Weathering the Storm: Migrating to the Cloud in Government

Posted on by Ruslain Shlain

Government agencies are under increasing pressure to modernize IT systems and deliver secure, efficient digital services. Migrating to the cloud is a critical step in this transformation, but the journey can feel like navigating a storm. In our latest CarahCast podcast episode, “Weather the Storm of Migrating to the Cloud,” experts share strategies to help agencies adopt cloud solutions with confidence.

Why Cloud Migration Matters

Cloud adoption enables scalability, resilience and innovation. Agencies can reduce reliance on outdated legacy systems, strengthen disaster recovery and improve citizen services.

Key Benefits:

Efficiency: Lower costs and improved scalability.
Resilience: Faster adaptation to crises and cybersecurity threats
Innovation: Access to artificial intelligence (AI), analytics and automation.
Citizen experience: Reliable digital services that build trust.

Key Challenges:

Despite its benefits, migration presents hurdles:

Security and compliance requirements
Legacy infrastructure integration
Budget limitations
Cultural resistance to change
Vendor management and lock‑in risks

Expert Insights from CarahCast

Podcast experts highlight that migration is not one‑size‑fits‑all. Key takeaways include:

Start small with pilot projects to prove value.
Embed security and compliance at every stage.
Engage stakeholders across IT, leadership and end‑users.

As one guest noted, “Cloud migration is about resilience, not just moving workloads.”

Best Practices to Weather the Storm

To navigate the complexities of cloud migration, agencies should:

Define a clear roadmap with goals and milestones.
Use hybrid approaches to balance on‑premises and cloud systems.
Invest in staff training and change management.
Partner with trusted vendors and experts.
Measure success with KPIs like uptime and cost savings.

Real‑World Examples

Agencies nationwide are already seeing results:

State Governments modernized licensing systems to reduce wait times.
Federal departments leveraged cloud analytics for disaster response.
Local Governments adopted cloud collaboration tools to streamline operations.

Listen to the Podcast

For deeper insights, tune in to CarahCast: Weather the Storm of Migrating to the Cloud. Hear directly from experts guiding agencies through successful migrations.

Migrating to the cloud may seem daunting, but with the right strategy, agencies can emerge stronger, more resilient and better equipped to serve citizens. The CarahCast podcast is your trusted resource for navigating this journey. Subscribe today to stay informed on the latest technology trends shaping Government.

Top 10 DevSecOps Events for Government in 2026

Posted on by Rich Savage

As Federal, State and Local agencies accelerate their modernization initiatives, DevSecOps has evolved from an emerging practice to a mission-critical capability. Integrating security at the speed of development is a foundational requirement for agencies seeking to deliver innovative services while maintaining rigorous compliance and protecting sensitive data. Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, has been at the forefront of this transformation, serving as the central hub connecting Government agencies with the industry’s leading DevSecOps solutions, platforms and expertise. Through our extensive partner ecosystem and Government contract vehicles, we enable Public Sector organizations to operationalize secure software delivery at scale. The events below represent essential opportunities for Government IT leaders, developers, security professionals and acquisition teams to explore cutting-edge DevSecOps methodologies, connect with mission-focused innovators and gain actionable insights that can be immediately applied to their agency’s secure delivery transformation.

RSA Conference

March 23-26 | San Francisco, CA | In-Person Event

In 2026, the theme “The Power of Community” underscores that effective DevSecOps is a collaborative effort between people, processes and technology. As Government agencies work to meet modern mandates, integrating security at the speed of development is now a mission requirement. The RSA Conference provides a vital forum for Public Sector professionals to explore how automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and community-driven innovation can secure the software supply chain and accelerate digital transformation.

Sessions to look out for:

How to Secure Containerized Applications from Supply Chain Attacks

Chainloop: Inside Modern Software Factory: Why Bolted-On Security Fails in the AI Era

Techstrong Seminar: AI NativeDev and the Next Evolution of DevSecOps

Carahsoft serves as the central hub for the Public Sector community at RSA, beginning with the 13^th Annual RSA Public Sector Day on Monday, March 23^rd. Sessions will focus on FedRAMP cloud architectures, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance and modernizing state cyber defenses. We invite our partners and Government customers to join us at this dedicated forum to discuss mission-specific challenges and network with the leaders shaping the future of Public Sector security. To facilitate cross-agency networking, Carahsoft will host our signature Public Sector Reception on Tuesday evening, March 24^th, providing a dedicated venue for Federal, State and Local officials to connect with peers and explore tailored solutions for their specific mission requirements.

F5 AppWorld Public Sector Symposium

April 8-10 | McLean, VA | In-Person Event

This event serves as a dedicated gathering for IT, DevSecOps, cloud and application delivery professionals in the Government community. Hosted by F5, the symposium brings together Public Sector leaders, solution architects, engineers and ecosystem partners to explore strategies for securing, scaling and optimizing modern applications, Application Programing Interfaces (APIs), hybrid networking and cloud environments. Attendees will experience hands-on labs, customer success stories and deep-dive sessions led by F5 experts that cover topics such as AI-driven application protection, hybrid multicloud networking, Zero Trust strategies and modernizing legacy systems. This symposium provides Government professionals with the opportunity to sharpen technical skills, engage with real-world use cases and connect with a community focused on advancing mission outcomes through secure, high-performing application infrastructure.

Carahsoft is proud to serve as the host sponsor of F5 Public Sector Symposium 2026, bringing together Government IT, DevSecOps, networking, cloud and application delivery professionals with the experts and technologies that enable mission success. As F5’s trusted Public Sector distributor and a long-standing partner, Carahsoft connects Federal, State and Local agencies with F5 solutions that secure, scale and optimize application delivery across hybrid and multicloud environments. Attendees are encouraged to visit Carahsoft and our ecosystem of partners on the symposium floor to explore Government-ready tools, engage with technical demonstrations and discuss how secure delivery practices can be operationalized within agency programs.

Team ’26 by Atlassian

May 5-7 | Anaheim, CA | In-Person Event

This conference brings together the global community of practitioners and leaders at the Anaheim Convention Center to explore the future of modern teamwork. For DevSecOps professionals, this conference is a vital touchpoint for learning how to bake security and compliance directly into the developer experience. As agencies scale their collaborative environments, this conference highlights the tools and methodologies needed to bridge the gap between building software and maintaining a rigorous security posture. Attendees can expect interactive learning sessions with hands-on guided exercises, demos, best practices and Q&A with Atlassian product experts designed to deepen practical knowledge on agile planning, workflow automation and modern delivery practices, as well as breakout sessions and panels on scalable teamwork exploring how teams solve real-world challenges with Atlassian tools.

