Perspecta’s Shurrone Young Davis: DISA Needs Automation-Focused Framework for IT Infrastructure Consolidation Effort

Shurronne Young Davis, senior director of enterprise security at Perspecta, said the Defense Information Systems Agency must implement a framework that integrates automation, innovation, engineering and cyber elements for its new information technology modernization program.

Davis said in an opinion piece published Monday on Breaking Defense that DISA's Defense Enclave Services initiative will face computing power challenges in an effort to consolidate IT infrastructure for the Department of Defense's 22 “Fourth Estate” agencies.

An automation-focused framework will help improve the productivity of end-users while ensuring the peak performance of Fourth Estate customers, she noted.

According to Davis, commercial technologies are key to supporting DES and must be prioritized for integration with continuous, automated security assessments.

Agencies must adopt a “security-first” approach and establish a blueprint for system customization to comply with security approvals and policy restrictions, she said.

“DES embodies this future-focused strategy with its mix of automation, human skills and capabilities, collaboration and continuous innovation,” said Davis. “The results of this transformation will be apparent quickly, making DES a model for how federal agencies best fulfill their missions.”

DISA issued its final solicitation for the $11.65B DES contract in December 2020.