Modernizing legacy systems while ensuring strict compliance and security is essential in today's fast-paced governmental landscape. In just six months, ASSYST delivered a federal agency's next-generation Personnel and Facility Access Tracking System by leveraging the Microsoft Power Platform and hosted within the Microsoft Government Community Cloud (GCC). 

The result? Enhanced real-time collaboration across agencies, streamlined case management, Privacy Act System of Record, and improved data security and compliance.

The Challenge: A Legacy System with Modern Collaboration Needs

The agency managed foreign personnel and facility access across multiple locations using a 20-year-old outdated, siloed legacy system that couldn't efficiently support modern, cross-agency collaboration. They required the rapid development of a solution capable of:

• Automating Manual Processes: Access requests were manual, leading to bottlenecks.
• Cross-Agency Data Exchange: Fragmented systems hampered secure data exchange and slowed operations servicing 75 disparate client sites and other Federal law enforcement, intelligence, and counterintelligence agencies.
• Data Confidentiality and Availability: In compliance with the customer's records policies, the Federal Records Act, and policies associated with safeguarding records covered by the Privacy Act, migrating and validating historical, current, descriptive, and reference data was essential to supporting the customer mission.
• Reporting: Detailed, complete, and accurate reporting is critical to providing insight data in response to congressional requests, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Counterintelligence communities.
• Single Sign-On: User identity and access rights will be authenticated with multi-factor authentication integrated with the customer's Enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution.
• Strict Compliance and Security: Given the sensitive nature of the data and high government standards, NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, OMB M-21-31 High Value Asset (HVA) System Advanced Event Logging (EL3), and Section 508 compliance were critical.

The Solution: A Low-Code Approach with Seamless Integration

To solve these challenges, ASSYST implemented an integrated solution using Microsoft Power Platform—a suite of low-code tools—including Power Apps, Power Automate, and SharePoint Online. These tools worked alongside Azure DevOps for a continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, allowing the system to be fully developed, tested, and deployed in just six months.

• Agile, Shift-Left Methodology: Our shift-left Agile sprint methodology allowed us to accelerate defect detection and continuously integrate improvements throughout the development cycle.
• Backend API Development and Optimization: Extensive backend API development supported complex workflows across multiple facilities, with optimized data upload and download management to handle high data volumes. These APIs facilitated seamless communication between external site-specific systems and the new platform, enabling real-time access control and information sharing. An interface was also developed to access historical data from the previous legacy systems.
• Agency Identity Management Integration: Our team enhances the solutions by integrating a secure agency Enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution through Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). This will enable Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and solution access using an agency-issued Personal Identity Verification (PIV) single sign-on with multi-factor authentication, ensuring that only authorized users can access the system and manage sensitive data. The solution will allow for automated provisioning, de-provisioning, and managing user identities across agencies, improving operational security. I

Key Technical Features: From Automation to Collaboration

ASSYST's solution was more than a system update; it was a technical overhaul that optimized the agency's handling of personnel and facility access.

• Power Apps for User Interface: Using a modular approach, we developed custom next-generation user interfaces (UI) in Power Apps to support different user roles (e.g., facility managers, personnel security, office of counterintelligence, and intelligence investigation officers), ensuring intuitive case management, enhanced user experience (UX), and real-time facilities access request updates.
• Automated Workflows with Power Automate: Using Power Automate, access requests were routed and approved in real time. Automated notifications and escalations ensured that approvals occurred without delays, minimizing bottlenecks.
• Secure Data Exchange and Inter-Agency Collaboration: The system enabled real-time collaboration across multiple facilities and agencies using Office 365 and SharePoint Online, breaking down data silos and ensuring secure data exchange. Azure AD will be integrated with the Enterprise IAM solution, providing identity management remains secure across all users.
• Reporting: Facility managers, personnel security, and investigation officers use reporting and personalized dashboards to gain actionable insights into personnel access patterns, trends, and anomalies. This reporting provides visibility into which personnel accessed specific facilities, improving operational efficiency, congressional reporting, intelligence, counterintelligence, and personnel security response.

