The Digital Dilemma Report of 2013 has found that out of 300 government employees surveyed, 95% believe that their work has improved through access to mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Although many government agencies currently lack a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, a majority of these federal employees are bringing their personal mobile devices into the workplace due to the benefits reaped from their use.

As social media has grown in popularity and continued to encompass more citizens, the government has made effective use of its outbound reach by using the medium to get information to the citizens. Whether it is used for warnings and instructions during an emergency, or to gauge support for a particular pending protocol or bill, the social media communication channel is one that the government has taken full advantage of to push information out. However as it is with so many other innovations, the governments use of social media is slowly beginning to evolve to a more passive connection.

It is increasingly common for government workers to use their personal or government-issued mobile device to access government email, network drives, documents, or CRM’s. The digital realm champions improved efficiency and immediate access to limitless information. Simply being out of the office, in a meeting, or at home are no longer roadblocks for responding to emails and accessing work information.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the military spending budget, which isgood news for small businesses selling to the Federal government. The goal is for Federal agencies to have 23% of awarded contracts go to small businesses, which has been a problem for the Federal government.

On December 27, 2012 the General Services Administration (GSA) announced the first company to become FedRAMP certified as Autonomic Resources. The approval came from the Joint Authorization Board (JAB), which is consisting of the CIO’s from GSA, DoD, and DHS.

The House is calling for the small business contracting goal to be increased, while the Senate is not. That is one of the differences in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Some see the increase as a moot point, because the current goal is not being met. Despite this, the House is pushing for a 2 percent increase, from 23 percent to 25 percent. The two bills passed by each chamber will now be attempted to be resolved by deliberations set to begin this week. Some expect see the increase the House is pushing for, as a glass holding no water. They do not see how the increase will benefit small companies. Guy Timberlake, Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at the American Small Business Coalition, is quoted saying: