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E-GOVERNMENT

lie with internal technology staff. 1) modernisation and consolidation
These can instead focus on other of networks, and
strategic, or mission-critical, 2) the use of shared services
initiatives. Even better, every to enable future network
communication tool that users architectures. Cloud
require is integrated in one cohesive collaboration capabilities enable
solution. IM, presence, voice, audio/ agencies to take advantage of
video conferencing and many other more modern technologies as
applications are included, working it does not require the upfront
together on a single platform costs associated with procuring
that offers a unified experience. the actual infrastructure.
This represents a quick and easy Taking that a step further, it
method to start transitioning allows agencies to retire its
away from burdensome legacy current legacy communications
infrastructure. infrastructure to help meet
consolidation and cost saving
• Workforce transformation requirements.

IT modernisation efforts are This type of model can also help
aimed at more than just agency transition agencies to a shared services
operations. There are also efforts to approach, a major priority for the
improve how agencies work. With a administration. By pursuing this as a
cloud-based collaboration system, service model, the government can
agencies can enable workforce consolidate network acquisitions and
transformation initiatives including management – another key component
bring your own device, mobility in the plan – to take full advantage of the
and remote work. If partnered with benefits afforded by shared services.
a secure cloud provider, agencies
will do so with the peace of mind Next steps
that they have deployed a secure
infrastructure, no matter when or While the mandates outlined by the
where their employees connect.
Modernizing Government Technology
Act and the American Technology
Additionally, adoption of cloud- Council may seem time-intensive,
based collaboration can help agencies can make major headway
address another challenge facing with a few simple cloud migrations.
agencies today – the aging As stated earlier, agencies are looking
workforce. With more than a to modernise their networks quickly
quarter of federal workers falling with fast, efficient and cost-effective
in the 55-plus age range, many upgrades. One such approach is
government agencies strive to migrating collaboration workloads to the
implement workforce transformation cloud with a Unified Communications
practices that may help recruit the as a Service (UCaaS) platform. While
next-generation of federal workers. this workload doesn’t carry with it
This will also help to address the the pain points associated with other
knowledge management issue that cloud migration projects, such as cost,
will soon plague agencies as this time and the need to overhaul existing
workforce retires. These individuals equipment, the gains are significant and
have the background required immediate. With many agencies already
to operate and maintain current using cloud-based email, it’s likely that
legacy systems so, as they leave, many will follow suit with plans to migrate
that knowledge is walking out the their communication and collaboration
door, adding risk to the agency’s systems to the cloud. This should be
environment. By eliminating on- the next wave of modernisation efforts
premises legacy applications and
systems, agencies can significantly across government. 
reduce that risk.
Source: www.nextgov.com
• Shared services

A cloud collaboration model for
agency communications can serve
as the spearhead to meet two main
areas included in the modernisation
plan:

18 SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 12 No. 1 of 2018