Testing Center of Excellence 

Quality and security are core to our delivery, so the system underwent rigorous testing using ASSYST's Testing Center of Excellence (TACoE), which provided a comprehensive testing suite that included:

• End-to-End Integration Testing: We ensured that the new platform was fully integrated with existing systems such as Office 365, SharePoint Online, and legacy databases.
• Performance and Load Testing: Verified the system's ability to handle large-scale data uploads/downloads and high access request volumes across multiple agencies and facilities.
• Interoperability and Compatibility Testing: Confirmed that the platform worked across different devices, browsers, and environments, facilitating seamless cross-agency usage.
• Section 508 Compliance Testing: Ensured the system was fully accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, meeting government accessibility requirements.
• Automated Testing: Accelerated testing cycles using automated test scripts, ensuring continuous quality through the CI/CD pipeline.

Value: Key Technical Outcomes

ASSYST's implementation of this low-code solution delivered significant technical and operational benefits:

• Automated Access Control: The automated workflows reduced manual intervention and improved operational efficiency, reducing access request approval times by 70%.
• Seamless Multi-Agency Data Exchange: Real-time data sharing and collaboration capabilities improved security and response times across agencies and facilities.
• Real-Time Insights and Monitoring: Reporting and dashboards provided critical data to investigative officers and leadership, enabling informed decision-making and quick responses to security anomalies.
• Scalable and Compliant: The platform was built to scale as the agency expanded, maintaining full GCC compliance and meeting strict federal security and privacy standards.

Impact: Driving Innovation with Low-Code Solutions

ASSYST's deployment of this low-code solution on Microsoft Power Platform showcases how leveraging automation, secure identity management, and backend API optimization can modernize government agency operations. Our shift-left Agile methodology, Azure AD integration, and TACoE testing framework delivered a scalable, secure, and compliant system that enables real-time inter-agency collaboration and enhanced facility access management.

ASSYST's Microsoft Azure Practice

As a Microsoft Certified Partner for over 20 years, ASSYST was an early adopter of Microsoft technologies such as .Net, SharePoint, Dynamics CRM, Microsoft 365, Office 365, Army 365, SQL Server, and the Power Platform. Since 2003, we have rolled out SharePoint solutions to customers in several sectors, including defense, federal / state / local government agencies, multilateral institutions, non-profit organizations, and healthcare establishments. ASSYST's industry-recognized development practice covers the full spectrum of SharePoint, O365/M365/A365, Microsoft Power Platform, and Microsoft Azure, which enables us to rapidly develop enterprise solutions compatible with any architecture, regardless of a public, private, or hybrid infrastructure. Our tailored approach allows us to build customer solutions with future compatibility and scalability in mind. Our development team has deep expertise in creating custom applications utilizing Microsoft's Power Fx low-code programming language for expressing logic and .NET solutions across the Power Platform that may reside outside a SharePoint or O365 platform or interact with it to meet a specific business requirement. We deploy scalable, innovative solutions using Azure Cognitive Services for AI capabilities, Azure Machine Learning (Azure ML) for advanced model building and deployment, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for container management and scaling. Our expertise extends to Fabric, which integrates and manages data seamlessly across various environments, enhancing data governance and enabling advanced analytics. We also utilize Azure Purview for comprehensive data governance, Databricks for big data processing, Azure OpenAI for cutting-edge AI applications, and Azure Sentinel for intelligent security monitoring. ASSYST is a prime vendor for several large task orders, providing extensive cloud transformation, systems modernization, and solution enhancements to customer collaboration, knowledge management, and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.

ASSYST, a leading provider of innovative IT solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the IT Staff Augmentation Contract (ITSAC) by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to provide a full suite of technology services to state and local governments. This contract enables ASSYST to offer its comprehensive expertise through DIR’s Cooperative Contracts Program, empowering Texas government agencies to enhance their technology capabilities and streamline operations.

Under this new contract, ASSYST will deliver a wide range of Information Technology services, including:

• Applications/Software Development
• Data/Database Administration
• Web Development
• Quality Assurance (QA) and Testing
• Networking/Telecommunications
• Security Services
• Project Management
• Technical Services
• Help Desk and Operations
• Information Technology Services Management (ITSM Operations)
• IT Marketing
• Information Technology Contracting and Procurement

ASSYST will extend its expert talent and innovative solutions to support Texas agencies in advancing their technology infrastructure, enhancing security, and delivering exceptional services to their communities.

