can distinguish subtle patterns of attack that would otherwise go unnoticed by people.

Due to the nature of this new technology, the healthcare industry must carefully decide whether it wants to implement AI, and to what extent it will be used. In terms of cybersecurity, AI may be the answer to providing a secure standard for an interconnected healthcare industry.

Partnerships to Strengthen Cybersecurity in the Healthcare Industry

To provide the best security for patients and stakeholders in the healthcare sector, the federal government and technology industry have joined the battle against bad actors in healthcare. Several federal agencies including the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), will lend a hand in bolstering the cyber posture of the American health system. The ASPR is working alongside Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and private sector partners to analyze the cyber threat landscape of the healthcare sector. Over the next year, the agency hopes to create a cyber division, introduce a cyber risk identification tool, track cyber incident reports and gain resources and buy-in from senior leadership. Another agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will strengthen cybersecurity by partnering with hospitals, health organizations and federal agencies, including CISA, that have additional information on cyber threats. Under the HHS, the Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP), a publication in response to the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, provides practical cybersecurity guidelines for the healthcare industry.

HICP covers several major threats that the industry faces, including:

Social engineering
Ransomware
Payment fraud
Loss or theft of equipment
Insider, accidental, or malicious data loss
Attacks against network connected medical devices

To counter said threats, the HICP has listed its top ten best cybersecurity practices. It advises to:

Protect email systems from phishing breaches
Implement endpoint protection systems to all hardware devices
Utilize identity and access management, regardless of the size of the health care organization
Check cyber posture to prevent data loss
Manage IT assets
Execute network management for wireless or wired connections before interoperating systems
Enact vulnerability management
Take advantage of incident response plans to discover network cyberattacks
Extend relevant cybersecurity practices to network connected medical devices
Establish and implement cybersecurity and governance policies^[1]

By enabling organizations to evaluate capability against cybersecurity attacks, HICP aims to protect patients and stakeholders from private data loss.

While cyber attacks are always growing in complexity, the healthcare industry can evolve and provide superior service for its patients through the use of tested security strategies, AI and federal aid.

Visit ̽��Ƶ’s Healthcare Solutions Portfolio to learn more about improving cybersecurity practices in the healthcare sector.

��
Resources:

^[1] “HICP’s 10 Mitigating Practices,” Department of Health and Human Services,

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at the HIMSS Fall Forum in September 2023.*

Building a Foundation for an AI Future

Posted on by Mike Adams

It might seem like agencies are hesitant to adopt artificial intelligence. But really, it is quite the opposite. As Lori Wade, the Intelligence Community’s chief data officer, put it: “It is no longer just about the volume of data, it is about who can collect, access, exploit and gain actionable insight the fastest.” The realization is clear: Humans alone cannot keep pace. They need AI so they can make decisions based on the most relevant and most current information — and make those decisions in a timely manner. It is really as simple as that. Download the guide, “Building the Foundation for Your AI Future,” to pick up pointers on data management and AI, plus take a glimpse at the latest technology developments, tips for best practices and an explanation of the early value that AI is delivering to agencies across government.��

How to Revolutionize Government Translation with Generative AI

“In situations where accurate and timely translations are crucial, the shortage of qualified and vetted linguists poses significant challenges. Equally, non-linguist analysts are not equipped with secure, at-desk tools to translate foreign language material at the speed of relevance. For example, during the ongoing war in Ukraine, there has been a scarcity of linguists available to provide real-time updates on the ground. This shortage not only has affected the ability to gather vital intelligence but also hindered the timely dissemination of information to national security and defense agencies in the U.S. and abroad.”

Read more insights from Jesse Rosenbaum, Vice President of Business Development and National Security at Lilt.��

��

How Graph Databases Drive a Paradigm Shift in Data Platform Technology��

“Federal agencies are awash in data. With recent modernization efforts, including the wide-scale adoption of cloud platforms and applications, it is easier than ever for agencies to receive streaming data on everything from logistics to finances to cybersecurity. But that volume of data requires new solutions to process and analyze it. Older methods like SQL and NoSQL simply are not up to the task of analyzing all of the connections between the government’s many massive databases. That is where the new graph paradigm of data platform technology comes in.”

