Red Hat’s Adam Clater: Open Source Tech, Freedom of Choice Key to Federal IT Modernization

Adam Clater, chief architect for North America public sector at Red Hat, wrote in a GCN article published Tuesday that federal agencies should advance information technology modernization and the initial step they need to do is avoiding proprietary or vendor lock-in arrangements when it comes to cloud adoption.

“Cost-effective and long-term efficient modernization demands that agencies have the capability to build applications that can run in and across any cloud,” Clater wrote.

“Without that hybrid cloud capability, agencies may well end up in the same place they started.”

He also discussed the role of open source technologies in driving innovation and helping agencies accelerate IT modernization.

“Enterprise distribution of open source technologies carries with it the critical governmental certifications and accreditations that are extremely important to agencies — and necessary for rapid deployment,” Clater added.