Overview
Title
To advance Federal Government innovation through the implementation and use of multi-cloud computing software technology, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023 is a plan to help the U.S. government use different types of cloud computing at the same time to be better and smarter, but it doesn't come with any extra money to make this happen.
Summary AI
S. 2871, titled the "Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023," seeks to boost innovation within the federal government by promoting the use of multi-cloud computing technologies. The bill requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to evaluate barriers and best practices for integrating multi-cloud technology across agencies and to develop guidance for its implementation by January 2025. The Comptroller General must also assess the federal workforce's skills in cloud technology and report on the adoption and effectiveness of multi-cloud systems. No additional funds are allocated for these initiatives.
Published
Keywords AI
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, titled the “Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023,” aims to enhance the Federal Government's use of multi-cloud computing technology. This technology is supposed to improve data portability and interoperability across different cloud vendors, allowing government agencies to be more flexible and efficient. The bill outlines plans for identifying challenges in adopting multi-cloud systems and developing guidelines for implementation.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several key issues arise in relation to this bill. First, the timeframes for implementation and reporting are quite tight. The bill requires agencies to develop guidelines within a year and to implement these systems by January 1, 2025, while reporting on their progress within two years. Such rapid turnaround could lead to rushed executions that might not meet the desired standards of effectiveness or security.
Moreover, the bill does not provide a clear budget or cost analysis for these initiatives. This absence raises concerns about potential uncontrolled spending, as the resources necessary to implement and maintain multi-cloud systems might not be sufficiently accounted for.
The bill also includes a provision for the definition of "multi-cloud technology," which is set to be determined by the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Until this definition is set, there is potential for inconsistent application of the term across different government agencies.
Another concern is the possibility of favoritism or bias towards certain cloud vendors. The language regarding "flexible or modular contracting practices" could be interpreted in such a way that inadvertently favors specific service providers unless stringent checks are established.
Impact on the Public
The public could see long-term benefits from the efficient use of multi-cloud technology in government sectors, including improved public services and enhanced data security. However, if the implementation is rushed or lacks proper oversight, there might be data breaches or service disruptions.
Additionally, the financial implications of this act without a clear funding plan could lead to taxpayer concerns about government spending. The act states explicitly that no extra funds will be allocated for its implementation, a seemingly strict approach that might either constrain the effectiveness of its execution or serve as a check against budget overruns.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Government agencies will be directly affected and will need to adapt swiftly to meet the new requirements. Agencies might find challenges in adopting the necessary multi-cloud systems and ensuring their staff possess the skills needed to manage them. This might necessitate extensive training programs, potentially stretching existing resources.
Cloud service providers, on the other hand, stand to benefit from new opportunities for government contracts, particularly if the contracting guidelines do not adequately prevent vendor bias. However, without clear checks in place, smaller cloud vendors might find it hard to compete against larger companies.
Overall, the bill presents an ambitious move towards modernizing government IT infrastructure. While it could drive significant technological advancement and efficiency, its success largely depends on addressing the outlined concerns, including time constraints, funding clarity, and fair contracting practices.
Issues
The timeline for implementing and reporting on multi-cloud technology (Sections 3 and 5) appears to be ambitious, with a one-year deadline for adoption and two-year deadline for reporting, which could lead to rushed planning and execution, potentially resulting in inefficiencies or inadequate scrutiny.
There is a lack of specific budget or cost analysis for the implementation of multi-cloud technology (Sections 3 and 4), leading to concerns about uncontrolled spending and financial implications that are not transparent to the public.
The definition of 'multi-cloud technology' (Section 6) relies on a future definition from the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which introduces ambiguity until officially defined and could lead to inconsistent application across government agencies.
Potential favoritism or bias toward certain vendors may arise from 'flexible or modular contracting practices' (Sections 4 and 3), requiring more stringent checks to ensure fair competition and prevent any unfair advantage given to specific cloud service providers.
The section addressing Workforce Development Study and Technical Capabilities Assessment (Section 4) does not provide clarity on methodologies or accountability measures for addressing skill gaps or recommending effective training programs, leading to potential inefficiencies and wasteful spending.
The terms 'best practices', 'lessons learned', and 'use cases' in Section 3 are broad and lack precise definitions, leading to potential ambiguity in guidelines that are critical for effective multi-cloud technology adoption and security.
The lack of additional funding authorization (Section 7) for implementing this Act may limit its effectiveness if existing resources are inadequate, but it also suggests a financial constraint that is not adequately explained.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section states that the Act will be officially known as the “Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023.”
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section defines several key terms like “agency,” referring to a specific U.S. Code section, “cloud computing” based on a publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other terms like “information and communications technology,” “multi-cloud technology,” “Comptroller General,” “Director,” and “relevant committees of Congress,” each with precise definitions tied to regulatory and institutional contexts.
3. Use of multi-cloud technology Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires the Director to work with various government officials to identify challenges and best practices for using multi-cloud technology by federal agencies. Within a year, they must develop guidelines and report to Congress on the progress and future recommendations for multi-cloud adoption, with the goal of full implementation by January 1, 2025.
4. Workforce development study and technical capabilities assessment Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a requirement for the Comptroller General to prepare and share reports with Congress on the digital skills gap and technical capabilities in the Federal workforce concerning multi-cloud technology. The reports will assess skill gaps, workforce training needs, technical readiness of agency networks, and provide recommendations for improving workforce development and adopting multi-cloud systems.
5. Report to Congress Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Comptroller General is required to submit a report to Congress within two years after the law is enacted. This report will evaluate how government agencies have applied guidelines for using and securing systems that rely on services from multiple cloud computing providers.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section gives the official name of the act, which is the “Multi-Cloud Innovation and Advancement Act of 2023.”
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The act defines several key terms used throughout, including “agency,” “cloud computing,” “Comptroller General,” “Director,” “information and communications technology,” “multi-cloud technology,” and “relevant committees of Congress.” Each term is linked to its definition in other official documents or is specified by particular authorities.
3. Study and guidelines for voluntary agency use of multi-cloud technology Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section directs the Director to study how government agencies use multi-cloud technology and identify best practices, cybersecurity frameworks, and lessons learned. This information will be compiled and shared to help agencies considering or adopting multi-cloud technology, with findings and recommendations reported to Congress.
4. Workforce development study and technical capabilities assessment Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress within one year, evaluating the digital skills gap in the federal workforce concerning multi-cloud technology, assessing the capabilities of the acquisition and IT workforce, estimating training costs, and providing recommendations to improve workforce development and hiring practices.
5. Report to Congress Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires the Comptroller General to deliver a report to Congress within two years, evaluating how federal agencies are adopting cloud technology, particularly multi-cloud systems. The report should cover the benefits, risks, and necessary capabilities for using multi-cloud technology, as well as analyze the costs and advantages of switching from current cloud systems to multi-cloud solutions.
6. Multi-cloud technology definition Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section explains that the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology must define "multi-cloud technology" within 120 days of the Act being enacted. They should consider advice from experts while creating the definition and review it periodically to keep up with new technological and industry changes.
7. No additional funds Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, the bill states that no extra money will be allowed to support the implementation of this Act.