The Federal Data Strategy laid out a 10-year vision for how government can better use the troves of data it holds to make decisions and deliver citizen services. To achieve this vision, the first step was for agencies to complete data-management maturity assessments to determine how existing data-management processes and capabilities met mission needs and identified areas for improvement. These evaluations looked at areas including:
- Data use – Are there organizational mechanisms in place to enforce and share the importance of data-informed decision-making?
- Analytics – What techniques and tools are used to gain insights from data to inform decision-making?
- Technology – What applications and platforms are in use to support data management, governance, and analytics?
- People – Are there programs in place to develop the skills needed to better utilize data?
- Culture – How does the agency manage and govern data?
The results of these assessments informed agency go-forward plans to comply with the Federal Data Strategy and meet other key administration goals. Since the release of the strategy in 2019, much progress has been made in improving the maturity of agency data use. However, a 2024 survey found that while 99% of Federal IT decision-makers say their agencies have put a greater emphasis on leveraging data to drive decision-making, only 41% describe their organization as “advanced.”
More data, more problems
One key barrier cited in the survey referenced above was that the current data infrastructure is being overwhelmed by increasing data volumes. This is actually good news for overall data maturity, as it means government agencies are collecting and using more and more data from IoT and other digital services. The issue is ensuring they have the infrastructure that scales to meet this new level of use.
This increase in data is coming from the implementation of new technologies, including biometric and identity solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and geospatial and location-based technologies.
Artificial intelligence needs real data
The rising use of artificial intelligence (AI) is also feeding the need to mature data practices. AI is only as good as the data it is fed. If agency data is not accessible or well-governed, AI solutions will not meet expectations or needs.
Storage issues impacting data maturity also impact the implementation of AI. The Department of Energy has found that legacy methods of storing data, such as warehouses and databases, are unable to meet the demands of AI. In order to fully implement AI, they must re-evaluate how data is stored and, in some cases, re-train staff to work with new storage architectures.
The U.S. Air Force has combined their AI goals and data maturity plans to ensure they are AI-ready by 2025 and AI-competitive by 2027. One key application is the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office’s Predictive Analytics and Decision Assistant , which will enable more predictive maintenance of equipment and systems. To make this application a reality, the Air Force has invested in infrastructure, migrating a decade’s worth of safety data into a data platform.
To learn about data maturity strategies across government, check out these resources from GovWhitePapers and GovEvents.
- Transforming Government Data Management with Cloud Technology: A Path to 2030 (white paper) – As the role of data changes with the rise of generative AI, agencies must prioritize efficient data management strategies. This ATARC roundtable discussion explores how federal agencies harness the power of cloud technology to enhance data security, improve data management, and streamline operations.
- Exploring Data-Sharing Models to Maximize Benefits From Data (white paper) – This report evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of six common data-sharing models offering recommendations for policymakers to promote greater uptake of these data-sharing models to maximize the economic and social benefits of data in the United States.
- Transformative Data Strategy for Federal Agencies (white paper) – Well-executed data strategies are now a cornerstone of operations in the federal government. In a recent roundtable discussion, federal experts explored successful data strategies, shared challenges with developing and executing data strategies, examined use cases enabled by strategic data initiatives, and discussed the importance of a data strategy to advance technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Energizing the Mission with AI (December 12, 2024; webcast) – This webinar will bring together top AI and technology executives from federal agencies to share their strategic vision for AI integration. Panelists will explore the successes and obstacles they’ve encountered in implementing AI, providing real-world insights into how AI is transforming operations, improving decision-making, and shaping the future of government services.
- ATARC’s Public Sector Summit (December 18, 2024; Reston, VA) – As agencies embark on digital transformation, they are confronted with outdated systems while endeavoring to harness the potential of emerging technologies. Through real-world case studies and expert insights, attendees will glean actionable strategies to navigate and foster an ecosystem ripe for innovation amidst governance constraints.
More examples of government data management evolution can be found by searching GovWhitePapers and GovEvents.