Carahsoft serves as the primary Government aggregator for Atlassian‘s full suite of collaboration, agile and development tools, enabling Public Sector organizations to modernize teamwork and software delivery practices. Through our dedicated Atlassian team, Carahsoft works closely with Federal, State and Local agencies to streamline access to Atlassian solutions via a wide range of Government contract vehicles, helping agencies maximize the value of their Atlassian investments highlighted at Team ’26.

Red Hat Summit

May 11-14 | Atlanta, GA | In-Person Event

Registration for Red Hat Summit 2026 is now live. The event will convene thought leaders, practitioners and IT pioneers to explore innovations in DevSecOps, AI, hybrid cloud, automation and emerging technologies. For Public Sector agencies, this event is the premier destination to learn how to operationalize DevSecOps through hybrid cloud and automation. The 2026 agenda is built around providing technical depth and “beyond the basics” insights to help agencies maximize their investments in secure, scalable infrastructure. Key areas of focus will include application of Red Hat Technologies, AI and emerging tech, community and team innovation and development best practices.

As a continued sponsor for 2026, Carahsoft will host a 10×10 exhibit in the expo hall. Public Sector attendees can connect with Carahsoft’s Red Hat team throughout the week to explore how open source, hybrid cloud and secure platforms are enabling modernization across their agencies. Planning to attend? Contact the Red Hat team at redhatmarketing@carahsoft.com for strategies to support your IT initiatives and make the most of your time onsite.

Offset Symposium by Second Front Systems

May 14 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event

This symposium brings together Government leaders, technologists and mission-focused innovators to explore how emerging software capabilities can be securely delivered to the warfighter at speed and scale. Through expert-led discussions, real-world use cases and collaborative conversations, this symposium highlights how Government and industry can work together to accelerate outcomes while maintaining compliance, security and mission alignment. This event serves as a critical forum for defense and civilian agencies seeking to understand how modern DevSecOps practices can support national security objectives and operational readiness.

Carahsoft is proud to serve as a sponsor of this event, supporting meaningful collaboration between Government and industry to advance mission-ready software solutions for the Department of War (DoW) and Federal agencies. As a leading aggregator of innovative DevSecOps technologies for the Public Sector, Carahsoft connects defense and civilian agencies with the platforms, tools and expertise needed to accelerate secure software delivery in mission-critical environments. We encourage Government attendees to engage with Carahsoft representatives and our ecosystem of partners at the symposium to explore how our Government contract vehicles and technical expertise can help operationalize the secure delivery practices and emerging capabilities discussed throughout the event.

DevOpsCon by devmio

June 1-5 | San Diego, CA | Hybrid Event

This premier global conference series brings together IT professionals, software engineers, cloud architects and DevSecOps practitioners to explore the forefront of modern software delivery. Attendees will gain deep insights into DevSecOps best practices, Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), cloud and Kubernetes adoption, platform engineering, observability and automation workflows through expert-led sessions, hands-on workshops, bootcamps and interactive learning experiences. With tracks covering DevSecOps and cloud security, CI/CD pipeline optimization, Kubernetes ecosystem advancements and leadership strategies for scaling DevOps in enterprise environments, this conference equips Public Sector and industry teams with the knowledge needed to accelerate secure software delivery and operational excellence.

Sessions to look out for:

From Perimeter Security to Continuous Trust: Practical DevSecOps for Cloud-Native Platforms

CI/CD Workshop: From Zero to Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery

AI-Driven Observability for Reliable Kubernetes Systems: From Incidents to Self-Healing Infrastructure

Through our deep relationships with DevSecOps technology partners and solutions providers that participate in DevOpsCon, Carahsoft helps Public Sector agencies engage with the latest methodologies in CI/CD automation, Kubernetes orchestration, cloud-native security and platform engineering. Our extensive partner ecosystem and contract vehicles make it easier for Government IT leaders to adopt the innovations showcased at DevOpsCon and accelerate their secure delivery transformations.

Carahsoft’s DevSecOps Conference

July 28 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

Carahsoft is excited to announce the fourth annual DevSecOps Conference, an in-person forum dedicated to advancing secure software delivery across the Public Sector. As Government agencies continue to modernize their digital infrastructure, this event serves as a critical meeting point for Government leaders, systems integrators and industry thought leaders to discuss the latest updates in the evolving DevSecOps landscape. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this conference ensures that agencies are equipped to implement security and compliance at every stage of the development lifecycle. Attendees will benefit from a full day of keynote addresses, panel discussions, lightning rounds and networking opportunities focused on mission-critical DevSecOps topics, including secure automation pipelines, DevSecOps and AI integration, cloud security and compliance and cross-agency software delivery transformation. The program will feature a robust agenda of supporting panels and technical sessions designed to provide attendees with a comprehensive look at modern software development, from exploring cloud-native architectures to refining CI/CD pipelines.

Carahsoft proudly hosts the DevSecOps Conference 2026 as a signature event designed specifically for the Government DevSecOps community. As the premier Government IT solutions provider and trusted aggregator for DevSecOps technology partners, Carahsoft convenes Public Sector leaders, industry specialists and integrators to share insights, explore innovations and advance secure software delivery practices. Through this conference, Carahsoft showcases the breadth of capabilities available through our partner ecosystem and contract vehicles, helping agencies accelerate their DevSecOps journeys and operationalize secure, scalable software development across mission environments. Check out our event site closer to the date for more information. If you are a vendor interested in sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to us at DevSecOpsMarketing@Carahsoft.com.

Black Hat USA

August 1-6 | Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event

Black Hat USA 2026 remains the world’s leading stage for cutting-edge information security research and highly technical training. For DevSecOps professionals, this event is vital for maintaining the integrity of the Software Factory against emerging vulnerabilities. While many events focus on building and deploying applications, Black Hat offers a unique “hacker’s eye view,” enabling Public Sector attendees to identify better, understand and remediate risks across CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native environments before they can be exploited. Attendees can expect hands-on security trainings for developers and engineers, technical briefings on application, cloud and infrastructure security and Arsenal tool demonstrations.

Throughout Black Hat week, Carahsoft brings together members of the Government community and industry partners to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. A major highlight for the Government community is the Carahsoft Public Sector Reception held on Wednesday, August 5^th. This exclusive event provides a dedicated venue for Federal, State and Local officials to network with industry peers and discuss how to apply the conference’s research findings to their specific mission requirements.

Conf42 DevSecOps Conference

October 15 | Online Event

Conf42 DevSecOps 2026 is a free, online conference dedicated to advancing secure software delivery practices. It brings together DevSecOps practitioners, engineers and security advocates from around the world to share practical insights and technical lessons learned across cloud security, automation, CI/CD pipeline practices, governance, identity management and vulnerability remediation. The event is designed for anyone involved in balancing speed and safety in modern DevSecOps workflows and emphasizes community-driven, thoughtful content over sales-focused presentations. Last year’s highlights included thoughtful DevSecOps keynotes and talks featuring expert insights on embedding security into development pipelines, practical technical content across tracks spanning AI, cloud, infrastructure, security and transformation and community and industry perspectives showcasing real-world examples from practitioners in diverse environments.