DIR Contract Information: Click Here

ASSYST Contract Vehicle: Click Here

“We are honored to support the State of Texas in its mission to deliver secure, efficient, and innovative IT services and deliver next generation public services,” said Khalil Zebdi, EVP - Business Development at ASSYST. “This contract underscores our commitment to providing tailored solutions that help government agencies thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

About DIR
The mission of the Texas Department of Information Resources is to serve the Texas government by leading the state’s technology strategy, protecting state technology infrastructure, and offering innovative and cost-effective solutions for all levels of government. Visit DIR, Click Here

About ASSYST
Established in 1993, ASSYST has built a reputation as a trusted technology solutions provider known for implementing advanced technologies and delivering proven processes that drive measurable results. Our expertise spans DevSecOps, AI/ML, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solutions, ERP integration, program and project management, test automation, and quality assurance. What truly sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality, passion for innovation, and a team of expert professionals dedicated to achieving client success.

Serving over 40 government agencies as a prime contractor, we ensure alignment with the technology strategies, standards, and investment priorities of Federal, State, and Local governments (Customers). Beyond technology, we are deeply committed to talent development through initiatives like the Green Accelerator Platform and the ASSYST-Talent-Network, nurturing the next generation of professionals. This dedication reflects our broader mission to lead in cutting-edge technology and contribute to the IT industry's growth and evolution.

Contact

Khalil Zebdi, EVP - Business Development , kzebdi@assyst.net

Background

National Security Education Program (NSEP) within DLNSEO and Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA), part of a Fourth Estate defense organization, has a mission to develop a strategic partnership between the DoD, the national security community, and eligible U.S. Citizens to address human capital need for experts in language, regional expertise, and global culture. Their office aims to enhance the federal sector's capacity to deal effectively with challenging global issues of the 21st century.

Challenge

NSEP needed to modernize its portfolio of web applications, grant management systems, databases, and external communication systems. It required a highly reliable, scalable, and capable vendor to handle the complexity and scale of its operations. One key challenge was managing seasonal surges in grant applications without interruptions—something its previous infrastructure struggled with. Persistent uptime, scalability, and performance issues hindered mission-critical operations.

Their legacy infrastructure had become a bottleneck, making it difficult to scale and adapt to changing needs. To overcome this, NSEP needed a trusted partner who could ensure a seamless migration to a more modern, cloud-based system.

Solution 

ASSYST conducted a thorough assessment and recommended Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud as the ideal solution. Using AWS's Well-Architected Framework, we built a secure, reliable, and efficient infrastructure based on key principles like operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization.

NSEP leveraged several AWS GovCloud services;

• Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Elastic Block Store (EBS): Scalable compute capacity and flexible storage for critical applications.
• Simple Storage Service (S3) and Glacier: Secure, scalable storage for data, with cost-effective long-term archiving.
• Relational Database Service (RDS): Supports mission-critical applications with automated backups and disaster recovery.
• CloudFormation: Automates infrastructure provisioning for consistent resource management.
• Database Migration Service: Seamless migration with minimal downtime.
• CloudWatch and CloudTrail: Real-time monitoring and operational visibility for compliance and troubleshooting.
• Trusted Advisor: Provides recommendations to enhance security, performance, and cost-efficiency.
• Lambda: Enables serverless code execution, improving efficiency without managing servers.
• Virtual Private Cloud (VPC): Creates a secure network environment that meets stringent federal security requirements.

Outcomes 

The migration to AWS GovCloud addressed NSEP's immediate challenges and set the stage for future growth. Key improvements included:

• Operational Excellence: Automation and streamlined processes improved incident management and operational effectiveness.
• Security: The GovCloud environment met federal security standards, ensuring data protection and strong identity management.
• Reliability: The new platform provides integrated disaster recovery, ensuring critical services remain available during failures.
• Performance Efficiency: Dynamic scaling optimizes resource use, maintaining performance during peak demand.
• Cost Optimization: Reduced operational overhead and optimized resource usage lowered the total cost of ownership, enabling cost-effective operations.

