Services

Cloud Services

NIS provides services that enable government agencies to leverage the benefits of cloud computing while addressing unique challenges related to security, compliance, and operational efficiency. NIS experts play a crucial role in guiding governments through each phase of their cloud journey, from strategy formulation to ongoing optimization and governance. Examples include:

Cloud Readiness Assessment: Assess the government agency's current IT infrastructure, applications, and data to determine readiness for migration to the cloud. They identify potential challenges, risks, and opportunities associated with cloud adoption.

Cloud Strategy Development: Work with government agencies to formulate a comprehensive cloud strategy aligned with their organizational goals and objectives. This includes defining the roadmap for cloud adoption, selecting suitable cloud deployment models (public, private, hybrid), and choosing appropriate cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).

Cloud Migration Planning and Execution: Assist in planning and executing the migration of applications, data, and workloads from on-premises environments to the cloud. Develop migration strategies, assess dependencies, prioritize workloads, and ensure minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

Security and Compliance Consulting: Given the sensitive nature of government data, provide expertise in designing and implementing robust security measures for cloud environments. Assess security risks, develop security policies and procedures, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, FedRAMP).

Cost Optimization and Financial Management: Help government agencies optimize cloud spending and manage costs effectively. Analyze usage patterns, recommend cost-saving strategies (such as rightsizing instances, leveraging reserved instances), and implement financial management practices to control expenditures.

Vendor Selection and Management: Assist in evaluating and selecting cloud service providers (CSPs) that best meet the government agency's requirements. Conduct vendor assessments, negotiate contracts, and establish service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure service quality and accountability.

Governance and Risk Management: Establish governance frameworks and risk management strategies tailored to the cloud environment. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, implementing access controls, conducting risk assessments, and monitoring compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards.

Performance Monitoring and Optimization: Deploy monitoring tools and practices to track the performance of cloud services and applications. Analyze performance metrics, identify bottlenecks, and recommend optimizations to enhance reliability, scalability, and efficiency.

Training and Change Management: Provide training programs and change management support to help government employees adapt to cloud technologies and new ways of working. This includes workshops, knowledge transfer sessions, and ongoing support to facilitate a smooth transition to the cloud.

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning: Develop and implement disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity plans (BCP) tailored to cloud environments. Design resilient architectures, establish backup and recovery processes, and conduct simulations to ensure readiness for potential disruptions.

Digital Services

NIS helps our federal customers modernize core technology and incorporate innovation by capitalizing on new technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud Services, Machine Learning, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Virtual Reality, and XaaS to optimize and automate operations.

We strategically design and evolve new enterprise architectures with nimble platforms that are easier to enhance, less expensive to maintain, and are more aligned with the organization’s mission.

NIS utilizes cloud services such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS; data and infrastructure services; smart development environments; and Machine Learning to meet customers’ mission needs. We assist and modernize legacy IT infrastructure and cloud migration when needed.  Technologies we work with include Microsoft Office 365, Azure, and assorted AWS features.

Customer Stories

• For the Army’s Virtual Learning Environment (AVLE), NIS provides distributed virtual training and education products that include Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI), Digital Learning (DL) Content Objects, Analysis Products, Gaming, (both using and not using a gaming engine), 3D Modeling and Simulations, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) on various platforms, such as Blackboard, DVDs, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.
• As part of the ReImagine HHS effort, NIS engineered the BUYSMARTER operating model from the ground up. Using IBM Watson, the BUYSMARTER team was able to ingest, structure, analyze, and report on over 1 million pages of contracts to develop a single database of contract data covering the nation’s largest agency dedicated to Americans’ health and well-being

Cyber Security 

Cyber security is a combination of technologies, people, process, and practices designed to protect an organization’s software, IT infrastructure, and data from cyberattacks and unauthorized access. Cyberattacks pose great danger to federal agencies, their employees, and customers. NIS assists
federal agencies in measuring their technology security profile, identifying and prioritizing critical assets for protection, building capabilities to neutralize threats, and securing and maintaining the integrity of their systems and data. We advise our customers on the latest innovation in cyber security approaches and technologies such as zero-trust models, leveraging AI and machine learning and hardware authentication.

Services include cyber security and vulnerability assessments; assessment and authorization support; computer network defense -- Endpoint Protection; security architecture and engineering; security testing and exploitation; incident response -- monitoring for visibility and regulatory compliance readiness. NIS assists federal agencies to be compliant with CNSS, NIST, FedRAMP, RMF, FIPS, DoD, FISMA, and other cyber security policies.

We are an Information Security Management (ISO 27001:2013) and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Maturity Level 3 appraised firm for Services & Development, experienced in implementing processes and seeking and applying continuous improvement in our program support. ISO 27001:2013 details requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system.

