On March 10, industry and government leaders from the Washington, D.C. area and beyond will gather for the first Social Innovation Summit, presented by Hitachi Data Systems Federal. I invite you to join us at 7:30 a.m. at the Newseum to discuss the opportunities and challenges accompanying the data deluge that government is seeing today.
Overcoming the challenges associated with the tsunami of data is arguably one of the biggest obstacles the federal government faces. If used correctly, this data has the potential to help government address pressing societal issues and improve IT operations, security and the delivery of citizen services. The Social Innovation Summit will bring these leaders together to discuss the best way to manage, store, and utilize big data of all types.
The innovative possibilities for data use are endless and touch on the missions of every federal agency. Why should you attend this event? I dive into the top five reasons below:
- A Wide Variety of Government Speakers. Top agency leaders and innovators such as EPA’s Ann Dunkin, FCC’s David Bray, and DISA’s David Bennett will share insights into how the federal IT space is changing exponentially – and what this means for the future of innovation in the federal government. Other panel discussions will include a variety of federal officials from the Treasury Department, GSA, NASA, NIST, DOL, the White House and many more. From smart cities to #ChangeAgents, you will not want to miss out on these critical government conversations.
- A Look at Internet of Things and Smart Cities in Federal IT. The Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities are generating excitement in the technology space by addressing urban challenges and increasing information sharing. What does this mean for the federal government? The Social Innovation Summit will include a panel on IoT and smart cities with government and industry experts weighing in to discuss innovative case studies and the future of these technologies. Panelists will share their ideas on the federal government’s role in supporting these technologies, ingesting this data, and the role storage plays in the conversation.
- A Great Opportunity for Government and Industry to Network. While we have a packed schedule, there will be plenty of time for government and industry collaboration! There will be two networking breaks that provide the opportunity to make new connections and develop and discuss new ideas.
- An Emphasis on Security. No IT conversation can occur today without emphasizing the importance of security. Unfortunately, government agencies have become targets for cyber attacks that aim to steal critical government data. During the Security/Big Data Panel Discussion, panelists will discuss steps they are taking to protect critical information. The conversation will examine the role virtualization plays in identifying critical information and automating access control.
- A Focus on Innovation. Government agencies are always looking to more efficiently meet their mission goals through innovative citizen services. Due to aging legacy infrastructure and increased spending on maintenance costs, agencies are struggling to stay on par with innovative best practices. Xavier Hughes, Labor’s chief innovation officer and Dan Correa, a senior advisor for innovation policy at the White House, will highlight how technology serves as the cornerstone for agencies to improve public services and how there is no one-size-fits-all model for innovation.
I hope to see you on March 10 at the Social Innovation Summit to share your thoughts and help make a positive impact on federal IT. Join the conversation on innovation in the federal IT community using the hashtag #InnovationHDSF on Twitter.
Click here to learn more about the event.
Contributed by Mike Tanner, President and CEO of Hitachi Data Systems Federal