Read more insights from Michael Moore, Principal for Partner Solutions and Technology at Neo4j.��

��

How Agencies Can Upskill in AI to Achieve a Data Mesh Model��

“Data mesh behavior actually goes a step further. AI has become so easy to use, business owners can actually join in the development alongside the data scientists. Therein lies the challenge: Upskilling subject matter experts across an entire organization is a big lift. The way it works best is to start with a center of excellence, a small group of people who begin working with business owners across the enterprise, office by office. They can then prove the value and evangelize it, and then the agency can move to a hub-and-spoke model, where the data scientists are co-developing alongside business owners. As successes pile up, the data scientists can take a step back and allow frontline workers to do the development, governing the new data products on their own.”

Read more insights from Doug Bryan, Field Chief Data Officer at Dataiku.��

��

How Agencies Can Build a Data Foundation for Generative AI��

“Generative artificial intelligence tools are making waves in the technology world, most famously ChatGPT. Although the code of these tools is significant, their real power stems from the data they are trained on. Gathering and correctly formatting the data, then transforming it to yield accurate predictions, often represents the most challenging aspect of developing these tools. Federal agencies that want to start leveraging generative AI already have massive amounts of data on which to train the technology. But to successfully implement these tools, they need to ensure the quality of their data before trusting any decisions they might make.”

Read more insights from Nasheb Ismaily, Principal Solutions Engineer at Cloudera.��

��

How to Democratize Data as a Catalyst for Effective Decision-Making��

“One of the key best practices in the Office of Management and Budget’s Federal Data Strategy calls for using data to guide decision-making. But that is easier said than done when the ability to analyze the data, much less access it, is limited to an agency’s often overworked and understaffed data science specialists. But now that every line of federal business has their own data silo and a mandate to use that data to guide decisions, agencies need a way to democratize access to that data and empower every federal employee to become an analyst.”

Read more insights from Kevin Woo, Director of Federal Sales at Alteryx.��

��

Download the full Expert Edition for more insights from these artificial intelligence leaders, additional government interviews, historical perspectives and industry research.��

Becker’s 2023: Optimizing the Medical Field and User Experience Through AI

Posted on by Tim Boltz

Medical practices are quickly entering an age where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing and expanding to help improve user and patient experience, as well as increase automation in the work environment. During the Becker’s Health IT + Digital Health + RCM conference, healthcare and IT leaders came together to discuss how to adapt to the latest trends in the field, including telehealth, cybersecurity, diversity and the simplification of healthcare through AI.

The implementation of AI in the medical world is increasing as doctors and researchers explore ways to make healthcare as seamless as possible for both doctors and patients. Telehealth, the ability to meet with a healthcare provider virtually rather than in-person, is an important process that doctors are utilizing as the patient population and their needs continue to grow. Doctors and medical staff will soon be able to:��

Use AI for administrative tasks to increase healthcare staff efficiency��
Continue to consolidate electronic medical records (EMR) onto a singular platform, making it easier for providers across a health system to access up-to-date patient information��
Close the access gap in more rural and underserved areas to collect data and maximize face time with patients��
Utilize technology to focus on holistic health and increase discussion about behavioral nudges, for example a smart watch mentioning that it is ‘time to stand’��
Improve the digital experience for patients of all demographics through easy access medical records and utilization of telehealth for older populations

Diversity in Telehealth Technology��

With the progression of AI and telehealth, hearing diverse voices on the implementation of these tools cannot be overlooked as medical professionals change the way they utilize technology. It is imperative that new technology is working to make medical support and processes simple for communities that may not have as many resources when it comes to telehealth and digital medical records. For example, a chat box that pops up on a medical practice’s website may have been created to help patients, but non-English speaking patients do not benefit if the box is not programmed to display and understand other languages.

