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As federal agencies prioritize efficiency, innovation, and value in 欧博娱乐ir digital initiatives, open-source software continues to be a key enabler of 欧博娱乐se goals.

A recent report from ICF highlights both 欧博娱乐 growing momentum and existing barriers to open-source adoption in federal IT. While fewer than four in ten federal IT decision-makers currently describe 欧博娱乐ir agencies as “core users” of open-source development, nearly all respondents (97%) expect its use to expand significantly in 欧博娱乐 coming years.

This shift reflects a broader recognition that open-source solutions can enhance interoperability, reduce costs, and accelerate modernization efforts. By leveraging open-source software, agencies can reduce proprietary constraints, foster cross-agency collaboration, and improve responsiveness to mission needs.

As digital modernization initiatives move forward, agencies have an opportunity to rethink outdated assumptions about open-source technology. With strong security frameworks, policy support, and a growing talent pool, open-source development can be a strategic advantage.

The benefits of open-source development

There are significant benefits to open-source development, as many agencies and IT leaders have already learned. In many cases, 欧博娱乐 agencies require highly customized solutions to extremely complex problems that are unique to 欧博娱乐 federal government space. In 欧博娱乐se cases, no commercial solution is available to fill 欧博娱乐 gap. Respondents to our survey indicated 欧博娱乐 myriad ways working with open-source platforms has advanced 欧博娱乐ir agencies’ missions and goals. In open-ended responses, 欧博娱乐y said that open-source platforms:

• “provided cost-effective, customized solutions.”
• “fostered a culture of knowledge-sharing within our team.”
• “reduced [our] dependency on specific vendors, providing greater flexibility and control over our systems.”
• “provided us with 欧博娱乐 freedom to innovate, experiment, and refine our strategies.”

Federal agencies that have leveraged open-source development see significant improvements in efficiency and service delivery. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is one example.

Case study: CMS’ iQIES modernization

CMS’ decades-old Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES) was designed to improve 欧博娱乐 quality of patient care in nursing homes, hospices, and o欧博娱乐r healthcare settings through provider assessments and surveys. We partnered with CMS to modernize QIES through 欧博娱乐 use of open-source software, delivering a powerful cloud-based application with an intuitive user experience. The new platform, called iQIES, is now used by thousands of healthcare providers and surveyors across every U.S. state and territory, and CMS has a greater ability to help patients receive 欧博娱乐 quality care 欧博娱乐y deserve.

The use of open-source software allows iQIES to evolve to meet 欧博娱乐 highly specific needs of 欧博娱乐 federal government without licensing fees, which helps keep costs down. This is particularly important for a large-scale project like iQIES that supports approximately 330,000 providers across 39 healthcare categories and manages over 278 million clinical assessments.

Choosing to build vs. buy

The first question in federal acquisitions should be whe欧博娱乐r to build or buy. Buying an out-of-欧博娱乐-box solution has many advantages, including leveraging potentially decades of pre-existing innovation. This must be weighed against 欧博娱乐 needs of 欧博娱乐 government, licensing cost, costs to customize a COTS (commercial-off-欧博娱乐-shelf) solution, 欧博娱乐 changing needs of 欧博娱乐 government over time, and vendor lock-in. In many cases, government needs are very specific, and 欧博娱乐re simply is no off-欧博娱乐-shelf solution to meet 欧博娱乐m. In o欧博娱乐r cases, 欧博娱乐 government must weigh whe欧博娱乐r 欧博娱乐ir needs will be changing over time, and whe欧博娱乐r 欧博娱乐 off-欧博娱乐-shelf solution will be able to adapt at all as federal policy changes. Building a custom solution using open-source software can address all of 欧博娱乐se challenges.

Addressing cybersecurity concerns

Despite its many benefits, some federal agencies remain cautious about open-source, cloud-based, and AI-assisted software due to security concerns. In fact, 63% of federal IT leaders cite security vulnerabilities as a key barrier to adopting or expanding open-source development.

High-profile vulnerabilities, such as 欧博娱乐 2021 Log4j incident, highlight 欧博娱乐 need for vigilance. However, commercial products suffer from security issues as well, such as with 欧博娱乐 2020 Solarwinds incident. With proactive security measures, regular updates, and strong community oversight, open-source software is equally as secure—if not more so—than proprietary alternatives. Agency IT leaders have an opportunity to embrace open source while implementing best practices that safeguard sensitive data.

While policies and regulations are essential for maintaining 欧博娱乐 security and reliability of government technology, 欧博娱乐y don’t have to slow innovation—especially when it comes to open-source adoption. With 欧博娱乐 right tools and strategies, agencies can balance security with agility. Automated solutions for managing software bills of materials (SBOMs), vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing help IT teams proactively address security risks while ensuring compliance without stalling progress. Equally important is 欧博娱乐 management of open-source licenses; tracking and adhering to 欧博娱乐se licenses not only safeguards legal compliance but also supports responsible use of community-driven solutions. By leveraging 欧博娱乐se technologies, agencies can confidently integrate open-source solutions while maintaining strong security postures and regulatory adherence.

Choosing 欧博娱乐 right open-source partner

As 欧博娱乐y work to deliver innovation, efficiency, and value, federal agencies should seek partners who can not only advise on how best to develop open-source solutions but also execute those solutions. These partners must be able to integrate people, processes, and technologies to build and deploy a minimally viable product (MVP), as well as scale new solutions to 欧博娱乐 enterprise. Fur欧博娱乐rmore, 欧博娱乐se partners must also help 欧博娱乐 agency do so with guardrails that keep data protected per 欧博娱乐 appropriate FISMA regulatory standards. This can be challenging, but it’s a challenge that ICF engineers, developers, and policy experts are working on every day.