Carahsoft recognizes Conf42 DevSecOps 2026 as an accessible and valuable virtual forum for Government DevSecOps professionals to engage with a global community focused on secure software delivery at scale. Through our broad partner ecosystem, Carahsoft enables Public Sector teams to connect with expert insights and community-led innovation showcased at Conf42. Government attendees can leverage these engagements and Carahsoft’s Government contract offerings to adopt, implement and scale DevSecOps practices within their mission environments.

Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo

October 19-22 | Orlando, FL | In-Person Event

The Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo is one of the most influential global conferences for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), senior IT executives and technology leaders shaping enterprise and Government IT strategy. The North America event convenes thousands of attendees each year to explore Gartner’s latest research, frameworks and guidance across digital transformation, cloud adoption, cybersecurity, AI, data and modern software delivery. For Public Sector DevSecOps leaders, this symposium provides strategic insight into how secure software development, platform engineering and cloud-native practices align with broader agency modernization goals. Attendees gain executive-level perspectives on scaling technology initiatives, managing risk and operationalizing innovation across complex environments, making the event particularly valuable for leaders responsible for Software Factories and enterprise DevSecOps programs.

Carahsoft highlights Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2026 as a strategic forum for Government technology and DevSecOps leaders to connect with research-driven insights and hands-on solution innovation. With a broad ecosystem of Carahsoft partners sponsoring, exhibiting and presenting across the IT Xpo, Government attendees will have the opportunity to engage with technologies that support secure collaboration, cloud modernization, automation, threat-aware delivery and scalable software engineering. Carahsoft’s Government contract vehicles and expert partner network make it easier for Public Sector agencies to adopt and operationalize the solutions and strategic guidance featured throughout the week.

OWASP Global AppSec USA

November 2-6 | San Francisco, CA | In-Person Event

OWASP Global AppSec USA 2026 is the flagship U.S. conference hosted by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). This multi-day event brings together application security professionals, developers, researchers and DevSecOps practitioners to explore the latest strategies, tools and community-driven innovations that improve software safety and secure development practices. Attendees can engage with leading experts, participate in technical workshops, explore the latest open source security tools and collaborate with peers on addressing critical application security challenges.

Carahsoft highlights OWASP Global AppSec USA 2026 as a must-attend event for Government DevSecOps and secure development teams because it brings together the leading community, open source project maintainers and solution providers shaping modern application security practices. With an active roster of Carahsoft partners sponsoring and exhibiting on the expo floor, Government attendees can explore hands-on demos, engage in technical discussions and discover tools that help integrate security throughout the software delivery lifecycle. Through Carahsoft’s ecosystem and Government contract vehicles, agencies can more easily adopt and operationalize the innovative AppSec solutions and insights featured at Global AppSec.

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America

November 9-12 | Salt Lake City, UT | In-Person Event

This event remains the premier gathering for Kubernetes and cloud-native practitioners across the global open source ecosystem. Hosted by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), this multi-day conference brings together thousands of developers, Site Reliability Engineers (SREs), platform engineers and DevSecOps professionals to share real-world learnings, explore emerging technologies and collaborate on advancing secure, scalable cloud-native application delivery and operations. Attendees will benefit from deep-dive technical talks, maintainer-led breakout sessions, lightning talks, co-located project days and hands-on workshops focused on Kubernetes, microservices, observability, CI/CD, automation and cloud-native security. Last year’s highlights included hands-on trainings and workshops providing practical, instructor-led learning opportunities focused on Kubernetes operations, technical breakouts and maintainer-led talks showcasing the latest advancements across the CNCF ecosystem and the Project Pavilion and Expo Hall serving as a central hub for collaboration.

Carahsoft encourages Government DevSecOps and cloud engineering teams to engage with our extensive ecosystem of cloud-native and DevSecOps partners exhibiting and sponsoring KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2026. Across the expo floor, Carahsoft partners will showcase solutions that support Kubernetes security, containerized application delivery, observability, CI/CD automation and platform engineering. By connecting with these partners onsite, Public Sector attendees can explore how trusted, Government-ready technologies within the CNCF ecosystem can help modernize and secure cloud-native environments.

As DevSecOps continues to mature across the Public Sector, these events represent essential opportunities for Government IT leaders, developers, security professionals and acquisition teams to stay at the forefront of secure software delivery innovation. From hands-on technical workshops to strategic executive briefings, each gathering offers unique value tailored to different aspects of the DevSecOps journey. Whether you are just beginning to build out your software factory, refining CI/CD pipelines or leading enterprise-wide DevSecOps transformation, these events provide the insights, connections and solutions needed to advance your agency’s mission. Carahsoft is committed to supporting the Government DevSecOps community through our extensive partner ecosystem, Government contract vehicles and active participation at each of these events. We encourage you to attend, engage and leverage these opportunities to accelerate your secure delivery capabilities.

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events, please contact us at DevSecOpsMarketing@Carahsoft.com.

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry-leading DevSecOps technology partners and events, visit our DevSecOps solutions portfolio.

Why Cloud, Why Now? Modernizing federal IT: Why the cloud is becoming the new standard

Posted on by Arham Dowla

The shift to Atlassian Government Cloud unlocks new potential for federal agencies

Modernization has been a Federal priority for over a decade, but the realities of legacy systems, compliance mandates and limited resources have forced IT leaders to make hard tradeoffs. The pandemic accelerated digital transformation, proving just how critical resilient, cloud-based systems are to mission continuity and citizen services.

Yet many agencies have remained tethered to on-premises tools not by choice, but by compliance constraints.

Now that Atlassian Government Cloud is FedRAMP Moderate authorized, agencies can confidently shift core collaboration and service delivery workloads to the cloud with security and compliance in place.

The opportunity to modernize is clearer than ever. With compliance barriers removed, cloud adoption becomes not just feasible, but foundational to moving missions forward.

FedRAMP Moderate removes the guesswork

Atlassian Government Cloud is a dedicated environment built specifically for public sector teams and limited to U.S. Government agency and contractor usage. It delivers the performance Federal agencies need, with the security and compliance they require.

This includes:

FedRAMP Moderate Authorization for Jira, Confluence and Jira Service Management
Dual-region hosting on AWS commercial US East/West regions
Continuous monitoring aligned to FedRAMP Moderate standards

Atlassian’s Government cloud platform is built on the same architecture that powers Cloud Enterprise, offering the scale, reliability and control public sector teams need. It’s designed to reduce friction and deliver continuous innovation while maintaining trust and transparency.

From patching systems to powering missions

Agencies that remain on legacy infrastructure are fighting a battle on two fronts: maintaining outdated systems while trying to meet new mission demands. That approach is no longer sustainable.

