How a Secure API-Led Approach Can Drive Next-Generation Defense

Data is foundational to so much of the work federal agencies do, especially those responsible for protecting our national security.

Data is foundational to most work of federal agencies, especially the ones protecting our national security. In recent years, federal agencies have been making strides by using initiatives to become more data-driven. These initiatives include the Department of Defense’s (DoD) data strategy, a Joint All-Domain Command-and-Control (JADC2) plan, and other initiatives. These initiatives seek to improve preparedness and battlefield outcomes, strengthen command control operations, and drive greater efficiency.

Data of speed and scale are mandatory to support these initiatives. However, this is inherently challenging in such a siloed, distributed enterprise as the federal government.

Application programming interfaces (APIs), however, can make all the difference. A secure API-led approach can drive data modernization for federal agencies and enable our nation to accelerate next-generation defense capabilities. Here’s how.

Strengthening National Defense with APIs

Strengthening National Defense with APIs

APIs essentially serve as software intermediaries that allow two applications to talk to one another. Ultimately, APIs are connectors that offer incredible value in highly disintegrated technology environments.

An API gateway can serve the mission of defense and national security agencies in several ways. First, it enables legacy system integration that allows new systems and applications to tap into the rich data sources housed in mainframe environments. This means agencies don’t have to do a costly rip-and-replace to modernize legacy systems. Instead, they can upgrade their environment incrementally and employ a hybrid approach.

APIs also enable agencies to tackle growing IT complexity, especially as they integrate emerging technologies like IoT, artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning solutions. Data underpins most, if not all, of these new technologies. APIs can help agencies better harness their operational data and deploy it for new uses, such as improved data sharing for specific cross-service operations or joint exercises between federal agencies or coalition partners.

Just as importantly, APIs can help agencies bridge the gap between different data standards as the federal government gradually moves toward greater interoperability.

APIs can foster seamless enterprise connectivity and collaboration that improve data visibility and real-time, responsive access to authoritative data, accelerating the shift to a whole-of-government approach. APIs also can support implementation of emerging security models like Zero Trust and DevSecOps that fortify our nation’s defenses and improve protection of training data sets, proprietary algorithms and other IT assets that are critical for missions.

APIs are a transformative technology, but to maximize their full potential agencies will need to employ a strategic approach to enterprise architecture — and powerful, enabling tools that support this strategy.

To recap the different ways an API integration can help include the following :

  • Enable agencies to tackle growing IT complexity
  • Help agencies to better harness their operational data and deploy it for new uses, such as improved data sharing for specific cross-service operations
  • Can help agencies bridge the gap between different data standards as the federal government gradually moves toward greater interoperability
  • Can foster seamless enterprise connectivity and collaboration that improve data visibility and real-time, responsive access to authoritative data, accelerating the shift to a whole-of-government approach.
  • Can support the implementation of emerging security models, like Zero Trust and DevSecOps

How to Harness the Power of APIs

How to Harness the Power of APIs  

APIs are a transformative technology, but to maximize their full potential, agencies will need to employ a strategic approach to enterprise architecture and to powerful, enabling tools that support this strategy. To fully leverage APIs and make better use of their data, agencies will need to embrace an enterprise architecture (EA) approach. This means they’ll need to move toward an open system architecture, one where interoperability, integration, and open standards define their technology landscape.In today’s relentless threat environment, interoperability and integration are now table stakes. Therefore, agencies must lean into an EA approach to increase enterprise visibility, better understand the relationships and interdependencies between data, systems and applications, to support security automation that strikes a better balance between data access and data protection, and to enable governmental and non-governmental partners to seamlessly and securely share data in a way that drives better mission outcomes.

API management, EA, and IT portfolio management solutions can be used to better manage an ever-growing IT estate and transform data into a true strategic asset. This solution offers built-in EA capabilities that enable agencies to effectively deploy, secure and manage the lifecycle of APIs. They can then put APIs to work to protect government data defensively. This is done while also using this data offensively to capitalize on emerging technologies that support the next-generation defense.

For years, government has talked about digital transformation. It seems that long-held dream is finally coming to fruition in every part of the enterprise — from how government delivers public services to how it executes national defense strategies and protects the homefront. Data has become imperative for defense and national security agencies to achieve their mission, and with a secure API-led approach, they can unlock the full value of data to modernize their operations and keep our nation safe.

In Closing

For more information about API integration, contact Software AG Government Solutions today! Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Software AG Gov has been providing top-notch growth-oriented software services for several years for public agencies and military forces. And as a result, they have gotten rave reviews and awards for their extraordinary work.

Software AG Government Solutions is a growth-oriented software company dedicated to serving the U.S. Federal and State & Local Government market as well as the Aerospace and Defense sector with IT solutions.You can’t go wrong with Software AG Gov, so contact today!

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