BSA Calls for Requiring Multi-Cloud for Federal IT Purchases

WASHINGTON – BSA | The Software Alliance outlined four priorities for US leaders to modernize the federal government’s digital infrastructure and services in its first-ever US procurement agenda.

BSA’s top procurement priority calls on federal officials to require multi-cloud solutions for all federal government IT purchases, which would prompt government agencies to distribute their applications, data, and workloads across different cloud environments instead of a single cloud infrastructure.

“BSA expanded its advocacy on procurement to help the federal government improve how it leverages technology and modernizes its services,” said Jessica Salmoiraghi, Senior Director for IT Modernization and Procurement at BSA. “Our first-ever US procurement agenda outlines meaningful ways that US policymakers can deliver the digital transformation of government, and a more efficient and secure digital infrastructure for citizens.”

BSA’s four procurement agenda priorities include:

1. Requiring multi-cloud solutions for all federal government agencies: This would provide flexibility and competition between cloud service providers for federal agencies, and harden cyber defenses.
2. Prioritizing use of commercial software: Maintain the US government’s longstanding policy of using US commercial software, while ensuring equivalent requirements for both commercial and government-developed software.
3. Streamlining certifications: Ensure that the high-standard, intensive Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards have reciprocity across government.
4. Fund IT modernization: Address decades of technology debt through the multi-year funding needed to help agencies upgrade and modernize systems and migrate to a multi-cloud environment.

“These common-sense recommendations enjoy broad support across the technology sector, and among leaders in Congress from both parties,” said Salmoiraghi. “BSA and our members will work to help advance multi-cloud legislation, along with other pillars of our procurement agenda.”

Read BSA’s Procurement Agenda: Better Purchasing for US Government IT Transformation here.