The White House American Technology Council has issued a final report to the president on the modernization of federal information technology systems in compliance with an executive order that seeks to build up the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure and federal networks.A White House blog post published Wednesday the report is based on public comments from at least 100 companies and individuals collected over a three-week period.
The report calls on federal agencies to advance IT network consolidation and modernization and facilitate the use of shared services in an effort to address issues that appear to impede federal IT modernization programs.
Some of the measures agencies could adopt include the prioritization of high-risk value asset modernization; the need to facilitate cloud migration through upgrades to the national cybersecurity protection program and trusted internet connections; and standardization of security service and network acquisitions.
The adoption of shared services can be implemented through enhancements to contract vehicles to help streamline the procurement of commercial cloud platforms and services; transition to cloud collaboration and email tools; and advancement of additional security shared services, according to the document.
The action plan detailed in the report, which was prepared in response to EO 13800, will take effect Jan. 1.
ATC Director Chris Liddell co-wrote the blog post with Jack Wilmer, senior policy adviser at the White House’s office of science and technology policy.
