How DHS Leverages Emerging Tech to Drive Digital Transformation
Having recently returned from attending the Institute for Defense & Government Advancement’s (IDGA) Homeland Security Week 2023 Symposium, it is clear that digital transformation is at the forefront of efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “lead by example” in showing how federal agencies are looking to emerging technologies to improve efficiencies and drive change. In doing so, DHS has outlined its top priorities for 2023:
Strengthening cybersecurity
Improving customer experience;
Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies; and
Operational cohesion.
To strengthen cybersecurity, DHS will take a zero-trust approach and expand its bounty program to encourage ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities. To improve customer experience, they will focus on providing consistent communication and information to the public. Leveraging AI and emerging technologies will also be a crucial priority for DHS as automation continues to play an increasingly important role. The DHS Office of Operations Coordination will focus its attention on collaboration, information sharing, and bridging gaps between agencies to evolve to changing security threats.
The DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) has also outlined its biometric efforts, which will be applied in immigration and border enforcement, law enforcement, defense and intelligence, and credentialing. The use of biometrics, particularly facial recognition, is seen as a valuable tool for DHS. However, privacy protection is paramount, and DHS will embed protections in biometric identification and analysis services from the start of new projects. The OBIM Futures Identity initiative will position OBIM for the future by exploring identity capabilities informed by strategic engagement and analyses.
To bring digital to the homeland security mission, DHS will leverage emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing to drive intelligence gathering and make informed policy decisions. The next phase of digital transformation will focus on a multi-modal approach, with implementing a zero-trust model imperative to protect security and information. DHS will also invest in monitoring and protecting against insider threats while enhancing information-sharing abilities to improve incident response to threats and exploits. Cloud technology will provide resources to accommodate, process, and access large amounts of data, while edge computing will support mobile applications and real-time data sharing in remote locations.
With a focus on strengthening cybersecurity, improving customer experience, leveraging AI and emerging technologies, and operational cohesion, it is clear the DHS is taking a leading role within the federal government as to how agencies can and should embrace change. At the same time, OBIM has committed itself to the responsible use of biometrics while protecting privacy, which is of utmost importance to the American public. As a result of these agency-wide initiatives, the homeland security mission will be brought to the digital age by leveraging emerging technologies and a multi-modal approach to ensure security and information protection.
In Part II of this series, we examine how U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is leveraging emerging technology to secure and protect the U.S.-Mexico Border by leveraging emerging technologies.
