Stabilizing and Streamlining Our Core Processes and Platforms

IT core processes and platforms form the backbone of VA.

The work we do behind the scenes supports critical functions across the Department and ensures smooth interactions between systems for a better Veteran experience. In 2017, we took a hard look at improving our core processes. From our help desk support to financial management, from providing laptops to employees to consolidating data centers, and from decreasing our physical building footprint to expanding our cloud footprint, we’ve made tremendous progress.

Managing Data

OIT is responsible for a vast amount of Veteran data. We manage and maintain hundreds of systems that use that data to serve Veterans, ensuring that they receive the care, benefits, and services they have earned. Currently, the systems do not always share data, which puts the onus on the Veteran to make sure they update their information in multiple systems, complicating what should be a simple interaction with VA.

We imagine a different Veteran experience — one in which we consolidate and leverage our vast data stores to predict Veteran and employee needs, improve data-based decision making, simplify customer interaction with VA platforms, and increase public access to valuable government information.

We envision a secure, scalable, and reliable data management infrastructure for moving information across the entire VA network. To get there, we’ve created a concept for a “data turnpike” across VA that enforces rules for data flow and usage, allowing for a comprehensive view of our data so it can be used more effectively. This effort will support interoperability and emerging business needs, unleash the power of data to better serve our Veterans, and ultimately, return ownership of that data to the Veteran.

Data Turnpike

The "data turnpike" enforces rules for data flow and usage across the VA.

Turnpike Governance: establishes common, shared, and organizational rules of the road
Cybersecurity Structure: keeps in/outgoing data safe
Priority Data: access to critical data is given priority

data turnpike depicted as a traditional highway turnpike