Customer Stories

• For the State Department’s Diplomatic Security unit, NIS provided security analysis and cyber security services. To prepare for FIPS 200 and FISMA, we supplied enterprise architecture, compliance, and Information Assurance (IA) engineering support. NIS leveraged ITIL and ISO 27001 to develop an Information Security Management System to maintain, improve, integrate, measure, and report on operational process performance and to implement continual service improvement of our IA and cyber security support services. Our systems security analysts and security engineers provided security oversight and cyber security assessments for over 100 supported applications, systems and networks.
• For the Army’s Inspector General worldwide presence, NIS manages the full scope of technical support for IGNET Operations to include O&M, IA, security compliance, help desk services, hardware and systems’ architecture management, and training. Our team assisted with the Command Cyber Readiness Inspections and IA remediation in support of and transition to the Risk Management Framework.

Enterprise IT

NIS has provided Enterprise IT support to federal agencies for more than 10 years. The IT portfolio we manage ranges from IT Infrastructure O&M such as system and database administration, application support, SharePoint and network management, Multimedia, Audio-Visual, virtualization, and containerization.

We leverage an Agile methodology and utilize our customized Integrated Software Development Lifecycle (ISDLC) approach, incorporating CMMI, Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Continual Service Improvement, and ISO 20000 to implement best practice processes and technological solutions for our stakeholders.

We provide IT help desk support to several of our customers. We follow IT Service Management (ITSM) and Help Desk Institute (HDI) processes and best practices, and many of our consultants have certifications in their areas of expertise. We use ITIL-based Incident Management approach to ensure prompt and efficient response to resolve issues and restore normal service operation as quickly as possible, thus minimizing the negative impact to customers' business operations in maintaining the IT infrastructure and applications. In addition, NIS has been providing ERP maintenance and support functions that include SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft.

Customer Stories

• NIS supports the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) mission to provide reliable scientific information to understand the Earth and its natural resources, as well as monitor the health of our ecosystems and environment by performing integrated IT and systems support for the Office of the Associate Chief Information Officer (OACIO). Our team supports scientific and business applications to users around the world on both centralized and decentralized computing environments, ensuring connectivity for 10,000+ users, seven (7) Science Centers and 400+ remote locations. Our support services include Application Services and End-User Support, Enterprise Services Support, IT Infrastructure Services, Telecommunications Support, IT Security Support, and IT Consultation Services.
• At the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC), our team works alongside uniformed personnel and is fluent in clarifying the details and overall design of several dozen Navy Enterprise Service Desk-associated (NESD) applications serving more than 2 million warfighters and staff. Tech support includes Support Center Analysts who manage system administration, configuration management activities, hardware and software troubleshooting, and enterprise-wide problem resolution.

Software Development / DevSecOps 

IT systems play an important role in supporting the mission of federal agencies. They need to manage their software applications, modernize legacy applications, and develop new software products. To meet these needs, NIS builds quality software products, modernizes legacy applications, and manages applications drawing on modern Agile/DevSecOps engineering practices using open-source technologies and cloud native services. We utilize Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable applications to exchange data and function easily and securely.

We use Agile approaches like SAFe, Kanban and Scrum along with DevSecOps processes and tools to accelerate delivery of high-quality software products and infuse security throughout the development lifecycle. We utilize modern UI/UX techniques to engage the customer with Human Centered Design (HCD). HCD assists in determining if the designed solution is satisfying our customer needs effectively or not.

DevSecOps unifies software development (Dev), security (Sec), and operations (Ops) to automate and apply security to all phases of the software development lifecycle. Our DevSecOps approach applies Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools that automatically compile, test, and secure software before it is deployed into production, delivering high quality products faster. We employ metrics such as availability, lead time, and deployment frequency to measure success for the software products delivered.

Customer Stories

• NIS has developed multiple custom software applications for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sites across the country and scientific endeavors around the globe. One example is the Information Product Data System. This software performs tasks ranging from recording scientific studies and their workflow (which allows managers to track progress and problems) to helping monitor studies for fraud through customized search capabilities.
• NIS uses DevSecOps to develop and maintain the Drupal 10 platform for the Web Content Management System (WCMS) and Tax Withholding Estimator (TWE) applications on the IRS.gov website. We bank on our certified Grand Masters leading our Drupal practice in utilizing Agile SCRUM, Kanban, and Rapid Delivery methodologies to minimize risk and perform Development, Modernization, and Enhancement tasks with the highest levels of oversight and quality control. 
   

Mission Support

NIS understands the mission, goals, processes, and the challenges of the federal agencies we serve. We provide services and personnel supporting agency business functions such as professional services, management consulting, customer service, program management, technical and scientific advisory, engineering, training solutions and physical security/access control. Our personnel are carefully chosen for each assignment and have the right mission experience, qualifications, and certifications.