Skillset diversity must also be considered when doing research. Instead of finding medical staff and researchers based only on a certain educational background, it is beneficial to consider candidates with a range of experience as well. Inviting different voices into the medical field can only benefit the way healthcare progresses and provides better outcomes to patients.

A Platform-First Approach: Creating Maximum Value for Enterprises��

It is important for medical companies to create maximum value within the applications and systems that they are paying for. Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace that often, by the time a new technology has been implemented by an enterprise, it is already basically obsolete and needs to be replaced. This is where the platform-first approach comes into play. With this approach, companies prioritize getting the most value from existing applications that are already purchased and installed in the enterprise. For example, ensuring that there is no overlap between the use cases of multiple apps a company is paying for.��

The platform-first approach includes:��

Leveraging platforms that are already currently in use��
Adding features that are easy to use with easily accessible interfaces��
Focusing less on training and more on hands-on experience��
Being selective in what tools and platforms are implemented��
Being agile and looking at a platform strategy instead of individualistic needs��
Ensuring that what an organization already has makes sense in regard to the bigger picture and is not being underutilized

Moving Forward: Maximizing Every Tool and Every Person��

Even with today’s fast-paced changes, there are processes and elements of healthcare that AI cannot replace. AI is rapidly growing and evolving, but it cannot take away the qualities of being a human, especially in the medical field. If a bot can do a simple task, such as filing paperwork, it is best to let the bot do it, and allow doctors to spend more personalized time with patients. It is ideal to offer digital opportunities in the workplace, but not to the extent that it hinders user experience. Technology can alleviate pressures and remove friction from a workforce, but at the end of the day, AI cannot replace the personal human element of care that a doctor provides to a patient.��

AI is not something to fear, but rather something to embrace in the areas where it meets providers and patients’ needs. It is also important that every voice is heard while technology advances, and minority groups are not left behind in the fast-moving AI path. Companies and researchers are focusing on where the demand is and either changing or providing additional technology as frictionless and simple as possible.��

��

Visit ̽��Ƶ’s Healthcare Solutions Portfolio to learn more information and key insights for the IT and Healthcare industries.��

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at the Becker’s Healthcare Summit 2023.*

Innovation in Government: How to Change Things Up (and Make it Stick)

Posted on by Mike Adams

In government, we could say that innovation is invention that solves a problem or meets a need — in the community or within an organization undertaking the work. Big changes make government agencies more effective, prepared and useful, and they touch all aspects of agency operations — from IT to employee morale to digital services and more. In recent years, federal agencies such as the Census Bureau, General Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Office of Personnel Management have launched innovations labs, innovation libraries, and other innovation-focused resources and programs. Cities and states have as well, such as through Philadelphia’s Technology and Innovation group within the city’s Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT). Being innovative is not easy, of course: It requires a little bravery and lots of planning. But local and federal agencies are creating the space and resources to launch innovations that will, in the future, become standard operations. In this guide, we share case studies and best practices regarding some of government’s most pressing issues — workforce, customer experience and data use, to name a few — and we hear from government experts who know a thing or two about helping innovative initiatives succeed.��

Analytics Innovations Draw a Complete Data Picture��

“Spreadsheets are structured things: They have clearly defined lines, cleanly labelled columns, and rules that govern what goes where. Government analytic programs have become skilled at working within those parameters, even if it means spending hours manually manipulating data to fit. Spreadsheets are 30-year-old desktop technology. But other data exists, doesn’t it? The world is full of PDF documents, audio and video files, social media posts and other ‘messy’ data sources — the unstructured data that most agencies overlook. And most agency analytics programs are fragmented and overly manual. Recent innovations seek to change this.”

Read more insights from Alteryx’s Solutions Marketing Director for the Public Sector, Andy MacIsaac.��

Driving Innovation to the Edge

“Across government, innovation is happening at the edge. By leveraging cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and related technologies, agencies can deliver services more quickly and effectively at the far reaches of operations, whether that’s in the battlefield or on the International Space Station (ISS). At the Red Hat Government Symposium held in late 2022, government and industry leaders discussed how agencies were leveraging these technologies to accelerate mission delivery. Their discussions and examples help illuminate how agencies are adapting to make the most of modern technological opportunities.”

