A guide to wireless business internet for the public sector
Author: Rose de Fremery
Date published: November 5, 2024
Resumen
We live in a mobile and increasingly wireless world. The technology we carry with us, from phones and tablets to Internet of Things (IoT) devices, connects us to work, family, our community, and our government. Federal, state and local government agencies and public sector organizations live in the same mobile world as the rest of us.
Public Sector guide to wireless communications
Technology leaders in government have a wide variety of responsibilities such as supporting people and devices in office, remote, and hybrid work settings, providing main and secondary internet connectivity to ensure continuity of operations, and pursuing cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
This means that reliable, fast and secure connectivity is essential to meeting the needs of their workforce and their constituents. But which wireless business internet solutions are best suited to each of these scenarios, and how do they work?
In this guide to wireless internet solutions for the public sector, you will learn:
- How to plan modernizing your network infrastructure to include wireless internet
- What types of wireless internet solutions are available for the public sector, and
- What are government use cases for wireless internet
This guide also highlights network infrastructure and security requirements that federal, state and local agencies should keep in mind when implementing a new wireless solution, as well as funding opportunities that may be available.
Wireless Network Infrastructure Requirements
When evaluating wireless business internet solutions for your public sector organization, it's important to consider whether your existing government network infrastructure can support your present and future requirements.
Is your government network robust enough to adapt to the demands that are already being placed on it, such as a remote workforce and a diverse range of digital government services? Is it secure to ward off the sophisticated cybersecurity threats that are increasingly targeting the public sector? Can your government network support connected technology involving Internet of Things (IoT) sensors or edge computing for timely decision-making? Ultimately, is your government network agile enough to allow future digital transformations that deliver even more effective services?
Determine what sort of infrastructure you need for your public sector organization, or if your existing infrastructure can support your needs.
Your government network infrastructure should be able to address public sector technology and government IT challenges, and it should also be able to support use cases that are specific to your level or area of the public sector. For example, you may be looking to provide distance learning solutions for K-12 schools, offer telehealth initiatives that improve patient outcomes, deliver connectivity for utility workers aiming to stem municipal water loss or enable near real-time insights to first responders rushing to the scene of an emergency.
Wireless business internet is a type of 5G or 4G LTE wireless technology that delivers fixed broadband access without cables. It can be used to easily connect homes, organizations and mobile devices to the internet. Federal, state and local governments can use it to quickly and securely connect traditional branch offices as well as home offices to the government wide area network, enabling hybrid work environments in the process. Wireless business internet also supports remote learning scenarios for K-12 schools, community colleges and state universities.
Whatever your government organization requires, there's a wireless business internet solution to match. A large agency might select a 5G business internet solution to help its employees work more efficiently from home, while a small agency might go with wireless business internet for primary or failover internet connectivity at an office or a temporary location. The right government IT solutions provider can also help you assess the current state of your network infrastructure, identify your current and future needs and craft a plan to modernize your government computer network. An experienced government IT solutions provider can serve as your guide to wireless business internet solutions, helping you identify the right options to meet your needs.
Wireless business internet is useful when a federal, state or local government wishes to implement broadband government IT services in a certain location, but it is logistically challenging, time-consuming or cost-prohibitive to build out a traditional wired network involving fiber-optic cables, coaxial cables or telephone lines. Wireless business internet can also come in handy when a government agency or organization needs to provide services in a new location for a limited period of time. Wireless business internet can be deployed in a matter of days rather than weeks, allowing governments to be more nimble in rolling out digital services.
A healthcare organization might select wireless business internet to open up a pop-up testing site, or a local representative might use it to offer a kiosk where people can access services. Libraries can use wireless business internet to offer internet services to low-income residents in urban areas, while state and local governments can tap into it to expand rural internet access, improving digital inclusion in the process. Alternatively, a public safety organization might use wireless business internet to set up a mobile command center during an emergency or a training exercise.
Wireless business internet also can provide secondary connectivity for an office or branch location in the event there is an outage. Setup is rapid and straightforward, and service can be scaled as needed. For this reason, wireless business internet is worth considering in situations when a government organization needs to create a flexible yet reliable broadband government computer network in a formal office, a home office or a temporary location.
5G Solutions for Public Sector Agencies
Any guide to wireless business internet solutions must include 5G. So what is 5G? 5G is the next-generation wireless network technology. It features ultra-low latency, faster speeds, reliable connectivity, better security and abundant coverage. 5G can help federal, state and local governments connect the people they serve with government resources, and it can also enable employees to stay collaborative and productive while teleworking or in the field. In addition, 5G can support vast quantities of connected and mobile devices at scale, enabling a wide range of use cases at all levels of government. 5G network slicing makes it possible to create private, secure and customized networks for each of these scenarios.
