“Going Digital” with a Secure, Compliant Network
An updated, secure, and compliant network infrastructure can enable a public sector organization to undergo digital transformation on what IDC calls “the 3rd Platform,” and truly modernize how its services are delivered. IDC defines the 3rd Platform as a set of technology pillars that includes cloud and mobile.
Mobility, for example, can revolutionize how public sector employees and contractors do their jobs. Public safety officers, for example, can leverage mobile devices for faster communication when responding to an incident. An updated network infrastructure can also support the mobile cloud applications that can bring great efficiency to public sector organizations.
Public sector organizations can become “digital authorities” through a modernized network infrastructure. Government organizations that interact directly with citizens can reduce the frustration of many of the more bureaucratic elements through their work by using digital platforms for things such as information access and accepting tax payments.
Moreover, the concept of Smart Cities can be enabled only by a secure 3rd Platform network infrastructure. One thing to note about Smart Cities is that they often employ Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. IoT holds great promise in process automation, manual-task reduction, cost savings, and collection of data that is converted into useful analytics. With IoT deployments in particular, it is important that foundational security be a part of the network. IoT sensors are often collecting sensitive data and are “headless,” meaning they operate autonomously without human input, potentially making them a target for hackers.
Digital transformation is a force that is revolutionizing how the world does business and how organizations interact with those they serve. It goes without saying that the public sector will want to enjoy the benefits of digitization (indeed, it’s already enjoying the benefits in many cases). At the same time, public sector organizations cannot risk the harm that could come from attempting digital initiatives without commensurate security in place. This means it’s critical for public sector organizations to examine their network infrastructures and consider upgrading outdated equipment to 3rd-Platform-ready infrastructure with embedded foundational security.