In addition, we provide management consulting services like business process improvement, policy and strategic communications, and organization change management. NIS has successfully helped our customers improve their business processes using information technology and innovative approaches.  We hold business process workshops and develop “As-Is” and “To-Be” process models working with the stakeholders. We have provided acquisition support for procurement of products, solutions and professional services including support for budget planning and execution. We have also supported our federal customers to manage contracts and programs.

Customer Stories

• NIS carries out three security missions simultaneously for several Federal and DoD customers.  We are responsible for personnel, physical, and information security. We coordinate security clearances and indoctrinations. We safeguard classified information and conduct training on security incidents and infractions. We inspect buildings, install locks and safes, and manage access control to classified locations. 
• For the U.S. Army’s Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), NIS supports more than 500 contracting officers who use the Procurement Desktop-Defense (PD2) system to create contract-related materials such as Requests for Proposals, contract administration, and customized requirements. As part of our program administration activities, our team runs reports for contracting officers, and our help desk personnel assist in carrying out necessary services from password resets to navigating the PD2 system.

AI Services

NIS is instrumental in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) strategy and applications for government agencies. We offer a range of specialized services, including:

AI Consulting:

• Strategy Development: Helping government agencies define AI strategies that align with their mission and strategic objectives.

• Feasibility Studies: Evaluating the viability and potential impact of AI solutions for addressing specific government challenges.

• Proof of Concept Development: Designing and developing prototypes to validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of AI and generative AI solutions in real-world government scenarios.

Machine Learning:

• Algorithm Development: Creating and refining machine learning algorithms for diverse applications, including predictive analytics, image recognition, and natural language processing

• Model Training: Developing and training machine learning models on vast datasets to enhance predictive capabilities and enable more informed decision-making.

• Data Integration: Consolidating and integrating diverse data sources to enhance the performance and reliability of machine learning models.

AI Application Development

• Platform Development: Developing generative AI platform and infrastructure to support and enhance government operations, ensuring scalability, security, and compliance.

• Generative AI Applications: Creating advanced applications using Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and Finetuning, tailored for integration with government-specific knowledge bases and existing systems.

• Business Automation: Utilizing AI to automate and optimize routine tasks like data entry, analysis, and reporting, enhancing efficiency and minimizing manual workload.

• Responsible AI: Applying ethical AI practices that prioritize fairness, transparency, safety, and accountability in all AI-driven solutions."

Additional Services

• AI Training and Education: Offering tailored training programs to equip government employees with knowledge and skills in AI and generative AI.

• AI Research and Development: Conducting research on cutting-edge AI technologies and applications.

   

Data Analytics 

NIS provides a range of data analytics services that enable government agencies to harness the power of data analytics for evidence-based decision-making, operational efficiency, and citizen-centric service delivery. Our experts play a crucial role in guiding governments through the entire data analytics lifecycle, from strategy formulation to implementation and ongoing optimization.

Data Strategy Development: Work with government agencies to develop a comprehensive data strategy aligned with organizational goals. This includes defining data governance frameworks, data management practices, and strategies for data collection, integration, and quality assurance.

Data Analytics Roadmap: Assist in creating a roadmap for implementing data analytics capabilities within government agencies. This roadmap outlines key milestones, identifies use cases for data analytics, and defines technology requirements (such as analytics platforms, tools, and infrastructure).

Advanced Analytics and Predictive Modeling: Apply advanced analytical techniques, such as predictive modeling, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI), to derive insights from government data. Build models to forecast trends, predict outcomes, and optimize decision-making processes.

Data Visualization and Dashboards: Design and develop interactive dashboards and data visualizations that enable government stakeholders to interpret and explore data intuitively. These visualizations help communicate insights effectively and support data-driven decision-making.

Big Data Management and Analytics: Assist in managing and analyzing large volumes of diverse data (often referred to as big data) generated by government operations and public services. Implement scalable data storage solutions, data processing frameworks, and analytics platforms tailored to big data challenges.

Geospatial Analytics: Assist in analyzing geospatial data to support urban planning, environmental monitoring, emergency response, and infrastructure development. Apply geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to visualize and interpret spatial data.

Data Privacy and Security: Given the sensitivity of government data, provide expertise in ensuring data privacy and security throughout the data analytics lifecycle. Implement measures for data anonymization, encryption, access control, and compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

Performance Measurement and KPIs: Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and develop frameworks for measuring the performance and impact of government programs and initiatives. Establish metrics, benchmark performance against targets, and facilitate data-driven performance management.

Open Data Initiatives: Support government agencies in promoting transparency and civic engagement through open data initiatives. Advise on data publishing standards, metadata management, and platforms for sharing public datasets with stakeholders, researchers, and the general public.

Capacity Building and Training: Provide training programs and capacity-building workshops to enhance data literacy and analytical skills among government employees. Facilitate knowledge transfer on data analytics tools, techniques, and best practices to empower staff to utilize data effectively.