Modernizing with Atlassian Government Cloud eliminates the distractions of infrastructure maintenance and opens the door to high-impact work. Instead of managing update cycles or responding to fire drills, IT teams can shift their focus to scaling digital services, working with disparate teams and improving citizen-facing outcomes.

For IT administrators, this shift is transformational. Cloud offloads the operational burden they’ve carried for years—manual upgrades, weekend patching, surprise outages. With that weight lifted, teams can focus on enabling smarter service delivery across the agency.

As Jeff Garrett, Technical Product Manager at the California Department of Health Care Services shared, “I’ve had to maintain server infrastructure in the past. It’s not pleasant. Being on Atlassian Cloud Enterprise means we don’t have to do that anymore. Plus, we can add and remove applications quickly.”

This is how mission work moves forward with greater speed, clarity and alignment.

Built-in collaboration, automation, and insight

Atlassian Government Cloud offers more than security and compliance. It enables new ways of working across teams and departments, aligning your entire agency and harnessing your data.

Consider this scenario: A Federal program team launches a new initiative to expand community outreach. Rather than waiting weeks for a custom workflow, they spin up a new Jira project using a pre-built template with no administrator required. HR and legal teams contribute to project planning in Confluence, while real-time insights track progress across departments. No tickets. No silos. Just forward momentum.

The scenario above shows how teams can move faster using features like team-managed projects and templates in Jira, along with native incident management in Jira Service Management.

In addition to streamlining work, Atlassian Government Cloud will soon include Atlassian Analytics, bringing cross-product visibility and supporting data-driven decision-making across teams.

Beyond what’s available in Atlassian Government Cloud today, we’re also committed to delivering the same innovative features you’ll find in our commercial products, like Confluence Whiteboards and Goals. We’re actively developing our roadmap for Atlassian Government Cloud and will share more information soon.

Migration isn’t a barrier. It’s a supported journey

Atlassian has helped thousands of organizations transition to the cloud, including some of the world’s largest enterprises and Government agencies. We have reliable tooling for migrating data from Data Center to Atlassian Government Cloud that has been hardened through years of supporting migrations to commercial cloud. And for those migrating from commercial cloud to AGC, we’re releasing tooling for this soon.

Federal teams benefit from specialized migration support designed to streamline the process and minimize risk. That includes:

A Cloud Migration Manager assigned to each Atlassian Government Cloud project
Migration guides, training resources and toolkits to support end-user adoption
The choice to engage with a network of experienced solution partners if your agency wants even more support.

Agencies already using Atlassian Cloud are seeing measurable results that support faster delivery, smarter governance and stronger collaboration:

Utah Department of Technology Services cut Jira project setup time by 90%, enabling faster response to internal and citizen needs
California Department of Health Care Services standardized on Atlassian Cloud and reduced one project’s delivery time from 18 months to 6 months, cutting costs from $2.8M to $600K

With Atlassian, cloud migration becomes a guided path to modernization — not an obstacle.

The results are measurable

The shift to Atlassian Government Cloud delivers tangible results. Early adopters, including public sector agencies and private sector enterprises, are already seeing gains in performance, collaboration, and insight.

In a recent customer impact survey, organizations migrating to Atlassian Cloud reported:

Up to a 53% increase in productivity
47% improvement in cross-functional collaboration
44% gain in insight-driven decision-making

These outcomes directly support the goals of Federal agencies: improved cross-team collaboration, greater agility and faster progress on mission priorities. In a time when agencies are under pressure to do more with less, results like these make a big impact.

Take the next step

With FedRAMP Moderate authorization in place, Federal agencies can now adopt Atlassian Government Cloud with confidence. It’s time to move from maintaining systems to empowering missions.

Curious about your agency’s migration path to Atlassian Government Cloud? You can become a part of our Early Access Program. Join the waitlist here!

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Atlassian we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Modernizing Government Workflows: Breaking Down Silos for Faster, Smarter Collaboration

Posted on by Dave Rheaume

State and local government teams are under pressure to do more with less. They’re facing rising demands for digital services, growing cybersecurity threats, and shrinking budgets—but outdated systems slow them down. Siloed tools, manual processes, and limited visibility make it harder to serve communities efficiently.

So how can government teams move faster, work smarter, and improve service delivery?

From silos to seamless collaboration

Many government agencies rely on a patchwork of disconnected tools, legacy systems, and manual workflows to manage critical operations. While these systems may have worked in the past, a lack of modernization and cohesive results leads to wasted time, security risks, and high costs.

Agencies need more than just tools—they need a modern, connected way to work. By modernizing workflows and adopting agile, automated processes, they can:

Deliver services faster with fewer bottlenecks
Boost collaboration across IT, operations, and mission teams
Improve transparency with real-time project tracking
Make smarter decisions with AI-powered insights

How agencies are driving change

Government agencies are moving away from outdated, disconnected systems and adopting modern, integrated workflows to improve efficiency and service delivery. By leveraging automation, cloud-based collaboration, and agile project management, they’re breaking down silos, delivering better citizen services, and increasing productivity.

The California Department of Health Care Services saved $2.2M on one project alone using Atlassian and improved delivery time by 66% with Cloud Enterprise. Read more about how they saved millions.
The State of Utah upgraded to Jira Software and Confluence Cloud, seeing more than 90% faster change reviews after cloud migration and completed migration 2.5 years ahead of schedule. Read more about their cost and time savings.

State and local agencies can apply these same principles to streamline processes, cut costs, and improve citizen services.

Start small, scale fast

Transforming government workflows doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Agencies can start with small, strategic changes that drive immediate impact and scale over time.

Identify bottlenecks. Where are delays slowing things down?
Automate repetitive tasks. Free teams for high-impact work.
Connect teams. Break down silos with transparent workflows.

Government agencies don’t need more tools—they need a smarter, integrated approach to getting work done.

Connecting cloud solutions across an agency with Atlassian’s System of Work

Atlassian Modernizing Government Workflows Blog Embedded Image 2025

Government teams—from California’s Department of Health Care Services to the State of Utah—are accelerating modernization by adopting multiple Atlassian cloud products across their agencies. These solutions aren’t just integrated—they’re connected in a way that creates a shared foundation for how work gets done. That foundation is Atlassian’s System of Work.

Built on the Atlassian Cloud, this System of Work connects tools, teams, and data to provide a unified context across programs and mission goals. It enables agencies to plan, track, and scale work more effectively, creating the clarity and collaboration needed to deliver better outcomes, faster.

Here’s how the Atlassian Cloud System of Work helps agencies work smarter—together:

Align work to goals. Ensuring every task and project is directly connected to strategic objectives enhances visibility and accountability across teams.
Plan and track work collaboratively. Utilizing tools like Jira enables teams to plan, track, and manage work collectively, fostering transparency and coordination.
Harness collective knowledge. Platforms like Confluence facilitate the sharing and organization of information, breaking down silos and promoting informed decision-making.

