IT Strategies Guiding the Intelligence Community

Although the eighteen agencies of the IC predominately operate in a classified space, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and select IC agencies have released unclassified IT-related strategy documents which will guide investments over the next few years. Contractors can use these plans to identify agency needs and IT priorities.

Below is a list and short summary of the strategies.   

IC-Wide Strategies:

IC2025 VISION: Published in 2017, the vision provides foundational priorities across the IC including augmenting intelligence using machines, an agile workforce, comprehensive cyber posture, and data management.

IC CLOUD COMPUTING STRATEGIC PLAN: Released in 2019, the plan contains seven cloud-related objectives: Reach, Application, Functions, Operations, Capabilities, Acquisition and Culture. 

AUGMENTING INTEL USING MACHINES (AIM) INITIATIVE: Launched in January 2019, the plan provides a framework for acquiring Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Augmentation (AAA) technologies.

IC CYBERESECURITY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Released in August 2019, the plan outlines methods for collectively improving the IC cybersecurity posture and enhancing cyber defenses for intelligence networks and systems. 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ETHICS FOR THE IC: Published in July 2020, the ethics principles and the ethics framework are meant to guide the implementation of AI solutions in the IC.

NATIONAL SYSTEM FOR GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE (NSG) COMMERCIAL GEO INTELLIGENCE (GEOINT) STRATEGY: Published in November 2021, the strategy requires IC agencies to use commercial sources of GEOINT where possible in order to take advantage of innovative tools and capabilities.

SCIENCE AND TECH INVESTMENT LANDSCAPE: Published in March 2022, the document seeks assistance from industry and academia to enhance the IC’s technological edge. Needs are subcategorized into 19 technology domains. This plan is part of the package of documents that make up ODNI’s Science and Technology investment planning guidance. The other documents in the package have not been made public.

IC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE (ICITE): Originally launched in 2012 with a revision planned for 2022, the overarching goals of the new strategy include a mission-driven enterprise, security, interoperability and emerging technology.

DATA STRATEGY: Announced in June 2022, the IC is in the process of updating its data strategy which will emphasize automation and workforce development, as well as data volume.

Agency-Specific Strategies:

DIA CIO’s 2021- 2025 STRATEGY: The strategy includes the following goals: Delivering data to the point of need, equipping the workforce, driving customer centricity, and optimizing the DIA CIO core.

NGA DATA STRATEGY: Released in October 2021, goals of the strategy include managing data as a strategic asset; delivering shared data services; scaling data and analytics capabilities; and bolstering workforce data literacy. The Data Strategy is companion to NGA’s Technology Strategy.

NGA TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY: NGA’s Technology Strategy released in May 2020 with the following key initiatives: Treating data as a strategic asset, empowering builders and makers, building with customers, transforming digital workspaces, and bringing AI, cloud and high performance computing into the GEOINT mainstream.

NGA TECH FOCUS AREAS 2022: Investment priorities are grouped by mission imperative and include the following: Stabilizing, Modernizing, and Transforming Critical Geodetic Infrastructure; Consistent and Accurate Operations in a GPS-Denied Environment; Global Dynamic Modeling; Automated Strategies; Mission Needs and Collection Planning; Secure Data Services; Data Integration and Optimization; Cross-Domain Services; Edge Services, Compute, and Transport; Automated GEOINT Exploitation; Automated Insight and Reporting; and Modeling.

NGA SOFTWARE WAY: In April 2022, NGA released an updated version of its software strategy, called the “NGA Software Way.” The document describes how the agency envisions delivering software faster and more consistently. Three key metrics will be availability, lead time for changes, and deployment frequency.

For more information on the IC IT environment and priorities, watch for Deltek’s new report Defense and Intelligence IT Market, 2022-2024 slated for publication on July 8th.