Cloud: In Depth - Unleashing Cloud Innovations for Federal Transformation

• Neil Kronimus, Senior Vice President, Technology Strategy and Solutions, Maximus
• Mark James, Executive Director of the Enterprise Cloud Services Division at the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Larry Taxson, Chief of CLOUDworks, Directorate of Digital Innovation, CIA

Cloud: In Depth, features prominent leaders in cloud technology, including Neil Kronimus, Mark James, and Larry Taxson, to explore the revolutionary impact of cloud solutions on federal operations. This program dives into how agencies are reimagining procurement strategies, tackling security challenges, and embracing cutting-edge technologies. It covers cloud migration strategies, the game-changing role of edge computing, and the transformative implications of generative AI for data management. With expert insights and forward-thinking discussions, Cloud: In Depth, offers a dynamic perspective on the rapidly evolving world of cloud technology in government, emphasizing the crucial importance of collaboration, security, and readiness for the future.

Neil Kronimus kicks off the interview by focusing how federal agencies, including the Air Force, CIA, and CBP, are adopting cloud technologies and innovating their procurement processes. Kronimus highlights the Air Force’s Platform One marketplace, which speeds up procurement by allowing vendors to submit video proposals rather than traditional RFPs. This model has streamlined cloud adoption but emphasizes the importance of security vetting to ensure vendor credibility and data protection. The CIA’s cloud journey, led by Larry Taxson, showcases how it became an early cloud adopter, starting with a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2013. This partnership evolved into the broader Commercial Cloud Enterprise (C2E) initiative, which now involves multiple cloud providers.

Mark James, discusses the agency's approach to cloud migration. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has successfully consolidated data centers into cloud infrastructures but faces challenges with moving legacy data. To facilitate this transition, the agency created a center of excellence and workforce education programs, ensuring employees are trained on cloud technologies. Collaboration between internal teams and external industry partners has been critical to the agency’s cloud-first strategy, guiding its path toward modernization and efficiency.

The second half of the interview shifts to the topic of edge computing and its role in federal operations. Neil Kronimus and Mark James describe how moving IT infrastructure to the cloud improves transparency and security, while also reducing costs. Larry Taxson discusses how the CIA uses adaptive cloud solutions for its global operations, ensuring data security and processing capabilities in remote locations. James shares similar experiences from CBP, emphasizing how edge computing ensures real-time decision-making for field agents. Taxson and James highlight the importance of balancing cloud infrastructure with data security in mission-critical environments.

The interview concludes with a discussion on the future of generative AI (Gen AI) in federal agencies. The panel foresee Gen AI significantly impacting cloud infrastructure, requiring increased processing power and costs. They stress the importance of understanding evolving AI regulations and maintaining partnerships with cloud service providers to ensure responsible and effective use of these emerging technologies.

Key Takeaways:

1. Federal agencies are enhancing cloud adoption through innovative procurement models like the Air Force's Platform One marketplace, which accelerates the process while ensuring necessary security vetting.

2. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is successfully migrating to cloud infrastructures by consolidating data centers and empowering its workforce through education and collaboration with industry partners.

3. Edge computing is crucial for real-time decision-making in federal operations, while agencies prepare for the transformative impact of generative AI by understanding regulations and partnering with cloud service providers.