For US federal agencies, mission-critical systems can't be taken offline for replacement – so an incremental approach to integration is key
By Corinium Global Intelligence
For employees of US federal agencies, fragmented infrastructure can be a huge drain on resources. Many will be familiar with having to find inefficient, manual workarounds that consume valuable time while introducing errors.
They may have to extract data from one system, transform it into compatible formats, and manually enter it into another – processes that could be automated in a properly integrated environment. These inefficiencies compound across thousands of interactions, creating substantial operational drag.
Because of this, there is an urgent need in federal agencies for interoperability. But the technical challenges of achieving this often seem daunting to those operating within complex, long-standing IT environments.
Many organizations maintain systems developed decades ago, using technologies that weren't designed for the kind of seamless integration envisioned today.
The agencies tackling this issue successfully are those enabling interoperability without the need for wholesale system replacement. Rather than pursuing high-risk "rip and replace" initiatives, they're implementing incremental improvements that deliver value while building toward comprehensive integration.
“Modernization is not optional – more time equals more pain,” says Patrick McGarry, GM Federal at data.world, an enterprise data catalog and governance platform. “The longer we wait, the harder the transition.”
Achieving true interoperability requires not just policy changes, but a major shift in technology strategy. Agencies must decide: What stays? What gets replaced? What gets integrated?
Below are some key takeaways from a recent whitepaper by Corinium and data.world, which offers detailed guidance on approaching these challenges.
Modernization through open standards and APIs
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are one of the most powerful tools for connecting disparate systems. These standardized interfaces expose data and functionality in controlled, secure ways that enable integration without disrupting underlying systems.
The API approach offers particular advantages in federal environments where mission-critical systems can't be taken offline for replacement. Agencies can develop integration capabilities incrementally, focusing first on high-value data exchanges while gradually expanding to cover additional functions.
Standardizing data descriptions and formats creates another foundation for effective integration. When agencies adopt shared ontologies – formal models that define data elements and their relationships – they enable meaningful information exchange even between diverse systems.
Cloud platforms provide neutral territory where agencies can share and access data without replacing on-premise systems. These environments offer standardized services for data storage, processing, and exchange, reducing the complexity of cross-agency integration. For federal organizations, FedRAMP-authorized cloud solutions provide these capabilities with security controls appropriate for government information.
Rather than seeking "future-proof" solutions, which rarely exist in rapidly evolving technology landscapes, agencies should focus on "future-insulating" their environments. They do so by adopting flexible, scalable architectures that can evolve as technology advances.
Not build versus buy, but a blend of both
The build-versus-buy decision represents another key consideration in modernization planning. Federal agencies must carefully weigh the benefits of custom development against commercial solutions when addressing interoperability needs.
The case for building:
The case for buying:
Smart modernization strategies often blend both approaches, integrating custom-built APIs with commercial platforms to accelerate transformation.
One example of successful integration comes from the General Services Administration (GSA), which developed an AI Center of Excellence to standardize AI adoption across federal agencies.
By collaborating with private-sector innovators, they established guidelines, best practices, and shared platforms that help agencies implement AI-driven interoperability solutions faster.
Agencies should eliminate redundant legacy systems instead of maintaining parallel IT ecosystems that increase costs and inefficiencies.
To ensure long-term interoperability success, agencies must:
By focusing on agile modernization, agencies can break free from outdated systems and build a tech ecosystem that supports AI, automation, and real-time data exchange.
For a more in-depth roadmap to achieving interoperability at federal agencies, download our whitepaper.