Give your implementation a FedStart: Best practices and lessons learned

Implementing cloud applications within the federal government requires a strategic approach that accounts for the unique needs, regulations and challenges of the public sector. At the core of this approach lies Baker Tilly’s three-tiered framework designed to guide agencies through the complexities of cloud adoption, ensuring efficiency, compliance and alignment with agency objectives.

At a recent conference, Baker Tilly’s Meghan Loomis, Principal, Emily Hegel, Experienced Manager and a representative from the federal government discussed the journey to cloud applications and how federal agencies can capitalize on predefined design solutions for federal requirements to accelerate agencies’ cloud implementation with this three-tiered approach.

Tier I: Leading cloud practices

The first tier of the approach involves laying a solid foundation built on leading cloud practices. Here, a wealth of knowledge is accumulated from various industries, drawing on best practices honed through many implementations. This tier serves as the bedrock upon which we build the whole project. By leveraging established methodologies and insights gained from past experiences, Baker Tilly develops a solid start to the journey. For the federal government, embarking on the journey to cloud applications involves meticulous planning and stakeholder engagement. Laying a sturdy foundation by streamlining data fields and reducing redundancy is a great example at the first tier of this approach.

Tier II: Federal specifications

Navigating federal specifications is a critical aspect of cloud adoption for government agencies. In this second tier of the journey, the agency, in collaboration with Baker Tilly, prioritizes compliance with federal regulations like generating standard forms and adhering to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requirements. Federal agencies can leverage cloud application capabilities and configurations to pave the way for a compliant and efficiency system.

Tier III: Unique agency requirements

Each federal agency has unique missions and operational challenges that require tailored solutions for maximum impact. In the final tier, Baker Tilly helps agencies build upon a foundation of leading practice design for federal agencies, to focus on solutions specific to the agency – this may be the harmonization of disparate processes across multiple components of an agency, or the automation of processes through systematic workflows. The collaborative efforts of agency stakeholders and Baker Tilly help increase the value of the Oracle Cloud implementation by ensuring unique agency requirements are optimized.

FedStart: Empowering federal agencies

Recognizing the need for knowledge sharing and collaboration in the federal ecosystem, Baker Tilly’s FedStart approach leverages a combination of leading cloud practices and tailored federal designs to give clients a head start on their implementation and set the foundation for layering in agency-unique requirements. Baker Tilly and Oracle work closely to create and maintain Federal Adoption Accelerators, which provide agencies with actionable blueprints and guidance for Oracle Cloud deployments. By leveraging these resources, agencies can expedite their cloud journeys while mitigating risks and maximizing value.

The journey to cloud applications represents a transformative endeavor for federal agencies, requiring careful planning collaboration and adaptability. As the federal government continues to embrace cloud technologies, initiatives like FedStart and Federal Adoption Accelerators will play a pivotal role in empowering agencies to navigate the complexities of cloud adoption and unlock the full potential of modernization and transformation. Through collaborative partnerships, adherence to best practices and commitment to innovation, federal agencies can begin their journey towards a more resilient, secure and future-ready IT landscape.