By adopting Atlassian’s System of Work, agencies can transition from fragmented processes to integrated workflows. With more clarity and collaboration, teams can move faster, collaborate better, and deliver exceptional services.

Ready to cut through the complexity? Learn more about Atlassian’s cloud solutions and join our April 15^th webinar: Smarter Government, Faster Results: How AI & Cloud Are Transforming Citizen Services.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Atlassian, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Modernizing Government IT: A Case Study in JSM Implementation

Posted on by Harjinder Singh

A local government entity responsible for managing IT service operations across multiple departments (including Utilities, Fire, Clerk’s Office, City Manager’s Office, Finance, HR, and more) needed to modernize its IT service management system. Their existing ITSM platform was costly, difficult to maintain, and fragmented across departments, making it inefficient to manage service operations. To streamline operations, they selected Atlassian’s Jira Service Management (JSM) as a scalable, cost-effective solution that could be rapidly deployed to support IT and departmental service needs.

ANB Technologies partnered with the government entity to implement JSM, leveraging ANB’s high-velocity accelerators to optimize processes, reduce costs, enhance delivery speed, and automate workflows.

Key Challenges:

The local government entity faced several challenges with its legacy ITSM system, including:

Fragmented Service Operations: Each department had its own service workflow, causing inefficiencies and inconsistencies in handling service requests.
High Costs: The existing system was expensive, requiring significant investment in maintenance and lengthy upgrades.
Difficult to Maintain and Scale: Expanding the system to support additional departments and use cases was slow and complex.
Manual and Inefficient Workflows: The lack of process standardization led to delays, increased workloads, and poor visibility into service requests.

Our Solution:

To address these challenges, ANB Technologies implemented JSM as a modern, centralized IT service management platform, leveraging ANB’s High-Velocity Accelerators—built on industry best practices and preconfigured JSM components—to enable rapid deployment and streamlined operations.

Atlassian ANB Technologies JSM Implementation Blog Embedded Image 2025

Incident Management: Incident management processes was optimized with a structured JSM workflow for consistent issue resolution across departments. SLAs and an impact-urgency-priority matrix improved categorization, routing, and response efficiency, while automated notifications kept stakeholders informed.
Service Request Management: JSM implementation also included development of automated workflows of service request types across multiple departments. The implementation included workflows for IT-related requests such as software and hardware provisioning, email access, and account setup. HR processes like employee onboarding and offboarding were streamlined.
Self-Service Portal: A JSM based self-service portal was implemented, allowing employees to submit and track requests in real time. The portal was backed by a comprehensive knowledge base, equipping users with self-help resources to resolve common issues independently.
Comprehensive Knowledge Management: A centralized knowledge base in Confluence was introduced, providing end-users and service agents with structured access to troubleshooting guides, department procedures, and internal support documentation for seamless collaboration and issue resolution.
Asset Management: For asset tracking, JSM Asset management application was configured to manage IT and city-owned resources, including laptops, desktops, software licenses, and department-specific equipment such as vehicles and facility assets. Data relationships between users, groups, locations, and divisions were established to provide comprehensive asset visibility and lifecycle tracking.

Outcomes:

By leveraging Jira Service Management (JSM), ANB Technologies rapidly delivered a modern IT service management solution, enabling the local government entity to:

Empower Users with Self-Service & Knowledge Management: Employees could self-resolve issues and track their requests, reducing IT and administrative workload.
Reduce Costs: Transitioning to JSM eliminated costly maintenance and licensing fees, lowering overall expenses.
Streamline Service Operations & Reduce Resolution Times: Unified JSM incident and request workflows improved service delivery and significantly reduced resolution times.
Improve Transparency & Visibility: Departments gained real-time insights into service requests, incidents, and asset tracking.
Speed to deliver: By eliminating lengthy platform upgrades and enabling rapid development, the time to market for launching new JSM features was significantly reduced.

Conclusion

By implementing Jira Service Management (JSM), ANB Technologies enabled the local government entity to replace its costly, fragmented, and difficult-to-maintain system with a centralized, scalable solution. The rapidly deployed JSM platform streamlined workflows across departments, reduced operational costs, improved service efficiency, and enhanced visibility—ensuring long-term success.

Join Atlassian, ANB Technologies, and Carahsoft during our webinar on March 18, 2025 to learn more about this use case and implementing Jira Service Management into your agency.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Atlassian, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Why Now is the Time for Government Agencies to Switch to Jira Service Management

Posted on by Will Scheffe

The demands on government agencies are increasing. Citizens expect faster, more efficient services, and agencies are under pressure to modernize their operations and reduce costs. At the same time, legacy IT service management (ITSM) systems are struggling to keep up with the demands of the digital age.

That’s why now is the time for government agencies to switch to Jira Service Management (JSM). JSM is a modern, flexible, and cost-effective ITSM solution that can help agencies improve their service delivery, increase efficiency, and save money.

The Complete ITSM Solution for Government: Cost-Effective, User-Friendly, and Secure

Here are just a few of the reasons why JSM is the right choice for government agencies:

Cost-effective: A Forrester Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study found that organizations using Jira Service Management realized a 277% ROI over three years, with a payback period of less than six months. The study also found that JSM can help organizations save $2.1 million by retiring their previous service management solution. JSM is more affordable than legacy ITSM solutions like ServiceNow, which can be complex and require expensive add-ons. JSM’s transparent pricing model means you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for, with no hidden fees or gotchas.
Easy to use: JSM is user-friendly and easy to implement, even for non-technical users. Your team can be up and running quickly, without the need for extensive training.
Flexible: JSM can be customized to meet the specific needs of your agency. You can easily create new workflows, add new features, and integrate with other systems.
Scalable: JSM can grow with your agency. Whether you’re a small team or a large organization, JSM can handle your needs.
Secure: JSM is a secure platform that meets the stringent requirements of government agencies.

The Complete Solution for Modern Government: JSM’s Feature-Rich Platform

JSM also offers several features that are particularly beneficial for government agencies, such as:

Collaboration: JSM’s unified platform allows for seamless collaboration between IT teams and other business units. This can help to improve communication and coordination and speed up service delivery.
Citizen Service Desk: JSM’s Citizen Service Desk provides a user-friendly portal for citizens to submit requests and track their progress. This can help to improve citizen satisfaction and engagement.
ITIL Compliance: JSM is fully compliant with the ITIL framework, the industry standard for ITSM best practices. This can help agencies to improve their IT service management processes.

Ensure Mission Success: Secure Your Agency’s Future with JSM

In addition to the benefits listed above, switching to JSM can also help government agencies to:

Future-proof their IT infrastructure: JSM is a cloud-based solution that is always up to date. This means you’ll always have access to the latest features and security updates.
Improve their agility: JSM’s flexible and scalable platform can help agencies to adapt to change quickly and easily.
Reduce their total cost of ownership: JSM can help agencies save money on IT costs by reducing the need for expensive hardware and software.

