Beyond Modernization: Cloud Powers the Promise of Hyperscale
Today's missions need on-demand computing power and data, and how you get to the cloud is the key to unlocking agility, capabilities, and innovation
07-06-2021
SAIC
IT MODERNIZATION
What’s pushing federal agencies — both DoD and civilian — to the cloud goes beyond modernization initiatives and unfunded mandates; it’s the mission. For the DoD, the risk of adversaries outpacing the U.S. in the digital realm is a harsh reality, as hostile nations continue to invest significant resources in developing their cyber capabilities. For civilian agencies, the ability to deliver services to citizens and stakeholders is constantly challenged by the insistence on more capable online solutions and streamlined, yet secure access to data.
The hyperscale model, where computing power can be added on demand to support both growing and fluctuating needs, can support these requirements, but building huge data centers to support this approach is both costly and time consuming… and for most agencies, impractical. In the cloud, however, scaling computing power is designed into the DNA of large providers.
It’s that scalability that drives initiatives that bring computing to the tactical edge, where warfighters become part of a sensor array, or AR and VR are built into a dismounted solider’s goggles to deliver enhanced situational awareness or instant translations. That same scalability helps agencies deliver a more e-commerce-like experience for users, providing intuitive self-service capabilities that improve satisfaction and trust while allowing personnel to focus on streamlining workflows and up-leveling deliverables.
This future is possible, and some aspects are already emerging. But to truly make the leap to a cloud-based hyperscale environment, the barriers aren’t on the technology side. The problem is the process. CloudScend is the answer.
It starts with a strategy; it advances with a platform for transformation
Scaling data resources at the levels needed to support new, must-have capabilities begins with a blueprint for what that change looks like — who it will impact, priorities for moving applications and data and what outcomes are expected. And all of this must occur with security at the forefront.
Approaching these changes in a piecemeal fashion makes it much more difficult to achieve your mission goals. What’s needed is a proven framework supported by a team with technology expertise and a true understanding of your mission. That’s why we developed CloudScend: a platform to quickly and securely plan, implement and take advantage of your move to the cloud.
CloudScend’s consistent, repeatable and predictable process ensures you can identify resources across your enterprise, gather data from disparate sources, manage and analyze it, then develop innovative solutions to mission challenges.
This only works, of course, if you can scale to meet evolving needs, as agencies are rapidly moving towards data-driven decision environments. For the DoD commanders, this can shrink the decision-to-fire time from weeks to days or hours; for military healthcare, it can ensure that complete patient records are always available and that the latest diagnostic tools are applied, anywhere, and everywhere they’re needed. At the same time, military and intelligence agencies need to take advantage of new artificial intelligence tools fed by hyperscale environments, since adversarial countries are making use of them to enhance their data processes.
The cloud-centered organization
With CloudScend, SAIC delivers the proven framework and process that empowers cloud-focused operations — transforming military personnel into cyberwarriors and enabling civilian agencies to digitize services quickly and securely.
What makes CloudScend effective goes beyond its best-of-breed technologies; just as important as its consistent, repeatable, and predictable processes are the people who have solved these problems before at federal agencies. We understand your mission in ways that allow us to prioritize how best to get you to your goals.
Since different agencies are at different stages of their cloud transformations, CloudScend provides something else that’s essential to a successful migration: flexibility. No matter how far you are along the path to modernization, CloudScend can immediately provide greater control and visibility while accelerating the entire process; the models and tools are easily adapted to conform to each agency’s culture, goals, and mission. SAIC’s technologists and process experts can support your in-house team only where you need them or they can deliver all services to ensure a smooth transition.
Beyond modernization: where do we go next?
The shift to a true cloud-based ecosystem is only the beginning. Once you’re there, now you can focus on optimization. Servers lifted and shifted to the cloud? Consider going serverless to better balance resources and adapt instantly to fluctuating demand. Or, gain speed and a better use of resources by implementing robotic process automation.
A solid foundation of cloud services even allows you to plan for using new technologies, such as next-generation AI or blockchain to deliver and secure data-driven solutions. The fact is, agility demands cloud. For this level of innovation to happen, CloudScend exposes you to toolsets that enable more effective DevSecOps, along with all of the latest tools from the large government cloud providers; CloudScend allows you to implement and take advantage of those services within hours or days, not weeks or months.
You can’t be agile without the cloud, and for government agencies to compete and deliver on their missions, a hyperscale environment is essential. With its consistent, repeatable, and predictable process, CloudScend is a platform that not only gets you there faster, it frees you to innovate once you’ve arrived.
