Government IT News For VARs — January 28, 2014
How the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA) could affect you and your customers is in the news, as well as a forecast that software and services will have the biggest share of the growing Big Data market and storage will be the fastest growing segment. An article also explains OpenSaaS and provides key tests to see if an organization is a candidate.
DATA Act Will Require Detailed Reporting For Use Of Federal Grants
A PoliceOne article explains the federal Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act. The proposed law will make government spending information more accessible to the public and streamlines how this information is collected and presented. Those who use federal grants – including some of your customers -- will be subject to the new requirements. It expands on the 2006 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which requires detailed accounting of how federal grant money is spent.
Storage Fastest Growing Segment Of Big Data Market
The Research and Markets report “Big Data Market - Global Scenario, Trends, Industry Analysis, Size, Share And Forecast, 2012 - 2018” predicts the storage segment of the market will be the fastest growing over the next five years. Software and services, however, will dominate the market. Financial services, healthcare, and the government sector are the top three verticals contributing to the Big Data market. Media and entertainment and healthcare are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 42 percent from 2012 to 2018. North America held about 55 percent of the total Big Data market in 2012. The fastest growth is projected, however, in the Asia Pacific region. The report states the shortage of personnel trained to analyze Big Data will limit growth of the market in North America.
Is Your Customer Considering OpenSaaS?
An article on opensource.com tells how open source software projects and cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) products” have begun to significantly disrupt traditional technology vendor business models in government, making it easier and cheaper for governments to procure and implement the software solutions they need.” This has led to OpenSaaS, SaaS based on open source code. In the past, governments used enterprise software. Open source software along with cloud-based products can provide costs savings and more control of technology. The article explains the model and includes a list of questions that are key tests for OpenSaaS.
Government IT Talking Points
A Data.gov post includes stories from the White House Data Safetypalooza that tell how two startups are using safety data. Keychain Logistics has used open data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to create apps that shippers can use to locate carriers to transport their cargo and to check their driver safety records. A second startup, Bustr uses FMCSA safety data for an app for people who want to charter a motorcoach, providing carrier and driver records –and adding a rating, which the administration is prohibited by law from doing but Bustr is free to do.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Government IT Resource Center.