Modernization step-by-step: Implementing a cloud-based, security-forward model

Many federal agencies depend on legacy IT systems, and modernization has been a longstanding, but elusive, goal. Funding above necessary operations and management costs is often scant, and the disruption of migrating core operations to a modern cloud-based system poses its own set of risks. 

However, the pressure to modernize IT infrastructure has taken on a renewed urgency as the drive to operate a leaner, more efficient government has become a top priority. Legacy systems are costly to maintain and often inefficient. 

They are also harder to secure than modern systems. Cybersecurity is essential, and modern cloud-based systems are built with security front of mind. Moreover, recent executive orders have underscored the federal government's commitment to cybersecurity and cloud adoption.

These factors push IT modernization to the forefront, but agencies still face funding and operational obstacles. However, if you think about it as a series of small steps rather than a massive monolith, you can find a path to a successful IT modernization initiative. 

Finding the path to success

Consider these four steps as a roadmap for achieving this transformation:

1. Don’t go it alone: Your first step should be creating a 90-day modernization assessment with a trusted partner experienced in cloud migration. You have to understand where you are before you can plan for migration. 
2. Plan cloud-first strategies: On-premises IT is always an option, but cloud offers significant reduction in infrastructure costs, with greater scalability and robust disaster recovery capabilities.  You may need to re-architect some applications for cloud-native environments, but you will be able to leverage containerization and employ Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for consistent and repeatable deployments. Moreover, the cloud is a powerful enabler for artificial intelligence, providing the necessary infrastructure, scalability and flexibility to deploy AI solutions effectively.
3. Leverage multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud approaches: Hybrid cloud strategies enable the integration of on-prem resources with cloud services, providing a balanced approach to data sovereignty and latency requirements. Combining a hybrid cloud infrastructure with other public and private cloud services can create a more flexible and secure infrastructure than any one approach alone. Multi-cloud strategies distribute workloads across multiple platforms, which can increase efficiencies and enhance resilience. Deploying multiple cloud platforms also allows agencies to avoid vendor lock-in. 
4. Implement a zero-trust framework: Integral to this transformation is a proper zero trust framework. This framework is built on the core principle of “never trust, always verify” to keep networks secure. A zero trust framework employs techniques to prevent or minimize the risk of intruders gaining access to critical assets on a network. Micro-segmentation, for example, creates zones to isolate workloads from one another, so that if someone manages to gain unauthorized access to a zone, they won’t be able to move any further into the network. Multifactor authentication, meanwhile, strengthens access controls. Additional technical measures to consider include continuous monitoring and analytics, encryption of data at rest and in transit and automated threat detection and response.

Key steps in a 90-day modernization assessment

The 90-day modernization assessment we mentioned above is an indispensable first step, as it informs all of the subsequent planning necessary.

Here is a blueprint for the assessment:

Initial consultation and planning: Engage key stakeholders to understand their goals, challenges, and priorities. Define the scope of the assessment and establish a timeline with clear milestones.

Current state analysis: Create and/or update a comprehensive inventory of existing IT infrastructure, applications, and data. Conduct performance evaluations and gap analyses to identify areas needing improvement.

Risk and compliance review: Evaluate the security posture of existing systems and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and executive orders. Identify potential risks and characterize their possible severity.

Future state vision: Define strategic goals and create a technology roadmap that outlines the desired future state. Prioritize initiatives based on their impact, feasibility and alignment with strategic goals.

Solution design and recommendations: Propose a solution architecture that addresses identified gaps. Evaluate potential vendors and partners, and conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the financial viability of proposed solutions.

Implementation planning: This is where you move from a broad vision to a detailed action plan with specific steps, timelines and responsibilities. Identify and allocate necessary resources, and create a change management plan.

Comprehensive report: Prepare a report summarizing findings, recommendations and the proposed roadmap. Present the report to stakeholders, gather their feedback is gathered and refine the plan as needed.