The Buffalo Group: Solving Complex Technology Challenges for the Intelligence Community

It is all about looking at the whole problem or looking at the customer as holistic. But then, it is challenging in the Federal systems because they are broken, and we provide the bridge that could pull these pieces together. Our capabilities are our true reflection; it is what our customers need. We want to be a business that supports its customers, providing their needs. We can create those capabilities to support them.

Could you provide us with a success story where you helped your clients overcome the challenges they faced?

Within the Federal government or system, there are different components, but they all come under one umbrella. If anyone component in the system breaks, the entire system goes down. It is challenging to make changes in the vast system because it takes months to get the entire security process done. Now the systems are adaptable and can change with the demands in the field. We work with our customers to look at all the key parts of their application and create a roadmap accordingly. We help them give the best microservices architecture, one that is much more flexible, adaptable, and independent so that this problem is avoided. We are using the latest technologies in architecture to give them the most adaptable, f lexible solution going forward, and then we create the roadmap with them. We confidently engage with the customers, and get their feedback so that we can make some changes because it is the intelligence field, where things change daily.

What are the factors that differentiate your company from the rest of them in the field?

We are aware of what exactly we need to focus on. We are not building ships or creating a radar system. We focus on a very new world. We have an understanding of what our customers are going through and what they need. If you are in professional services, it is all about resources. A lot of time and energy goes into the development of our workforce, and it creates a physical, mental environment that is stimulating to them. We want to make sure that we have the best resources and that the workforce is satisfied and excited about their job. People here are passionate about the mission, they know they are making a difference, and that is most important to a services-based company. We are taking some of our best intelligence analysts, people who were previously our customers, and have a program where we turn them into technologists. As part of this, we give them ten weeks of intensive IT training, where the employees are given case studies. They go to classrooms, have homework, and are assigned a mentor to work with. It is because our company is aware that there is a significant boost to perspective when you pair and attune pure technologists & developers, people developing the technology, with those who really owned the mission, and understand the evolution in the operating environment that is taking place. The synergy is amazing. This way, we are building ample resources, which is necessary. We make sure that our people have in-depth, nuanced understanding, and with that, the leadership of the organization is able to become much more adaptable and responsive with their mindset toward the customer needs. This capability is the aspect that differentiates us from rest in the field.

Would you tell us about the company's future roadmap?

We are not taking significant steps in terms of changing direction. We do not aim to get wider; instead, our goal is to go deeper. The company wants to get better in touch with the customers, become a part of their problems. We strive to have our customers think of us as a part of our team. When they have a problem, they bring it, and we help them solve the problem, create a solution, and then implement that solution. The ultimate goal or roadmap is on our customers. If our customers indicate that they need extensive capabilities or services, then we are up to adapt ourselves accordingly.