ASSYST Cloud Capabilities

ASSYST provides a comprehensive range of cloud services, empowering organizations to build, deploy, and manage applications and infrastructure across platforms and Cloud Service Provdiers. Our offerings include cloud platform services for analytics, data lakes, AI/ML, low-code development, serverless computing, and storage. ASSYST also specializes in cloud-native development using containers, microservices, and serverless technologies, helping organizations quickly scale their applications. We offer migration services, ensuring smooth transitions from on-premise systems to cloud environments with continuous monitoring, optimization, and ongoing support.

ASSYST integrates DevSecOps practices into its cloud services, emphasizing automation and security throughout the CI/CD pipeline. With automated development processes, container security, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), their approach ensures robust security and operational efficiency. ASSYST's Green Accelerator Platform (AssystGA) further enhances development speed, offering an integrated design, code generation, and deployment platform. It enables rapid prototyping and MVP development with collaborative tools, UI, API, and workflow acceleration, and easy scalability.

Beyond traditional cloud services, ASSYST prepares customers to take advantage of advanced AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities. These capabilities allow organizations to train AI models, extract insights, and index data for quick retrieval. These services help optimize cloud infrastructure, reduce on-premise costs, and enhance scalability. 

ASSYST is pleased to announce that we have won two new task orders under the Army ITES-3S IDIQ from Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, Fort Dix, New Jersey, and the Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Under these contracts, ASSYST and its partners will provide systems and infrastructure support for video, teleconferencing, printing, real-time digital communication, and collaboration solutions.

“ As the prime contractor for ITES-3S, we are dedicated to delivering top-value solutions and leading-edge technology to support our service members “, remarked Loren Gray,  Army Program Manager, ASSYST.

About Army CHESS ITES-3S IDIQ

ITES-3S offers decentralized ordering with no contract access fee charged to agencies awarding against it. The base ordering period of performance is from September 25, 2018, to September 24, 2023, with five option years. This contract is managed by the US Army’s Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) program and Army Contracting Command, Rock Island (ACC-RI). Service Areas include Cybersecurity Services, Information Technology Services, Enterprise Design, Integration, Consolidation, Network/Systems Operation and Maintenance, Telecommunications/Systems Operation and Maintenance, Business Process Reengineering (BPR), IT Supply Chain Management, IT Education and Training.

ASSYST ITES-3S IDIQ Program Contacts:

Eugene Goldlust  | LinkedIn

Loren Gray | LinkedIn

Tel: 703-230-3100 

Email: ites3s@assyst.net

ITES-3S Web Page : https://assyst.net/contracts/Army-ITES3S-IDIQ 

Overview

The Health and Human Services (HHS) agency manages billions of dollars in health insurance programs, generating extensive security-related data crucial for its internal operations. To improve data accessibility within the Security Data Lake ecosystem, ASSYST introduced an advanced chatbot powered by a Large Language Model (LLM) using Generative AI. This chatbot serves key internal stakeholders, including CISOs, SOC teams, Application Development Teams, DevSecOps, and Compliance Teams, by providing precise and immediate access to metadata and security data descriptions. This enhancement supports smarter, faster decision-making and opens new avenues for analytics and AI use cases. Let's delve into the Strategic Transformation in Data Accessibility and Management.

Challenges

The agency required assistance in managing and accessing large volumes of security-related data. Internal teams needed an intuitive and efficient solution to quickly retrieve relevant information without requiring extensive technical expertise. Simplifying data retrieval while enhancing security and compliance operations was crucial. Moreover, the need to support advanced analytics and AI-driven insights added another layer of complexity.

Solution

ASSYST has developed a sophisticated LLM-powered chatbot uniquely tailored to the specific needs of internal teams. This chatbot stands out because it can access metadata from the primary documentation database within Snowflake and locate appropriate public views under the public schema, which can be queried using SQL. Users interact with the chatbot to query data directly from the backend, with the system ensuring that sensitive security measures are preserved. The chatbot efficiently retrieves relevant metadata and descriptions from the data catalog, providing users with the information they need while maintaining the integrity and security of the data.

