Homeland Security Today does an annual ranking of the top companies that produce the products and services needed to secure the nation. This year they have focused on 10 companies that are doing innovative research and development in critical homeland security technology mission areas. Appian is the first company on HST's "The Rising 10 of 2013 - Tech Innovators Edition," which is subtitled "Innovators and Game Changers."
Rather than provide a simple ranking of 25 large contractors and 10 smaller firms based on contract earnings, HST picked 10 companies that are doing innovative research and development in critical homeland security technology mission areas. According to the publication:
"This new approach to identifying the Rising 10 companies to keep an eye on this year takes us beyond static spending data and reconnects industry's products and services with federal mission areas. And this change is, in many ways, a reflection of the new fiscal reality facing the government and its suppliers. It is no longer good enough to measure how much money government is spending on a particular problem or how much money a particular contractor has earned. Today, and for the foreseeable future, innovative, cost-effective capabilities that work and provide a measureable return on investment are what matter most."
As a U.S. citizen, all I can say to that is "Amen." Anyone familiar with Appian and the federal-focused content on this blog should know by now that we have a serious bone to pick with the rampant over-spending, time delays and generally-lowered expectations inherent in the traditional model of government IT procurement and development. Not only does Appian put truly innovative next-generation mobile, cloud and social process technology into government employees' hands (what we callworksocial); we do so at a fraction of the time and lifetime cost of [insert the rigid, monolithic, custom-coded system or packaged offering of your choice.]
HST's Appian write-up says it very well:
"One of the absolute necessities to come out of the federal budget crisis is the need for component agencies within the Department of Homeland Security to constantly find new, innovative and cost-effective ways to accomplish their missions. That's where Business Process Management (BPM) technology can make a difference...With more than 3.5 million users around the world, FISMA Moderate accreditation for its Appian Cloud offering, and a DHS enterprise being asked to do more with less, Appian is a company to watch in 2013."
Kudos also go to General Dynamics' Advanced Information Systems division and General Dynamics Information Technology (both of which are Appian customers) for their inclusion on the list due to their roles in supporting DHS' National Cybersecurity Protection System (NCPS). We're proud to be in such good company!
Ben Farrell
Director of Corporate Communications
Ben Farrell
