Informatica's Data in Action Summit
Informatica's Data in Action Summit: A Comprehensive Overview
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As more government agencies evolve their citizen services into efficient platforms, leaders are increasingly relying on data as a key indicator of success and a means to drive change. Data, once a helpful resource, has now become crucial in the intricate modernization journey. IT officials find data and its analytical tools indispensable for building a government that is not only effective but also transparent, allowing them to witness their efforts in real time.
On December 6th, 2023 the governmentwide ITVMO attended the
Data in Action Summit
by
Informatica
. The event brought together leading minds in the field of data science
within government, and among them was
Taka Ariga
of the
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
, who provided an enlightening discourse on various facets of data
utilization and management.
Targeted Audience
- Chief Data Officers/Data Scientists
- Enterprise Architects
- IT Managers
Intended Takeaways
- Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is occurring more in government, but based on objective needs. GAO is investing in initiatives for learning the mechanisms of AI to inform appropriate uses and what new capabilities may form post AI adoption (above and beyond AI).
- Data plays a critical role in shaping agency strategies and operational excellence.
- Understanding data's role and implications is important for the future state. Data integrity must be validated early, often, and throughout, given the dependency on accuracy and high risk for contaminated results. The organization must take various strategies to safeguard data.
- Information (data) is a leading contributor to better customer experience (CX). The government has a lot of data and is responsible for promoting transparency to the citizens. Investment in efforts to properly label data and organize can help agencies improve the overall CX, while also improving operations.
Opening Speaker
Taka Ariga
Taka Ariga is the GAO first Chief Data Scientist and Director of the Innovation Lab. As an integral part of the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team, he is helping GAO develop and implement advanced analytical capabilities for its auditing practices.
Embracing the Future
Mr. Ariga kicked off the event by emphasizing the importance of data in today's world, discussing the intricate layers of data sharing, governance, and the pivotal role of AI, particularly in probabilistic models.
A significant portion of Taka's talk was dedicated to Data Literacy,
highlighting the need for understanding data's role and implications.
This segued into an intriguing discussion about GAO’s deployment of
Large Language Models (LLMs.)
, focusing on summarization techniques and basic principles.
Taka also touched upon the crucial aspect of Change Management in the context of data, noting how it's essential for adapting to the evolving data landscape. The talk concluded with insights on the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and LLMs within federal agencies, underscoring their growing importance in government sectors.
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AI: Key Practices to Help Ensure Accountability in Federal Use
Panel Discussions: Diverse Perspectives on Data
Panel 1: Elevating Customer Experience
The first panel delved into CX, a crucial aspect of modern governance. The panelists, including members from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) discussed the momentum being built in creating better interactions between the government and its citizens. Key topics included: (1) integration of infrastructure and journey mapping, (2) importance of breaking out of silos to embed customer experience impact, and (3) concept of a 'one-stop shop' for government services. Notably, the panel emphasized the increasing role of mobile services, reflecting the shift towards more accessible and user-friendly government interactions.
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Panel 2: Data Security and System Management
The second panel focused on
Executive Order 22-09, Moving the U.S. Government Toward Zero Trust
Cybersecurity Principles
, which focuses on governmentwide implementation of Zero Trust (ZT). The
directive centers on data integrity and security. With
representatives from the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) the discussion revolved around treating data
as the 'crown jewel' of an organization and the various strategies to
safeguard it. This included innovative methods like the 'Hack the
Pentagon' bug bounty approach, insights from detailed Salesforce
experts, Application Programming Interface (API) calls, and the
integration of data between services. The panelists also explored the
integration of cybersecurity into the entire architectural framework,
the evolution of data protection methods (such as moats to data
change), and the importance of application and system security. Each
stressed on ID management, taking an iterative and holistic
approach, and the significance of automated inventory and cataloging of
data. A notable mention was the concept of decentralized identity,
particularly in the context of the European Union.
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Are security and ZT key challenges in your acquisition and
technology strategy? The ITVMO in collaboration with GSA’s Office of
Information Technology Category and TTS’ IT Acquisition Working
Group is conducting a cohort on ZT Acquisition Training.
Email us at ITVMO@gsa.gov Subject: ZT Acquisition Training for more
information.