Solution Architecture

To push the boundaries of contextual reasoning, ASSYST’s use of Agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) allows the AI to intelligently retain, manage, and apply relevant context over time. This means the chatbot not only responds accurately in the moment but also improves its understanding of user needs with each interaction. By reducing unnecessary processing and surfacing only what’s most relevant, the chatbot delivers faster, smarter, and more contextual responses, empowering teams to make better informed decisions.

The deployment strategy involves hosting the LLM on an EC2 instance, with an API facilitating access to the documentation database table or view. Scheduled data runs on Snowflake store information locally on the EC2 instance, reducing network requests. The front end features a Chatbot-style interface built with ReactJS, accessible on the intranet workspace and via a dedicated webpage. It leverages Nginx and Kubernetes for robust performance.

Users interact with the chatbot interface, which is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, to request and receive information about the data. The chatbot clarifies data location and relevance, while the LLM performs sophisticated query operations, parsing and interpreting structured metadata from Snowflake's database. Advanced in-memory data processing techniques ensure contextually accurate and detailed responses. The solution supports future enhancements, including advanced NLP and integration with AI-driven tools for enhanced data insights.

Metrics and Outcomes

The chatbot has significantly empowered our internal teams, allowing them to quickly locate and interpret complex security data with minimal specialized skills. It has accelerated response times, enabling SOC and DevSecOps teams to make faster, informed decisions through natural language queries. High adoption rates across security, compliance, and development teams reflect the chatbot’s effectiveness. Streamlined workflows and reduced navigation time through complex data systems have led to considerable gains in operational efficiency.

Realized Benefits

ASSYST’s AI-powered chatbot has transformed data accessibility within the HHS agency’s Security Data Lake. By addressing the specific needs of internal teams and leveraging advanced AI technology, the chatbot enhances decision-making and boosts operational performance while maintaining robust security protocols. This enhancement instills confidence in the user experience. It paves the way for advancements in advanced analytics, AI-driven insights, and future innovations, ensuring continued success in managing and utilizing critical security data.

ASSYST AI Services

The ASSYST AI Center of Excellence (CoE) partners with customers and their internal business and technology teams to embed AI expertise, enhancing agility and growth as AI matures. The CoE provides AI resources, training, and best practices, embedding data scientists, machine learning experts, and product managers into project teams to work closely with domain experts. Clear communication channels ensure ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing. The CoE evaluates Agentic AI use cases, prioritizing them based on impact, feasibility, and strategic alignment. These use cases may include automating repetitive tasks, enhancing customer experiences, improving communication strategies by identifying user behavior patterns, and detecting fraud or anomalies in financial transactions. For instance, AI can be used to automate the identification and flagging of potential security threats, thereby enhancing the efficiency of Security Operations Center (SOC) teams. 

We leverage the ASSYST Green Accelerator Program and solutions like Collab AI and ComplySyncAI to deliver accelerators that support these use cases. We focus on data collection, preprocessing, and ensuring data quality and privacy. Model development leverages algorithms such as decision trees, support vector machines, and neural networks with precise training, validation, and performance assessment. By incorporating and committing to human-centered design principles, we deliver intuitive, user-friendly, responsible, and humane AI solutions that meet end-users' needs.

Let’s discuss your AI Use Case.

The regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly, with an increasing focus on health data interoperability, adopting industry standards, and using real-world data. In this context, the FDA’s Electronic Submissions Gateway (ESG) stands as a vital platform, handling over 10 million transactions annually and processing files ranging from 100GB to 1TB. ASSYST is critical in supporting the FDA’s mission to process data from the major Trading Partners, including AERS, CDER, CBER, CDRH, CVM, OC, CTP, ACA, GDUFA, CFSAN, and Health Canada. ESG Handles Large File Processing and supports Multiple Data and File Formats, including HL7, FHIR, and XML.

As regulatory requirements grow more complex, the demand for seamless data exchange and integration across systems is becoming increasingly important. The shift towards health data interoperability reflects broader industry trends, emphasizing the need for consistency and accuracy in data handling. Moreover, the increasing reliance on real-world data enhances regulatory decision-making and public health outcomes.

