Best Practices for Network Transformation

Though we often don’t fully realize it, network connectivity serves as a critical lifeline for so many communities. It’s not just about downloading the latest viral video or being able to send a text that arrives in milliseconds. As the COVID-19 pandemic made all too evident, network connectivity enables so many aspects of government service delivery that when networks falter or don’t function optimally, the consequences could be significantly disruptive and potentially catastrophic. The lessons from the last two years have taught state and local governments they are long past due for modernization. As agencies look to enact network transformation, they should consider using a framework called “The Five States of Ready” to help them navigate their modernization journey.

THE FIVE STATES OF READY START

An agency or government should begin by identifying their core business needs, align them to key strategic initiatives and then identify technology partners who can put them on the path to modernization. David Grady, chief security evangelist at Verizon, says when assessing technology partners, governments should “look for a provider that can start at the end and help the organization refine its vision, articulate what it wants to be, understand what the possibilities are, and not just look at the engagement as a technology implementation, but as a partnership.” “When you talk about digital transformation in government, you’re essentially talking about changing society to a certain degree — whether it’s smart cities, drones or driverless cars to improve public transportation,” Grady adds. “The possibilities really are endless, especially with 5G, but they require vision and a partner who can help organizations get there.”

ADAPT

Once agencies identify their needs and choose a technology partner, they can begin to implement and test secure, interoperable network connectivity solutions that enable them to be more agile and efficient and drive better performance. For state and local governments, these solutions may include some of the core technologies previously outlined, including SD-WAN and managed network services. Implementing these technologies can also help public sector organizations better understand and deploy their data for a range of use cases, whether it be hybrid work, emergency response communications or digital service delivery.

ELEVATE

At this stage, organizations will start making better use of the data flowing into their networks. They’ll capture it at scale and begin to use it to inform their decision-making to drive better outcomes. In government, this could mean uncovering insights that lead to the implementation of self-service tools to reduce call center wait times or pinpointing which intervention programs are most effective at reducing juvenile interactions with the criminal justice system, and therefore doubling down on these efforts.

INNOVATE

At this advanced stage, an agency will have evolved into a more data-driven organization and its network architecture will be optimized to deliver on its evolving business needs. At the “innovate state of ready,” governments will also move from a reactive stance to a proactive approach where they are more equipped to anticipate constituents’ needs and that of their own workforce. What does this look like in the real world? IoT-enabled communications on public transit, digital kiosks that deliver timely alerts in public spaces, and real-time response systems that increase situational awareness for first responders minutes before they arrive on scene — just to name a few.

ADAPT

This end state isn’t just aspirational — it’s achievable. At this stage, governments will be well equipped to adopt the latest technologies to create a more responsive and agile operating model. They’ll be better positioned to make changes that truly improve residents’ quality of life and drive business and economic growth, and 5G and MEC will be a core part of their network design. Modern connectivity will bring to life smart city initiatives and digital interfaces and applications largely will be the first touchpoint through which constituents interact with government — ultimately making real the promise of digital government.