The Future of Government Service Delivery is Here: Embrace it with JSM

The time for government agencies to embrace the future of IT service management is now. Legacy systems are no longer sufficient in meeting the evolving needs of citizens and the demands of a rapidly changing technological landscape. Jira Service Management offers a compelling solution to these challenges, providing a modern, flexible, and cost-effective platform for enhanced service delivery.

By switching to JSM, government agencies can unlock a world of possibilities:

Enhanced Citizen Service Delivery: Empower your team to deliver exceptional service faster and more efficiently, improving citizen satisfaction and engagement.

Reduced Costs: Streamline processes, automate tasks, and unlock trapped resources, resulting in significant cost savings.

Improved User Experience: Cultivate a user-friendly service environment that fosters collaboration and satisfaction for both internal teams and citizens.

Future-proof your agency: Ensure your technology can adapt to evolving needs and scale alongside your growth.

Don’t let your agency fall behind. Embrace the future of ITSM with Jira Service Management. Contact Oxalis today to embark on your journey towards a brighter, more agile, and citizen-centric future. Our team of experts will guide you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth transition and unlocking the full potential of JSM for your agency.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Atlassian, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

The Sunny Side of Cloud Migration

Posted on by Alex McCord

Support for Server products on Atlassian ended in February of 2024 – that means no bug fixes, updates, or technical support for issues now or in the future.

While this seems like pretty dour news, the upside is that it’s never been easier to migrate your workflows to the cloud. With the cloud, you get enhanced security, flexibility, and scalability – so what is stopping business leaders from making the move?

According to research from Foundry, over the past year, 90% of organizations have faced challenges in their cloud adoption journey. The top obstacle has been budget and cost concerns, affecting 48% of companies.

Despite that – the same report found that 63% of IT decision-makers agree that their organization has accelerated its migration to the cloud over the past 12 months.

Why This is the Year to Consider the Cloud

Atlassian Tempo Cloud Migration Blog Embedded Image 2024

Last year, the number of Tempo customers moving to the cloud surged due to Atlassian’s news. Companies were also motivated by improvements in cloud technology that make the longstanding benefits of moving to the cloud even more appealing:

1. Scalability
Cloud infrastructure is flexible, allowing businesses to scale operations up or down based on growth or seasonality. Project managers and product owners can adjust resources around product launches or deprecations – without needing to invest in infrastructure or sell off old hardware.

For Tempo, because we invested in the cloud and gained the security and compliance that came with it – we began seeing a serious uptick in enterprise-level customers and we could handle that spike in demand thanks to our new systems.

2. Cost Effectiveness
A transition to the cloud can lead to significant savings. Companies only pay for what they use: Farewell outdated hardware, goodbye IT staffing issues – hello predictable IT budgets and realistic capital expenses.

3. Collaboration and Streamlining
For enterprises, cloud-based tools allow teams from anywhere to collaborate in real time. With teams working seamlessly, and procurement simplified, they can run an airtight operation, see real-time data more consistently across departments, and enable better decision making.

4. Business Continuity
Cloud-based businesses can back up data and systems to avoid downtime in any given region. Companies that still rely on on-premise systems have a much harder time keeping the lights on and recovering data if a disaster strikes.

5. Quicker Deployment
Cloud services and applications are perfect for quick deployment. You can deliver new products and services, roll out bug fixes, and respond to the market immediately with cloud-based deployment.

6. Automatic Updates
Cloud providers handle software updates to ensure your team has the latest features and security updates. They also take care of server upkeep so systems keep running smoothly.

How Tempo Did It

In 2016, we made the decision to begin transitioning our own tools and our company to the cloud – but moving to cloud isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon that requires careful preparation, management, and shouldn’t be done recklessly.

We wanted:
● Faster builds compared to pre-cloud (under 15 minutes)
● Faster cycle time (24 hours or or less)
● Better logging, monitoring, and alerting
● A mono repository for our cloud modules
● Using feature flags to have more control over when and how a change is made available to customers

We broke the process down into three parts. Phase one was prepping the pipeline and merging our product repositories and the sub-module repositories into a single mono repository. That meant forking that into two codebases (Cloud and On Premise), and improving those builds. We didn’t set an expectation of feature parity between on-premise and cloud. Instead we focused on solution parity.

Phase two was making development and production logs available to devs, checking nothing was broken, and getting an on-call team to respond to any issues when to do (inevitably) arise).

The final phase was continuous delivery. This is effectively the step that never ends as we always make incremental changes, test our builds, and deploy more often. Because of the benefits of the cloud, that meant going from monthly to weekly to daily releases.

A More Secure Future

When it comes to cloud transformation – it is more than just trying to improve your builds.
In the realm of enterprise software, trust and security are non-negotiable and an effective migration means making major steps to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of your customers’ data.

That means for companies wanting to move to the cloud, you need to consider things like setting up a robust trust center, adhering to GDPR, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 standards, and investing continuously in your security infrastructure to stay ahead of the curve.

We helped almost 1,000 companies with their own cloud migrations because we believed the payoff of cloud was so great – and it only improves as more companies make the move.

Thanks to the investments we made in the cloud, Tempo was awarded Atlassian’s 2023 Partner of the Year for Enterprise Apps. We simply wouldn’t be the same company without becoming cloud-first.

Join our January 21, 2025 webinar, “New Year, New Beginnings: Why 2025 is the Year to Move to Atlassian Cloud.” For more about Tempo, visit www.tempo.io or book a demo.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Atlassian, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

A Day in the Life of a Higher Education Administrator: Keeping Sanity with Atlassian’s Solutions

Posted on by Cameron Starman

“The early bird catches the worm,” they say. In higher education administration, the early bird catches a hundred emails, two urgent meeting requests, and a desperate plea from a professor who needs a last-minute resource for their lecture. Welcome to my world.

It’s 7:00 AM, and I’m already two cups of coffee deep, facing the never-ending tasks that define higher education administration. On the docket today: oversee the rollout of a new enrollment policy, respond to at least a dozen student inquiries, coordinate with the campus facilities team about the HVAC issue in the science building, and somehow find time to prepare for the budget review meeting scheduled for 4:00 PM. Oh, and there’s the ongoing university-wide initiative on enhancing digital literacy. Just another ordinary day in the life of higher ed.

But here’s the question: How can we manage all of this without burning out? The real challenge is keeping the daily operational chaos under control while staying focused on the bigger goal: providing an exceptional experience for students, faculty, and staff. That’s where solutions designed for higher education administration make all the difference.

Taming Task Overload with Structured Workflows

One of the most common pain points I face is the sheer volume of tasks, projects, and requests flying my way. From managing campus events to responding to student service requests, the workload can feel unmanageable without a structured system. The solution is simple: centralizing task management and creating transparent workflows that make it easier to stay on top of every project.

