Certification - January 2009 - (Page 21)

holds for the upcoming decennial survey, according to a Nextgov.com article. However, device malfunctions and an inflated budget — up an estimated $3.5 billion from a few years ago — have raised doubts about the project, the article states. With the deadline to begin the Census right around the corner, the government must come up with a viable solution. This is why it made the list of the 13 most urgent issues. “The audit agency also cited the Transportation Department’s ability to manage the complexity of the Federal Aviation Administration’s new satellite-based NextGen air traffic control system, and said the National Archives and Records Administration has had problems developing a system to store presidential and federal electronic records.” Management Issues strategic Goals The many initiatives of the GAO can be grouped into four categories, which represent the four main strategic goals of the organization, according to the GAO Web site. IT is fundamentally tied to many of these initiatives and therefore is crucial to the success of the governmental agency. For example, the first strategic goal outlined by the GAO is to “to address current and emerging challenges to the well-being and financial security of the American people.” One initiative in this category involves improving the capabilities of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to manage data, performance measures and other metrics in light of the fast-changing telecommunications industry. Another initiative in this category is to effectively publicize and manage the nationwide transition from analog to digital television. Clearly, technology is a big part of both of these. Another GAO initiative, grouped under the second stated strategic goal, “to respond to changing security threats and the challenges of global interdependence,” is to create a national security framework to address “21st-century challenges.” A lot of this involves the enhancement of collaboration and efficiency, which often fall under the IT umbrella. A special page on the GAO Web site outlines the management-related technology challenges facing the government in 2009. “The federal government relies on information management systems and networks to help carry out vital missions and public services, but its management and use of information and technology are not always effective,” the site states. “Improvements are necessary to ensure that taxpayer money is not ill-spent and vital government missions are not compromised.” The Web site then highlights five reports released by the GAO this year that address key IT challenges, including “Information Technology: Agencies Need to Establish Comprehensive Policies to Address Changes to Projects’ Cost, Schedule, and Performance Goals;” “Information Security: Progress Reported, but Weaknesses at Federal Agencies Persist;” and “DOD Business Systems Modernization: Progress in Establishing Corporate Management Controls Needs to Be Replicated Within Military Departments.” Cost-Cutting Initiatives Agency-specific Concerns “A major challenge for the federal government is managing its massive investment in information technology (IT) — currently more than $70 billion annually,” the GAO states. For this reason, several main areas of government focus in the coming year will include “effectively managing major modernization programs,” “ensuring that executives are accountable for IT investments” and “ensuring that computer systems and information have adequate security and privacy protections,” the GAO states. So what does all this mean? The main takeaway can be summed up simply: We — and the next administration — have our work cut out for us. 8 – Agatha Gilmore, agilmore@certmag.com The GAO Web site also highlights 28 main challenges that individual government agencies face. According to Nextgov.com, “information technology issues were prominent in numerous instances, including agencies’ problems in maintaining and modernizing IT networks.” The article went on to highlight several of these agency-specific challenges. “GAO said the Veterans Affairs Department has had trouble ‘controlling its IT equipment and managing its IT resources,’” the article reports. January 2009 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE 21 http://www.Nextgov.com http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081106_8683.php http://www.gao.gov/transition_2009/challenges/information_technology/home_information_technology.php http://www.gao.gov/transition_2009/policy/ http://www.gao.gov/transition_2009/challenges/information_technology/better_managing_it.php http://www.Nextgov.com

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Certification - January 2009 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Virtual Village Tech Careers Dear Techie Academic Connection Troubleshooting What We Like Look Ahead The New Convergence Formula Cybersecurity: Are You Safe? Interface Lead Applications Developer: The IT Ambassador Inside Certification Ad Index Endtag

Certification - January 2009

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