Author Archive

Alan Joch

Alan Joch is a freelance writer based in New Hampshire.
People

Operational resilience: Bringing order to a world of uncertainty

Agencies are discovering the benefits of combining IT management, security and recovery efforts into one overarching strategy.

Digital Government

Let the machines do the talking

By taking humans out of the equation, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication holds great promise for agencies that need to collect and analyze large amounts of data. However, it's not always easy to implement.

Modernization

Modular data centers: Weighing the pros and cons

A prefab approach to changing needs can help agencies quickly boost their IT capacity and save energy, but it's not for everyone.

Modernization

Should you trust disaster recovery to the cloud?

Cloud computing offers an attractive alternative to in-house disaster recovery systems. Here's what you need to know before you commit to a vendor and begin transferring data.

Modernization

Converged infrastructure: Is less really more?

IT shops across government are turning to standard technologies in pretested combinations to save time and money while still meeting expanding user demands.

People

5 strategies for taking telework to new heights

The latest technologies and refinements to managerial best practices offer new opportunities for improving and extending telework programs.

Digital Government

How to get mobile under control

Mobile device management has fast become a must-have tool for agencies joining the mobile revolution.

Cybersecurity

How to make continuous security monitoring work

Improving cyber defenses with real-time awareness takes an investment in planning and new capabilities.

Modernization

Is government procurement ready for the cloud?

Cloud computing can present unfamiliar territory for government acquisition officials.

Modernization

Cloud procurement stumbling blocks

Cloud characteristics, like shifting standards and service levels, can pose special challenges to traditional procurement practices.

Modernization

5 ways to prep for procuring cloud services

Some core definitions and tools could bridge the conflicting needs of agencies and cloud providers.

Modernization

Is government procurement ready for the cloud?

Cloud computing can present unfamiliar territory for government acquisition officials.

Cybersecurity

Rethinking government's biggest IT ideas

Four landmark programs that sought to remake big swaths of government IT face the test of time.

Modernization

Pay off your private cloud -- by sharing it

Agencies that want to build private clouds for hire need to master some new capital planning and service management skills.

Cybersecurity

What you need to know about the latest cyber foes

A rash of security breaches engineered by highly motivated cyber soldiers marks a risky new reality for government and industry networks.

People

Metrics take the guesswork out of Gov 2.0

Agencies need the right mix of best practices, standard tools and custom benchmarks to demonstrate the legitimacy of their Gov 2.0 efforts.

Modernization

5 elements of a mobile enterprise masterpiece

These emerging technologies will make mobile wireless the dominant personal computing platform of the future.

Cybersecurity

2 security tools that don't come in a box

Before agencies deploy the latest applications to stop insider threats, they should take care of two important tasks.

Cybersecurity

Why you can't stop insider threats

There are no silver bullets for preventing once-trusted employees from spilling sensitive information. But a multilayer approach can reduce the risk and effects of those breaches.

Modernization

Why you can quit worrying about cloud security

Cloud security isn't as scary as you think, as long as you understand and respect these four points.