Read more insights from Red Hat’s Government Symposium.��

Build an Innovative Ecosystem Through Cloud Architecture��

“In data transformation and innovation, it helps to view things through a different lens. Within the data ecosystem are three core pillars for transformation: people, processes and technology. Simple, singular data platforms should work with an architecture that breaks down information silos rather than creates them. That facility comes through in qualities such as data mesh or a decentralized data architecture that’s organized by business domain and operates through self-service. The architectural design also must help strengthen system security. That’s enormously important for federal data.”

Read more insights from Snowflake’s Chief Technology Officer for the Global Public Sector, Winston Chang.��

Overcoming Challenges With Observability��

“As agencies take steps to innovate — such as expanding reliance on the cloud and adding new apps, integrations, and automations — their IT ecosystems become more complex. There are more places where things can go wrong and more pressure to fix them quickly. The task of monitoring these complex systems gets more complicated, too. ‘The question is, how do I know there’s an issue?’ said Brian Mikkelsen of Datadog. ‘Is it when the tickets start flowing, when complaints increase, when your leadership team asks why something isn’t working?’ None of those options are ideal. Datadog’s application performance management platform provides a real-time window into the digital environment, identifying performance and security issues quickly. Its ‘full stack’ hybrid infrastructure capability means everything from the back end to the front end is monitored and reported via infrastructure metrics, application performance traces, and correlated logs.”

Read more insights from Datadog’s Vice President and General Manager, Brian Mikkelsen.��

Download the full GovLoop Guide for more insights from these digital transformation leaders and additional government interviews, historical perspectives and industry research.��

Innovating Service Delivery to Constituents

Assessing the Impact of AI

Cybersecurity and the Current Threat Landscape

Generative AI in Education

Analytics and Data in AI

Departmental Shift to Information Technology

AI Evolution

DIA Initiatives

Leveraging Security Technology Against Ransomware

Digital Services in Education

The Varied Applications of AI

1. Develop a playbook of response strategies and tactics

2. Conduct fast and effective diagnostics

3. Communicate openly, honestly, quickly, and continuously

4. Enlist third-party partners for help

5. Implement a “Secure by Design” approach

1.

2. ��

3. ����

4.

5. ����

6. ����

7. ����

8. CDAO Government

9.

10. ��

Learn More About Previously Held Events

11. CDAO Advantage DoD24 Defense Data & AI Symposium����

12. ����

Ransomware and Cybersecurity in Healthcare

AI in the Healthcare Industry

Partnerships to Strengthen Cybersecurity in the Healthcare Industry

How to Revolutionize Government Translation with Generative AI

How Graph Databases Drive a Paradigm Shift in Data Platform Technology����

How Agencies Can Upskill in AI to Achieve a Data Mesh Model����

How Agencies Can Build a Data Foundation for Generative AI����

How to Democratize Data as a Catalyst for Effective Decision-Making����

Diversity in Telehealth Technology��

A Platform-First Approach: Creating Maximum Value for Enterprises����

Moving Forward: Maximizing Every Tool and Every Person��

Analytics Innovations Draw a Complete Data Picture����

Driving Innovation to the Edge

Build an Innovative Ecosystem Through Cloud Architecture����

Overcoming Challenges With Observability����

3. ��

5. ��

6. ��

7. ��

11. CDAO Advantage DoD24 Defense Data & AI Symposium��

12. ��

How Graph Databases Drive a Paradigm Shift in Data Platform Technology��

How Agencies Can Upskill in AI to Achieve a Data Mesh Model��

How Agencies Can Build a Data Foundation for Generative AI��

How to Democratize Data as a Catalyst for Effective Decision-Making��

A Platform-First Approach: Creating Maximum Value for Enterprises��

Analytics Innovations Draw a Complete Data Picture��

Build an Innovative Ecosystem Through Cloud Architecture��

Overcoming Challenges With Observability��