Atlassian Higher Education Admin Day in the Life Blog Clipboard Image 2024

Today, I’ve set up a project for the new enrollment policy. Tasks are assigned to various departments: administration, student affairs, and IT. In the comments section of one task, I see a suggestion from a department head about potential concerns from faculty members. I quickly tag the dean of the faculty and leave a note: “Let’s discuss this in the 10:00 AM meeting.” With Atlassian’s Jira, I can coordinate with everyone efficiently, ensuring that all communications and updates are within the platform. This level of transparency helps everyone stay informed, preventing issues from falling through the cracks.

Jira’s project management features allow me to manage complex workflows, track dependencies, and ensure that everything is aligned across departments. It’s more than just task management – -it’s a vital tool for higher ed, enabling real-time coordination of the intricate web of administrative tasks.

Managing the Flood of Campus IT Requests

In higher education, the volume of IT requests from students, faculty, and staff can be overwhelming. From system access issues to facility-related technical problems, the demand for quick and efficient IT support is ever-growing. Without a centralized system, it becomes challenging to ensure that all these requests are tracked, prioritized, and resolved in a timely manner.

Next, I switch to Jira Service Management, where all incoming IT requests from students, faculty, and staff are tracked. In a higher education technology landscape where IT services are increasingly critical, having a centralized ITSM system like Jira Service Management allows for quick and efficient resolution of issues.

A ticket from Dr. Thompson, the chemistry professor, indicates that there’s an HVAC issue in the lab. I route this to the facilities management team and assign it a high-priority status. Another ticket involves a student unable to access the online learning platform. With Jira Service Management, I can immediately assign these issues to the appropriate team for resolution. The ability to monitor and track these requests in real-time ensures that nothing falls through the cracks.

Universities often face a never-ending flow of IT service requests, and having a robust system like Jira Service Management is essential for maintaining smooth operations. Whether it’s resolving campus-wide tech issues or individual faculty needs, this ITSM tool ensures everything is logged, tracked, and resolved efficiently.

Breaking Down Silos with Centralized Knowledge Management

In higher education, managing information across various departments can become disjointed, with each team relying on separate systems for storing and accessing important documents. This fragmentation leads to inefficiencies and confusion when it comes to collaboration and decision-making. The need for a unified platform that supports knowledge sharing and cross-departmental collaboration is critical.

Once I’ve handled the immediate fires, I move over to Confluence, Atlassian’s collaboration platform. Confluence acts as a digital encyclopedia, where we store all our policies, procedures, and administrative documents. For a higher education institution, having a unified platform for knowledge management is invaluable. Confluence supports collaboration across departments and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Atlassian Higher Education Admin Day in the Life Blog Book Open Image 2024

Preparing for the afternoon budget meeting, I pull up last year’s budget reports stored in Confluence. I make some quick notes and tag the finance director for their input. Later, I access the page dedicated to our university’s digital literacy initiative, which is a critical part of our ongoing education technology strategy. Here, we have all the necessary documents, timelines, and feedback from faculty neatly organized. Everything I need for tomorrow’s meeting with the IT and academic leadership is at my fingertips.

Confluence enhances productivity by enabling cross-functional teams—be it administrative, academic, or IT—to collaborate seamlessly. For universities looking to scale their digital operations, knowledge management through Confluence is key.

Atlassian to the Rescue: Tackling Higher Ed Chaos One Tool at a Time

The tools I mentioned above—Jira, Jira Service Management, and Confluence—aren’t just general business solutions; I’ve found them to be perfectly suited to the unique challenges we face in higher education. Atlassian provides scalable solutions that adapt to the demands of universities like mine, from managing academic workflows to improving campus facilities management and streamlining student services.

In higher ed technology, the stakes are high, and trust me, the needs are more complex than people might think. Juggling enrollment management, improving IT support for both students and faculty, and coordinating large campus-wide initiatives can be overwhelming without the right tools. That’s why I rely on Atlassian’s suite to keep everything in check. It ensures that all tasks, communications, and resources stay aligned, no matter how chaotic things might seem. Having these tools on hand makes a world of difference in my day-to-day work, and I can confidently say my colleagues feel the same way. Whether it’s a quick request or a major project, we’ve got the systems in place to manage it all, and that gives me a sense of control over the chaos.

For example, learning management systems (LMS) are essential for modern universities. Integrating Atlassian tools with existing LMS platforms enhances the management of online courses, streamlines academic resource sharing, and simplifies the process of handling IT and administrative requests. By connecting Confluence to an LMS, universities can create an integrated environment where both faculty and students can easily access course materials, policies, and updates.

Making Student Services Run Smoothly

In a university setting, one of the most critical aspects of education management is making sure student services run like a well-oiled machine. Whether it’s managing enrollment, handling student requests, or keeping communication between departments smooth, I’ve seen firsthand how Atlassian’s tools transform the way we get things done. It’s no small task, but with these tools, it feels manageable.

Take enrollment management, for example. Every semester, I’m tasked with ensuring hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students are enrolled in the right courses, their records are updated, and they get the support they need. Without the right system in place, this process would drive me up the wall. But with Jira Service Management, handling all these requests becomes second nature. I can log tickets for every enrollment issue, manage course changes, and automatically keep students in the loop with notifications. The best part? I don’t have to waste time manually sending updates or getting lost in email threads. It’s a huge relief for me and my colleagues, as we can focus on helping students rather than getting buried in administrative tasks.

And it doesn’t stop at enrollment. Universities are complex beasts with countless services to manage. Atlassian tools help us streamline other key areas like financial aid management, counseling, and academic advising. I’ve used Confluence to build a shared knowledge base that anyone on the student services team can access. This way, students can find answers to their questions without having to wait on me or anyone else to reply to their emails. Instead of me spending hours fielding the same questions over and over again, students can jump into Confluence and find everything they need. Honestly, it’s a game-changer for everyone involved and makes me feel like I’m really helping students in a more efficient way.

Atlassian Higher Education Admin Day in the Life Blog Alarm Image 2024

Then there’s the challenge of managing campus events. I’ve been part of organizing major events like orientation week, and let me tell you, without the right tools, it’s an absolute nightmare. Coordinating across multiple teams—administration, student services, IT, facilities, and even security—can feel like herding cats. But with Jira’s project management capabilities, I’m able to keep track of every task, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines. When I know every department is clear on what they need to do, I can finally relax a little. From ensuring the auditorium is ready for the keynote speaker to making sure security is in place for the event, Jira keeps everything on track. Project management in higher education can be overwhelming, but with Jira, it’s like having a personal assistant who makes sure nothing gets missed.

