Network modernization can seem like an expensive, arduous process for federal agencies, making it tempting to put off to a later date. While it might feel easier to focus on maintaining processes and tools that are working well enough now, the consequences of neglecting modernization are significant.

Maintaining legacy infrastructure can become expensive and complicated, and can make it more difficult to increase efficiency, help protect sensitive data and achieve broader IT modernization plans. Federal agencies also need the right network infrastructure in place to take advantage of evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and edge computing, which require bandwidth, network speed and flexibility.

“Our challenge as an industry in our government-industry partnerships is how to enable agencies to transform through their existing operational models and transition their dated operational models,” says Colin Gosnell, Director of Engineering at Comcast Government Services. “And it’s continuous — when we’re talking modernization today, it’s a different conversation than we had five years ago, or five years before that. It will be continuous and it needs to be all inclusive.”