GSA and Consumption-Based Cloud Pricing … Stay Tuned!

February 12, 2020 by Leave a comment

By Tara Franzonello, GSA Programs Consultant

The consumption-based approach is already widely used in the private sector and GSA hopes to leverage a similar model to recognize the same efficiencies, increase cyber security, foster competition and provide cost savings and transparency — benefits that are being realized today by commercial companies.

Cloud computing is offered in various models (i.e. consumption-based with not to exceed ceiling, subscription based, on-demand, per-use-based, tier-based) as well as pay-as-you go and fixed price combinations in the private sector. Each has its own advantages based on the customer’s specific needs (environment, consumption usage, usage term, etc.). The ideal procurement path for consumption-based cloud computing would provide agencies with a flexibility across both funding and consumption models that promotes cost efficiency and private sector best practices.  Read more of this post

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If You Sell to DOD, Pay Attention to CMMC

February 6, 2020 by Leave a comment

By Troy Fortune, Vice President & General Manager

You’ve probably heard that the Department of Defense (DOD) recently released the official version 1.0 of its new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 1.0).

This is one of the hottest topics in government contracting right now and immixGroup is following developments very closely. And, it will affect everyone in our industry who sells to DOD – resellers, distributors and OEMs. We’ve scheduled a CMMC webinar on March 5 to prepare our partners and suppliers for what is coming and invite you to attend.

As a quick refresher, this is a cybersecurity standard that all contractors must meet if they want to do business with DOD. As we’ve discussed before in a previous blog, the standards themselves are taken from existing ones. With CMMC 1.0, we now have more clarity on what the 5 levels of CMMC entail: Read more of this post

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State Budget Documents: Treasure Troves of Information for IT Vendors

January 31, 2020 by Leave a comment

By Rachel Eckert, SLED Manager

State budgets are certainly not the most exciting topics in the world, but they offer many clues into key areas where you can target your sales campaigns. Budget documents provide insight into the areas state and local governments plan to invest funds, identify areas of concern and often outline key priorities for the upcoming year or two.

Most state governments operate on a July 1 through June 30 fiscal year. The process starts with agencies receiving guidelines from the governor on priorities and mandates for the upcoming year. This typically occurs during the fall and is the best time to work with agencies as they scope out their business cases for inclusion in next year’s budget.

Agencies work with their budget office to finalize budgets before submitting final documents to the governor. With the governor’s approval, final budgets are submitted to the legislature, typically in the winter. The legislature is then tasked with reviewing, reconciling and approving before the start of the next fiscal year.

By the end of January, most states have submitted their budgets to the legislature and governors are beginning to make their “State-of-the-State” speeches which outline their budget priorities. While you can find the text and video recordings for each of these speeches online, here are some of the key themes you’ll see in many FY2021 budgets and what they might mean for you:   Read more of this post

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CMS Needs YOU to Help Them Transform

January 23, 2020 by Leave a comment

By Jessica Parks, Analyst

In this era of widespread government IT transformation driven by Cloud Smart, FITARA and other initiatives, technology vendors can face difficulty in knowing where to most effectively focus their efforts.

In this blog I put the spotlight on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as one potential hotspot for you to focus on for 2020 – and beyond. I recently attended the AFCEA Bethesda Health IT Summit and gained valuable insight into the CMS modernization journey and its future objectives.

Read on for a couple of target areas for vendors and how you can strategize accordingly. Read more of this post

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LinkedIn Refresh: A New You for 2020

January 15, 2020 by 1 Comment

By Janna Neequaye, Senior Marketing Communications Manager

The holidays are over and it’s time to get back to business! Have you taken stock of your own personal branding and how you want to portray yourself lately? When is the last time you spent some time reviewing your LinkedIn profile and updating it?

How you present yourself in LinkedIn is important to your professional success – especially if you are in sales or business development. Not only do you check out others, they’re checking you out too! Think about it — your potential customers check you out. Your peers, friends and acquaintances in your social circles even check you out.

So, why wouldn’t you want to present yourself and your accomplishments in the best possible light, with the most up-to-date information? Read more of this post

Filed under Government IT Sales Summit, Marketing, Sales Tagged with , ,

Space Force…Lasers, Satellites, Debt, Oh My!

January 8, 2020 by Leave a comment

By Toné Mason, DOD Senior Analyst

The Space Force has finally been established and its focus will be on national security and the preservation of satellites. But what exactly is it and where is it going? Will it include spaceships that shoot out laser beams?

Lots of people are asking lots of questions, but let’s get started with the biggest elephant in the room – armed combat. The Space Force will not include armed combat scenarios and the Air Force has no intentions to make it that way. Now that bubbles have been burst, what is the point of the Space Force if it won’t include armed combat? Why do we need a Space Force if there will be no armed combat? Read more of this post

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Tips for Preparing for DOD’s New CMMC

December 18, 2019 by 3 Comments

By Hollie Kapos, Corporate Counsel

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) has been one of the hottest topics in government contracting this year. In fact, one of my colleagues addressed the topic in a blog on DOD and CMMC just a few months ago.

And no wonder everyone’s talking about it – it applies to ALL companies doing business with DOD, including OEMs, distributors and resellers. Here’s some basic information to help you prepare no matter where you are in the supply chain.

What is CMMC?

Intellectual property theft and cybercrime cost the United States billions of dollars and threatens national security. In order to protect government information from theft and other malicious cyber activity, DOD is making cybersecurity an acquisition foundation. Accordingly, DOD is developing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification – a certification process to measure a company’s ability to protect sensitive government data.

Read more of this post

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