Tech Talks
The GSA CTO team hosts in-depth Tech Talks, where presenters discuss technology topics affecting the agency. Each Tech Talk is a 30-minute informal meeting with an audience of internal GSA members. Demonstrations are often provided along with follow-up Q&A. Registration is limited to internal GSA personnel. To register to attend a Tech Talk event, please contact Joe Novak at Joseph.Novak@gsa.gov.
For general questions about the Tech Talks, please contact the GSA CTO team at cto@gsa.gov.
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Zero Trust Tech Talk
November 16, 2021, 11:00 - 11:30pm ET
Objective
Nov 16 Zero Trust Tech Talk with Bo Berlas
The President’s Executive Order (EO) on “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (14028)” charges agencies to raise the cybersecurity bar, moving away from traditional perimeter-based, compliance oriented cybersecurity to a Zero Trust Architecture. This session will detail GSAs zero trust vision to connect GSA staff and devices, anywhere, to GSA managed environments/applications securely following ZTA principles in support of GSA’s mission.
Location
To be determined virtual
Who
Bo Berlas
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Cisco DNA Spaces
October 27, 2021, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
Cisco DNA Spaces is a location-based analytics tool that can be used on wireless networks for asset management, enterprise application integrations, and location-data APIs.
Please join our next TechTalk to learn more about how GSA piloted DNA Spaces at our 1800 F Street location.
Location
Virtual
Who
Erik Williams
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New IT Standards/ Software Review Request (SRR)
September 30, 2021, 11-11:30a ET
Objective
Introduction of the refreshed Software Review Request within the ServiceNow Self Service Portal, starting officially Oct 1, 2021!
The existing intake form and workflow is migrating from Salesforce Request Tracker to ServiceNow.
Presentation shall include a demo, overview of the workflow, as well as Accessibility and Security prerequisites.
Please come to this tech talk with any questions/concerns.
Who
Sean Zerges
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IT Systems Architecture in the Future
September 15, 2021, 1-1:30p ET
Objective
IT systems must account for ever-increasing sophistication of business expectations and demands.
To satisfy them, we must think in terms of AI/ML, RPA, Dynamic BPM etc. But what does it mean to embed these capabilities into the architectures that we are designing and/or modernizing?
What are the practical considerations for designing robust, future-proof architectures? And is there a specificity for doing so within a Government-based IT organization?
That’s what we’ll attempt to address.
Who
Edward Meyman, Dept of Labor
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CUI
August 18, 2021, 1-1:30p ET
Objective
Many of us could use a little help in understanding some of the more technical aspects of the new “Controlled Unclassified Information” (CUI) program that GSA implemented July 1st.
Would you like to know more about how the new CUI program works, and what makes it different from SBU, FOUO, Confidential, Sensitive, and other markings that were used in the past? Do you need a little clarification understanding all of the different CUI categories and not sure which one to use for your data?
Our CUI PMO will offer a Tech Talk to help kick-start you in the right direction so you can do your part as a valued GSA employee to help protect our data.
Who
Karen Overall and Andy Riordan
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GraphQL
July 15, 2021, 11-11:30a ET
Objective
GraphQL is a query language for your API, and a server-side runtime for executing queries.
This tech talk will be an introduction to GraphQL, which will include core concepts like GraphQL Schema, Queries and Mutation.
We will also look at how GraphQL compares to other API technologies and finally touch up on how GraphQL fits into microservices architecture.
Who
Judewin Gabriel
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Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
June 24, 2021, 1-1:30p ET
Objective
GSA’s RPA Program acts as the RPA Center of Excellence (COE) and the primary RPA Factory for GSA. The RPA Program is actively building and supporting automation efforts across GSA to include all CXOs. To date, the RPA Factory has delivered 90 automations and has a very healthy pipeline of automation projects. One unique feature of the GSA RPA Program is that the majority of the development is done by Government employees that have completed a rigorous training and certification program to “UpSkill” their capabilities and take advantage of this existing RPA technology.
The Federal RPA Community of Practice (CoP) was established to promote cross-government collaboration and the acceleration of the adoption of emerging technologies. We are focused on the aggregation and redistribution of federally based RPA “Best Practices and Lessons Learned”. In addition, we openly collaborate with Federal RPA Programs to address many common implementation hurdles, process challenges and technical barriers. All in an effort to provide knowledge based, foundational support for Agencies to help them navigate their respective RPA journeys.
Who
James Gregory
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Data Platforms
May 19, 2021, 1-1:30p ET
Objective
The CDO office is working with various GSA stakeholders on a strategy and roadmap for data-related initiatives and investments.
Such GSA wide efforts will among others address data integration across the enterprise, analytics modeling and computing, data governance, and other opportunities that will allow GSA to avoid duplications and use data as a strategic asset. In this talk, Payman will present the core elements of the data strategy, vision for a GSA-wide data platform, and some of the related work that is already underway.
Who
Payman Sadegh
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10X De-risking Guide
May 11, 2021, 11-11:30a ET
Objective
De-risking Guide.
Guidance for delivering successful custom technology projects in government.
Government software projects fail at an alarmingly high rate.
The de-risking guide was written to provide actionable guidance to the public sector for delivering custom technology projects successfully.
This research is based on 6 years of consulting with over 100 federal agency programs trying to modernize their information technology, written by 18F’s digital consultants, and was funded by 10x.
Who
Vicki McFadden and Randy Hart
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Google Scripts
April 20, 2021, 11-11:30a ET
Objective
Google Apps Script, also know as Google Scripts, is a free programming language mostly based on an earlier version of JavaScript.
It includes built-in libraries for Google Workplace apps, but it’s flexible enough to bridge other development platforms, an example being HTML. This is a free of cost solution and no installation is required since the code editor is web-based. Many GSA employees use Google Scripts on a daily basis to enable data automation; in a way, it’s our in-house “robotics” solution.
Who
Rolo Sierra