At the federal level, 5G can support augmented reality (AR) workforce solutions that facilitate knowledge transfer across large distances while keeping employees safe and productive. Live training sessions could be conducted using lightweight smart glasses with a special AR overlay, support workers in the field, or help troops conduct operational enablement training.
Immersive AR solutions, when paired with 5G, can also enable remote troubleshooting in challenging locations where it is not feasible to coordinate timely in-person technical support—for example, during a classified overseas mission. Emergency responders and healthcare workers could find these solutions equally valuable for coordinating life-saving care, easily accessing the expertise and resources needed to carry out their important responsibilities on short notice.
5G has valuable applications at the state and local levels, as well. 5G enables real-time response systems for public safety that boost situational awareness, aid timely decision-making and accelerate response times. Because it can bring together data from a wide variety of sources, this technology also supports more effective interagency collaboration. Colleagues across multiple agencies can leverage real-time response capabilities to access the same insights and coordinate more effectively, both on a day-to-day basis and during an incident.
According to Verizon's 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), public sector organizations are frequently targeted by financially motivated external threat actors as well as spying nation-states that are interested in learning what their rivals are doing. Attackers who target government agencies steal personal data more often than any other type of data. The 2024 DBIR Public Sector Snapshot emphasizes the need for increased security protection. Carefully evaluating wireless business internet solutions through a security lens can help minimize the likelihood of a damaging data breach.
The General Services Administration (GSA) manages multiple IT security programs and policies that help enhance the safety and resiliency of the government’s systems and networks. These are not limited to but include:
- NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF)
- Federal Identity, Credential and Access Management (FICAM)
- Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)
- Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA 2014)
Other government security agencies, like CISA who is managing cyber risks across the communications and IT sectors, including priority services (which they are responsible for implementing in accordance with the FCC's rules).
Although all levels of government must treat cybersecurity as a priority, some types of government organizations have more strict security requirements than others. For example, the Department of Defense has very specific needs when it comes to ensuring the security of intelligence officers while they are in the field. A public water utility must be especially vigilant in protecting itself from a ransomware attack, so the community it serves remains safe and healthy. A hospital has to make sure that it handles its patients' information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Zero trust network access is considered a best practice for cybersecurity. In fact, the 2022 Federal Zero Trust memorandum urged all government agencies to move towards enhanced government wide area network security through a Zero Trust approach. Here are some guidelines that will help agencies map the components defined by NIST to the GSA solutions that help meet them. This approach to government network security assumes that every device, application or system that connects to your network could potentially be compromised. Government agencies find a zero trust model especially relevant in today's era of hybrid and remote work, in which the number of endpoints connected to a government computer network is far larger than in the past and the corresponding attack surface is expanding exponentially.
When determining which type of wireless business internet solution best meets your organization's needs, it can be beneficial to partner with a government IT services provider with deep expertise in network security. A trusted partner can help you assess your current network infrastructure, craft a plan for securely modernizing it and help you carry out that plan. Equipped with deep industry knowledge, a government IT solutions provider can also advise you on best practices to meet your security requirements, as you adapt to 5G, for example. They can also keep you current as new best practices for government network security emerge.
Funding
Depending on the wireless government network use case you have in mind, there may be funding available to support your initiative via the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This bill, which is also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, was signed into law in 2021. It authorizes substantial funding for government agencies, nonprofits and tribal nations, with the intention of strengthening the nation's infrastructure. A considerable amount of IIJA funding will be allocated at the state and local levels, offering public sector organizations a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize their network infrastructure.
Although the term "infrastructure" often refers to physical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, IIJA funding also supports a broad range of government projects in areas such as utilities, broadband connectivity, public safety, cybersecurity, resiliency and more. The IIJA's centerpiece broadband initiative, the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, includes more than $42 billion to expand high-speed internet access, including the construction of broadband networks. These allocations can primarily be disbursed by select federal organizations, as well as individual states.
Government agencies can apply for IIJA funding to enable many types and scopes of infrastructure projects including but not limited to aviation, energy, public education, smart technologies and transportation. The Government Finance Office Association has comprehensive information on the available funding programs, as well as guidebooks and other resources that public sectors may find useful when applying for funding.
Find the right government IT service provider for your wireless business internet needs
Wireless business internet solutions like 5G and wireless business internet can help your federal, state or local government agency securely launch a wide range of initiatives. An experienced government IT services provider can help you demystify and accelerate this process, ensuring that you meet your goals on time and within budget. The right partner can help you assess your unique requirements, create a plan for implementing your specific use cases, and help you build a strong network architecture that can enable even more ambitious innovations in the future.
Learn more about Verizon's purpose-built solutions that help the public sector serve the diverse needs of their constituents.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.