At the end of the day, Atlassian’s suite of tools does more than just make my job easier. It makes our entire process more transparent. I love that I can track everything in real-time, and my colleagues can, too. It saves us all time, reduces stress, and keeps us focused on what really matters—helping students succeed. When student services are efficient and transparent, it makes life easier for everyone, from administrators to students. Instead of chasing down loose ends, I’m able to focus on supporting students and making their experience better.

How Atlassian is Shaking Things Up in Higher Ed’s Digital Transformation

As I’ve seen firsthand, higher education is fully diving into digital education technology, and tools like Jira and Confluence are helping institutions, including mine, keep up with the growing demand for online learning, cloud-based management, and remote collaboration. Project management in higher education is evolving quickly, and I can confidently say that Atlassian is right there in the driver’s seat, helping universities like ours navigate this transformation. It’s like having a GPS for campus-wide chaos!

With more universities, including mine, transitioning to cloud-based learning platforms and digital-first approaches, Atlassian tools have become essential for managing the shift. These tools have streamlined our administrative workflows, helped us manage complex projects across departments, and improved communication. Personally, I’ve found that by using Atlassian, I can focus on ensuring students succeed and that academic excellence stays on track. It’s made my job way easier (and a lot less stressful), and I know my colleagues feel the same way as we continue to adapt to this digital transformation.

Wrapping Up—But Never Really Done

By 5:00 PM, I’m ready to call it a day—or at least pretend I’m done. The new enrollment policy is on track, the IT issues are being resolved, and the budget meeting went smoothly thanks to Confluence. Tomorrow’s another day of managing the complex, fast-paced world of higher education, but with Atlassian’s suite of tools at my side, I know I can handle whatever comes my way.

For universities, the challenge of managing diverse departments, large student populations, and ever-growing administrative tasks is daunting. But with Atlassian’s technology solutions for higher education, managing this chaos becomes much more manageable, enabling administrators to focus on their real goal—delivering high-quality education.

Schedule a demonstration with one of our Atlassian experts today to learn more about Atlassian’s technology solutions for higher education.

Unveiling the Power of Atlassian Government Cloud

Posted on by Matt Robertson

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, government agencies face unique challenges in maintaining security, efficiency, and collaboration while adhering to stringent regulations. Atlassian Government Cloud is designed to meet these distinct requirements, as it is currently “in process” to become FedRAMP Moderate authorized on the FedRAMP Marketplace. This secure and compliant platform ensures government agencies can operate confidently while benefiting from a feature-rich environment tailored specifically for the public sector. With Atlassian Government Cloud, agencies can streamline operations and achieve new levels of success.

A Platform Built for Government Needs

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Atlassian Government Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to government agencies’ unique needs. The platform will initially include Jira, Confluence, and Jira Service Management (JSM). These tools empower government teams to efficiently manage projects, track tasks, handle service requests, and collaborate on documentation within a secure cloud environment. This capability is crucial for agencies that require robust project management and seamless collaboration to achieve their objectives.

Empowering Collaboration and Innovation

Atlassian Government Cloud is not just about compliance; it’s about unlocking new levels of collaboration and innovation for government agencies. By moving to the cloud, agencies can leverage advanced capabilities, including automation and analytics, to improve productivity and make data-driven decisions. In fact, over 80% of surveyed customers who migrated to Atlassian Cloud have realized benefits from cloud-only features within just six months. This demonstrates the platform’s potential to transform government operations by enhancing efficiency and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Looking Ahead

Atlassian Government Cloud represents a transformative solution for government agencies seeking to modernize their operations in a secure and compliant environment. With the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) as its sponsor, Atlassian is on the path to obtaining FedRAMP Moderate Authority to Operate (ATO), positioning itself to help government teams fully leverage the power of the cloud. And Atlassian is doubling down on our commitment to public sector customers as we’re also working to achieve FedRAMP High and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Impact Level 5 (IL5) compliance. These efforts further demonstrate Atlassian’s commitment to cloud security and meeting the stringent requirements of federal agencies.

In the meantime, as we approach FedRAMP Moderate ATO, we invite you to sign up for updates to learn about our upcoming FedRAMP solutions and how Atlassian is working to enhance our offerings to meet your evolving needs and safeguard mission-critical data.

Speak to an Atlassian representative today and gain access to Atlassian Government resources and information.

The Secret Behind High Performing Teams in Public Sector

Posted on by Shaun Jones

Using Atlassian, small agile teams across the DoD and Federal Government are breaking down bureaucracy and putting knowledge into the hands of users. Atlassian’s Jira Service Management and Confluence are two powerful tools from Atlassian’s suite. They synergize to enhance both task management and knowledge continuity within any organization. Read on to learn how they function together, boosting efficiency and providing an accessible platform for both rapid action and deep learning.

Jira Service Management: The Empowerment Hub

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Jira Service Management (JSM) is a dynamic, intuitive tool for service management, perfect for teams that need to respond quickly to requests or incidents. It acts as the front line for all queries and issues, where users can submit tickets for technical problems, service requests, or operational needs. The system’s user-friendly design ensures that even non-technical users can easily navigate its interface to find help or request services. This accessibility empowers all users by simplifying the engagement process with essential services, making it quicker and more intuitive to get the help they need or initiate processes.

Confluence: The Knowledge Base

Confluence complements JSM by serving as a comprehensive repository for organizational knowledge. It’s where all documentation – ranging from service manuals, troubleshooting guides, project reports, to meeting notes – is stored and managed. The platform is robust and versatile, supporting rich text content, multimedia, and dynamic content. It also features powerful search tools and a hierarchical structure that helps users easily find and access the information they need.

Better Together

When JSM and Confluence are used together, they create a cohesive environment that supports both immediate problem-solving and long-term knowledge management:

Integrated Service and Knowledge Delivery: As users report issues or request services through JSM, they can be directly linked to relevant Confluence pages where guides, troubleshooting steps, or policy documents are stored. This speeds up resolution times by empowering users to help themselves and ensures they are guided by the most current and comprehensive information.
Feedback Loop for Continuous Improvement: Insights and data from JSM can be used to update and refine the knowledge articles in Confluence. Common issues identified in JSM can be addressed in how-to guides or FAQs in Confluence, creating a feedback loop that continually enriches the organizational knowledge base.
Organizational Learning and Memory: Confluence ensures that solutions and information aren’t just shared in the moment but are stored for future reference. This helps build an “organizational memory,” crucial for training new staff and learning from past incidents.
Enhanced Collaboration: Both tools enhance teamwork by keeping everyone on the same page. While JSM facilitates the management of tasks and tracking of progress on projects or issues, Confluence ensures that all team members have access to the same background information, guidelines, and resources.

Together, Jira Service Management and Confluence not only streamline workflows but also ensure that knowledge is preserved and leveraged effectively, creating a more informed, responsive, and efficient organization.

Access the case study and learn more about how Atlassian and Contegix can support your organization’s learning management efforts and discover your team’s digital potential.