ASSYST’s initiatives within ESG align with these industry trends, providing a scalable and secure platform that meets current regulatory needs while adapting to future demands for data interoperability and evidence-based insights. By integrating emerging standards and leveraging real-world data, ASSYST ensures the ESG remains central in navigating the complex and dynamic regulatory environment.
 

A Vision of Seamless Integration and Security

ASSYST’s work with the FDA extends beyond support, involving key Bureaus like CDER, CBER, CDRH, OC, and Health Canada. Our vision was to create an ESG that meets and exceeds expectations in scalability and security. Leveraging AWS services, including a multi-AZ strategy and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), we developed a resilient and adaptable infrastructure that ensures peak performance, even during partner onboarding and with massive data loads.

Security is a top priority. Through DevSecOps, we integrated security throughout every development phase, employing automated security scans, compliance checks, and continuous monitoring. This approach meets stringent federal standards such as FISMA and FedRAMP, protecting the system from threats while ensuring compliance.
 

Streamlining Operations with Automation

Efficiency is central to our strategy, and we leverage a robust suite of AWS services to enhance the FDA’s Electronic Submissions Gateway. We utilize CI/CD pipelines with CodeCommit, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy, transforming code deployment and management, reducing errors, and accelerating updates. Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) and Elastic Container Registry (ECR) streamline the deployment of containerized applications, while Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) and Auto Scaling Groups (ASG) ensure optimal performance and scalability.

Security is reinforced with Security Groups (SG) for network protection, and continuous monitoring is maintained through CloudWatch and CloudTrail, providing operational insights and compliance tracking. The infrastructure is further supported by RDS for Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL and managed within a secure VPC environment. CloudFormation orchestrates the deployment and management of these resources, ensuring consistency and efficiency throughout the ESG system.

Enhancing User Experience with Human-Centered Design

Our commitment to the FDA also includes a focus on user experience. By applying Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles, we redesigned the ESG interface to be more intuitive and responsive. Using tools like React.js, we created a modern, user-friendly experience that simplifies the submission process, improves accuracy, and reduces operational overhead. ASSYST also provides end-to-end facilitation for FDA Partner support through self-service tools and a Help Desk.

A Commitment to Excellence

ASSYST’s enhancements to the ESG were particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the system’s high availability when needed most. Our work in scaling the infrastructure, automating processes, and enhancing the user experience has led to smoother and more efficient regulatory submissions, benefitting public health and safety on a broad scale. One of the innovation initiatives, ASSYST, developed a proof of concept for FDA ESG to help end users find answers to their questions easily and quickly using an AI-powered chatbot that operates 24/7 and can be handed over to live agents during business hours. The purpose of the prototype solution was to improve help desk support and reduce costs. This initiative and our commitment to excellence have demonstrated our ability to deliver impactful solutions, even in challenging circumstances.

Impact Delivered

ASSYST’s transformation of the FDA’s ESG has resulted in significant improvements across the regulatory submission process. By enhancing time efficiency, we’ve enabled same-day submissions that were previously unattainable. Reducing reliance on paper-based processes has minimized administrative overhead and cut down on shipping costs. Our system optimizations have facilitated seamless electronic acknowledgments, ensuring timely confirmations of successful transmissions. This comprehensive approach has aligned regulatory processes with modern digital practices and significantly enhanced overall efficiency and effectiveness in safeguarding public health, leaving a lasting impression on the industry.
 

About ASSYST

ASSYST is a key partner in technology modernization for government agencies across important sectors. Serving clients like the CMS, CDC, PSC, ONC, HRSA, IRS, EEOC, and NRC, we use our Green Accelerator program to support multi-cloud adoption, streamline processes, and cut technology overhead. Our extensive experience and expertise in technology modernization instill confidence that government systems are in good hands, ready for today’s demands and future success.

🌟 Wrapping Up the ASSYST Smart Start Internship Program - 2024! 🌟

Thank you to our amazing interns for your hard work and fresh ideas. We’re proud to have been part of your journey. Here’s to your bright future! 

Read More...on LinkedIn

CDC’s  Division of HIV Prevention (DHP) leads high-impact HIV prevention efforts, focusing on reducing new infections, improving health outcomes, and addressing disparities. The Behavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch (BCSB) implements rigorous HIV surveillance, while the Prevention Communication Branch (PCB) manages communications and campaigns. The Medical Monitoring Project (MMP), coordinated by BCSB, gathers vital data through annual surveys to inform national HIV strategies and initiatives.

