Agencies continue to work toward the goal of connecting all employees on the same network, regardless of location, to improve efficiency and security.
The Census Bureau envisions more than 600,000 enumerators connecting to private 5G networks instead of the cloud for the 2030 census, whether from field offices or on someone’s front porch, but that transition is likely six years away.
It may be more realistic for another, much smaller, agency to be the first to deploy a universal 5G environment for its employees.
As the network environment requires a stable signal, infrastructure providers continue to build 5G towers across the country. Meanwhile, traditional network companies like AT&T and Verizon are adding 5G antennas to their devices, meaning a universal agency network is no longer a pipe dream.
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What’s holding back 5G?
Government computing and cybersecurity leaders are rightly concerned about securing the 5G supply chain. With major hardware and software upgrades required, it’s essential to ensure that companies and suppliers with ties to foreign adversaries aren’t providing components that could put sensitive data or the network itself at risk.
These concerns have prompted a push to manufacture more 5G components in the United States and its allies, a transition that will take time with few domestic manufacturers to choose from.
Agencies must also determine their network requirements based on the number of employees who work in the office versus in the field. For example, U.S. Court officials typically work inside the courthouse, while Department of Agriculture employees might connect from a tractor or in a slaughterhouse. Similarly, the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration employ many field personnel and must design their networks to meet their needs while still supporting taxpayers.
How government agencies are becoming more productive today
Still, government agencies continue to take the right steps toward a 5G future. Many are buying expensive, but 5G-capable laptops today, with the understanding that the cost will be small compared to the productivity gains agencies will realize when 5G networks finally start to roll out.
Discover: The State Department has developed 5G plans for diplomats stationed overseas.
Think about how much less efficient your devices will be if you connect in an airport lounge, the back of an Uber, a coffee shop, etc. These networks will also be less secure than 5G networks.
If field workers primarily access one or more applications, agencies can ensure that these applications are hosted in an environment that enhances productivity while everyone waits for 5G. A cloud environment isn’t necessarily a better solution, but the cloud makes it easier to access from the field.
CDW’s recent acquisition of Enquizit gives it the ability to use tools to assess an institution’s legacy apps and determine what should be placed in a cloud-like environment. Colocation facilities provide that experience without moving to a true public cloud or investing in building out a data center. Institutions can pay for caged space in a data center for several years while they prepare for eventual network upgrades and modernization to support 5G.