Email us
Panel 3: Algorithmic Modernization and Risk Management
The third panel featuring members from CISA, the General Services
Administration (GSA), and GAO brought AI into the spotlight, discussing
its role in data sharing and governance. A key area of focus was risk
management, particularly in the context of the
CISA AI Roadmap
and the inclusion of data in models. These panelists debated on data
quality and fitness, including labeling practices, and the sensitivity
of data in relation to the privacy and security of systems. All three
panelists emphasized the importance of upfront data modeling and the
need to ensure that the right data is being utilized. The panel
concluded with a cautionary note on the pace of AI adoption, advocating
for a balanced approach that prioritizes high reward and low risk.
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Closing Speaker
Ken Pfeil
Ken Pfeil is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Chief Data Officer. Ken is a security and finance industry veteran, formerly serving as VP and Managing Director of Data Protection and Governance at OneMain Financial. Ken’s Information Technology and Security experience spans over three decades, with strategic, technical, and executive experience at companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Capital IQ, Miradiant Global Network, Avaya, and Merrill Lynch. Ken co-authored Microsoft's “Best Practices for Enterprise Security” white papers and participated on the Information Systems Security Association's International Privacy Advisory Board covering the initial implementation of GLBA.
Data in Action, Government-Led Initiatives and Local Problem-Solving
Ken Pfeil brought attention to government-led initiatives targeting local problems. Ken’s talk highlighted the vital role of security in data management and the importance of data training and accuracy. Establishing best practices was underscored as a key factor in managing data effectively. The speaker concluded with a poignant reminder that in the realm of data and AI, people and their expertise are more important than the code itself.
In summary, Informatica's Data in Action Summit presented a multifaceted view of the current state and future of data management, emphasizing the importance of AI, data security, customer experience, and the human element in the world of data science within the federal government.
Event Background
- When: December 6th, 2023
- Who: Public sector experts providing commentary on how they're using data to deliver transformative analysis, security, and CX solutions across their agencies.
- Why: At the heart of Informatica's Data in Action Summit lies a compelling narrative within the strategic applications of data in the public sector. This summit convened to explore how government entities can leverage data to optimize customer experiences, understand data's critical role in defending system security, and delve into its guiding impact on AI and automation. These pivotal themes underscore the importance and purpose of the summit, illuminating why bringing these conversations to the forefront is essential in today's data-driven landscape.
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Additionally, we're always looking for insightful contributions from external experts and thought leaders in these fields. If you have valuable experiences, case studies, or innovative ideas related to Data, ZeroTrust, AI, or Customer Experience, we encourage you to share them with our community. Your input can help shape the conversation and drive progress in these critical areas.
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About Informatica
Informatica is a prominent player in the data management sector, trusted by 85 of the Fortune 100 companies. The company processes a staggering 71 trillion cloud transactions per month and offers over 250 intelligent data services. Informatica's core strength lies in bringing data and AI to life, enabling businesses to harness the transformative power of their most critical assets.
The company's Intelligent Data Management Cloud is pivotal in unlocking the power of AI by ensuring holistic, trusted, and governed data. This platform is essential for companies aiming for data velocity, volume, variety, and veracity to succeed with accurate, unbiased insights.
Informatica has achieved a leading position in the market, ranking #1 in several categories including Data Ingestion & Transformation, Data Quality, Data Intelligence, Master Data Management, and Dynamic Data Movement. This recognition is a testament to the company's commitment to delivering top-notch data management solutions. Visit Informatica’s
website today!
About ITVMO
The Information Technology Vendor Management Office (ITVMO) serves as a trusted advisor and advocate for Federal IT acquisitions. Established in October 2020 within the Governmentwide Category Management Framework by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the ITVMO aims to address the challenges faced by agencies in IT vendor relationship management, including standardizing technical requirements, mitigating cyber-risk, improving data quality, and leveraging the government's buying power to drive improvements and business transformation.
The ITVMO's mission is to provide agencies with meaningful intelligence to inform and support faster, smarter IT buying decisions. It operates within the Federal IT Acquisitions Ecosystem, collaborating with various stakeholders, including agency IT buyers, vehicle solution holders, federal and industry partners, and suppliers (and resellers). This collaboration aims to standardize requirements, increase market compliance, and drive smarter, faster IT acquisitions.
The ITVMO offers a coordinated voice representing all agencies to the vendor community, focusing on customer-centric solutions, convenience, cost savings, and compliance. It also conducts annual assessments and customer satisfaction surveys to evaluate its performance and inform priorities and agency needs for the upcoming fiscal year. Visit our website today!