Under the contract, ASSYST will develop, support, and maintain the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) Meta Database and the PCB Metrics Database. The Task Order has been awarded under the NIH NITAAC CIO-SP3 Small Business GWAC.

“ We're proud to support the CDC DHP's vital mission in combating HIV," said Khalil Zebdi, EVP of Federal Business Development. Modernizing these key databases will enhance our ability to track, report, and ultimately reduce the impact of HIV across the nation.

Khalil Zebdi, EVP - Federal Business Development | LinkedIn

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About ASSYST HealthIT Services

ASSYST, a Health IT Systems Integrator and Platform Solutions provider, brings over 25 years of unwavering commitment and experience in the healthcare industry. Our track record of supporting US government health and human services agencies, research organizations, and nonprofits in delivering high-quality health and wellness services, including notable projects with CMS, CDC, FDA, HRSA, PSC, and various State and Local Government HHS agencies, reassures our clients of our capabilities.

Our long-standing commitment to Health Data Interoperability is exemplified by our Hephaestus platform, a unique solution that promotes the adoption of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®). This platform is designed to [unique features], showcasing our innovative approach to health data interoperability. We excel in providing solutions for data interoperability, exchange, compliance, and dissemination, supporting standards such as XML, GJXDM, NIEM, XBRL, EDI, X12, and SDMX. As an HL7 Gold Level and NCPDP community member, ASSYST continues to drive innovation in health data interoperability to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.

Looking ahead, we are excited about our goals. We are dedicated to expanding our capabilities and partnerships to advance further the integration and use of health data across systems, ensuring improved outcomes and efficiency in healthcare delivery. This commitment to growth and innovation should inspire optimism in our clients and partners.

Overview

ASSYST partnered with a Global Development Financial Institution to develop an advanced AI-based Budget and Business Intelligence Chatbot. Powered by the Microsoft AI Stack, this solution is designed to streamline financial management, risk assessment, and budgeting processes across corporate and global development projects. The chatbot integrates a Chat UI into users' daily routines and workflows, enhancing employee productivity by automating routine tasks and providing secure, role-based access to information. It also centralizes data, supports self-service capabilities, and ensures interoperability with existing systems. The chatbot provides real-time insights and scalable solutions by enhancing knowledge management and facilitating effective process discovery, thereby significantly improving operational efficiency and decision-making throughout the institution.

Challenges

The institution faced several significant challenges. Business administration, IT, and financial data were dispersed across multiple systems, making it difficult to catalog and present a unified view. Traditional manual methods of aggregating reports were time-consuming, error-prone, and resource-intensive, hampering operational efficiency. As the institution expanded and diversified, managing and locating data effectively became increasingly complex.

Solution

ASSYST proposed an intuitive and intelligent chatbot application to address these challenges. The chatbot automates the discovery of FAQs by continuously analyzing user queries and system interactions, providing information about systems by accessing relevant databases and documents, and extracting insights from diverse data sources using advanced AI algorithms. This approach reduces the time and effort required for analysis, thereby improving overall operational efficiency.

Key features of the solution include:

• Streamlined Automation: The chatbot utilizes Azure AI Search to extract insights and identify frequently asked questions, thereby significantly enhancing operational efficiency.
• Specialized AI Assistants: Multiple bots were developed, each tailored to specific focus areas. These bots facilitate human-like conversations with enterprise data, including documents, making it easier for users to interact with and extract information from complex datasets.
• LLM Capabilities: By integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Azure OpenAI’s GPT-4, the chatbot can summarize information, answer basic queries, and perform semantic searches, improving accessibility to insights.
• The chatbot’s interface is designed with the user in mind, ensuring that technical knowledge is not a barrier to accessing data and insights. This user-friendly design makes the system easily accessible to all users, promoting a sense of comfort and ease.
• Agentic AI with Model Context Protocol (MCP): To further elevate intelligence and adaptability, the chatbot incorporates Agentic AI powered by the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This structured framework allows the AI to autonomously retrain, update, and apply relevant contextual knowledge across interactions. As a result, the chatbot delivers smarter, more personalized responses, thereby minimizing redundant processing, improving performance & deepening its understanding of user intent.

