Reliable and secure connectivity is essential across the Department of Defense (DoD), the intelligence community, and other government agencies. From real-time intelligence sharing to joint (multi-domain) operations, modern missions demand seamless data exchange, operational resilience, and uncompromising security.
However, achieving this level of network integration is increasingly challenging.
Emerging technologies, cross-agency collaboration mandates, and an unrelenting rise in cyber threats compound operational complexities. Building future-ready networked systems requires modernizing infrastructure and rethinking how systems are architected, secured, and managed across today’s dynamic and distributed environments.
Many of the challenges facing government agencies are long-standing. A 2025 report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) outlined the extent of the problem. In 2010, the GAO detailed 1,881 IT-related recommendations needed to modernize and secure government systems. As of 2025, fewer than 25% of the recommendations have been implemented.
Several core issues are standing in the way.
Legacy Systems and Infrastructure Incompatibility
Despite the clear need for modernization, many government agencies remain heavily reliant on aging systems. According to a 2024 GAO report, thirteen out of fifteen major agencies still use legacy components that are "difficult to update or secure."
These outdated systems often lack interoperability with newer technologies, hindering efforts to integrate data, applications, and workflows across agencies. They’re also expensive. Maintaining legacy systems drains resources that could otherwise be used to fund innovation and critical upgrades, creating an unsustainable cycle of technical debt.
Cybersecurity Risks in Expanding Networks
As agencies expand their networks to accommodate cloud computing, edge deployments, and IoT devices, their attack surface grows exponentially. Every new connection represents a potential vulnerability. The National Security Agency reports a significant increase in the targeting of defense systems through supply chain and third-party vulnerabilities.
Without a robust, modern cybersecurity strategy, expanded networks can become liabilities. Agencies must integrate cybersecurity frameworks to address threats across increasingly distributed, interconnected environments.
Lack of Unified Standards and Data Silos
Disconnected systems have led to information silos, latency in intelligence sharing, operational inefficiencies, and reduced mission responsiveness. Complex authorization protocols and a lack of standardization across units and agencies exacerbate the issue.
Without a unified data governance and system interoperability strategy, agencies will struggle to deliver coordinated, real-time insights.
Scaling Challenges Across Multi-Domain Operations
Today's operations span the domains of land, sea, air, cyber, and space. The Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative aims to collate these diverse assets and domains into a cohesive operational picture. However, true interoperability is years away.
Supporting multi-domain operations requires network systems that are capable of seamless, secure data exchange across services, platforms, and partners—without introducing vulnerabilities or operational bottlenecks.
Agencies and co-contract partners must take proactive steps to build future-proof and mission-ready networks.
1. Adopting a Modular, Scalable Network Architecture
Agencies can future-proof networked systems by shifting to modular, scalable architectures built on microservices, APIs, and cloud-native principles. This approach allows for incremental upgrades without costly full-system overhauls.
Benefits include:
2. Implementing Zero Trust Security Principles
The traditional perimeter-based defense model is insufficient against modern threats. Agencies must transition to zero trust security frameworks, emphasizing identity- and context-based verification for every user and device.
The DoD's zero trust strategy, first released in 2022 and updated in 2024, sets a roadmap for full adoption by 2027. Key practices include:
3. Investing in Network Systems Automation and AI-Driven Monitoring
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can dramatically enhance network visibility, performance optimization, and threat detection.
By automating monitoring and anomaly detection, agencies can:
Pilot programs like the Army Cyber Command's Panoptic Junction have demonstrated the effectiveness of AI-driven monitoring, leveraging large language models to proactively discover and remediate vulnerabilities.
4. Prioritizing Interoperability Through Open Standards and Governance
Interoperability in networked systems must be a design priority, not an afterthought. Agencies should align with DoDIN-approved and NIST-compliant frameworks to ensure secure, consistent data exchanges across systems and partners.
Adopting open standards and structured governance models enables:
5. Strengthening Cross-Agency Collaboration and Shared Platforms
Breaking down silos requires more than just technology; it needs cultural and operational shifts toward collaboration. Shared platforms, centralized repositories, and cross-domain solutions enable agencies to:
Encouraging a shared investment model between agencies can also alleviate the financial burden of major integrations, ensuring that even resource-constrained organizations can contribute to building a stronger collective defense posture.
6. Aligning Procurement Strategy with Agile Implementation
Procurement models must evolve to keep pace with technological innovation. Traditional acquisition cycles often cannot meet the speed and flexibility that modern mission environments demand.
Agile contracts, modular acquisition strategies, and outcome-based evaluation metrics empower agencies to:
Partnering with experienced system integrators who understand government compliance and mission-readiness needs is critical for success.
The federal government spends more than $100 billion annually on IT. Modernization and integration can improve operations while also reducing costs. According to the GAO, “If the agencies fully implement all recommendations that have not yet been implemented, we estimate they could potentially achieve hundreds of millions in savings.”
Action is needed. Future readiness hinges on adaptability, secure architectures, and efficient collaboration. As technology and threat landscapes continue to evolve, network systems must be modernized to meet today's operational demands and anticipate tomorrow's challenges.
Future-ready networks. Mission-ready operations. Modernizing your base network infrastructure is critical for increasing mission readiness, scalability, and security. Sumaria Systems provides the expertise and innovative solutions to integrate, protect, and optimize your network for peak performance. Discover how Sumaria can help you build a resilient, future-ready infrastructure.