Agentic AI Architecture

The solution is implemented across three distinct channels:

1. Chatbot for Analytics: This application enables users to gain insights into complex data through intelligent, conversational interactions. Integration with Microsoft Teams enhances accessibility and usability.
2. FAQ Bot: Designed for corporate budgeting needs, this bot provides intelligent responses to frequently asked questions related to procurement, budgeting, and administration. Using the Azure AI-Language service, it retrieves accurate information relevant to user queries.
3. Enterprise Application Bot: Integrated with various enterprise applications, this bot offers brief descriptions and links to relevant applications, guiding users based on their specific needs.

Notable features include Microsoft Teams integration and functionalities similar to ChatGPT, such as PDF summarization, data extraction from PDFs, and database connectivity. Users can provide feedback, and the system suggests actions such as initiating a call to the IT team, directing users to IT Helpdesk chat support, or offering email support.

Technology Stack

The project utilized an advanced technology stack to support the solution. The core AI infrastructure was based on the Microsoft Azure Stack, with LLM capabilities provided by Azure OpenAI (GPT-4). The user interface was built using ReactJS, ensuring an intuitive and responsive experience. The Semantic Kernel handled AI orchestration and meta-prompt management, while Azure Search, enhanced with Cognitive Search, provided memory and search capabilities. Throughout the project, data security and trust were given top priority. Institutional data remained secure, with fine-tuned data securely maintained within the subscription, emphasizing data sovereignty and customer copyright for applications built on the Azure OpenAI Service. This approach underscores our commitment to implementing ethical and responsible AI, ensuring the system's safety and reliability.

Impact

The AI-based Budget and Business Intelligence Chatbot has profoundly transformed the user experience of financial and budgeting systems by introducing innovative interaction modes. This solution has enhanced financial insights, streamlined budgeting processes, and improved risk management by addressing challenges such as scattered systems, manual inefficiencies, and increasing complexity. Beyond these improvements, the chatbot has significantly elevated broader knowledge gain and process literacy within the organization. By offering intuitive access to complex data and delivering clear, actionable insights, it has empowered users to better understand and navigate financial systems, resulting in a more informed and capable workforce. The chatbot’s capabilities in autonomous data analysis, dynamic reporting, and user-friendly interaction have driven sustainable improvements and increased overall efficiency.

ASSYST AI Services

The ASSYST AI Center of Excellence (CoE) partners with customers and their internal business and technology teams to embed AI expertise, enhancing agility and growth as AI matures. The CoE provides AI resources, training, and best practices, embedding data scientists, machine learning experts, and product managers into project teams to work closely with domain experts. Clear communication channels ensure ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The CoE evaluates Agentic AI use cases, prioritizing them based on impact, feasibility, and strategic alignment. These use cases may include automating repetitive tasks, enhancing customer experiences, improving communication strategies by identifying user behavior patterns, and detecting fraud or anomalies in financial transactions. For instance, AI can be used to automate the identification and flagging of potential security threats, thereby enhancing the efficiency of Security Operations Center (SOC) teams. 

We leverage the ASSYST Green Accelerator Program and solutions like Collab AI and ComplySyncAI to deliver accelerators that support these use cases. We focus on data collection, preprocessing, and ensuring the quality and privacy of the data. Model development leverages algorithms such as decision trees, support vector machines, and neural networks with precise training, validation, and performance assessment. By incorporating and committing to human-centered design principles, we deliver intuitive, user-friendly, responsible, and humane AI solutions that meet the needs of end-users.

Let’s discuss your Agentic AI Use Case.

ASSYST received a contract award for maintaining and operating the Cost Activity Code System (CACS). We are honored to have continuously served the NRC, providing technological capabilities and solutions integral to the Agency's mission and regulatory programs. 

Khalil Zebdi, EVP of Federal Business Development, ASSYST, said, " Our digital transformation and application modernization focus on delivering innovative approaches to operational excellence to regulatory agencies and enabling them to adopt Cloud and AI capabilities securely."

Khalil Zebdi, LinkedIn