Contributor: Anthony Dezonno, Chief Engineer, Boeing
In a time when technology is evolving faster than most organizations can adapt, secure integration has become the new frontier of innovation. Businesses and government entities alike are pushing toward digital transformation, yet many still treat security as a constraint—something to be bolted on after a system is already in motion.
The truth is, security done right fuels innovation.
At the heart of this shift is the Systems Software Integrator (SSI) framework, which supports a new generation of professionals capable of designing, integrating, and defending complex systems with agility and foresight. One of the key competencies that drives this transformation is “Interface Requirements and Protocol Management.”
This competency highlights a strategic opportunity: well-defined, secure interfaces do more than just protect systems. They enable systems to scale, evolve, and innovate confidently.
When systems are integrated securely:
Organizations that embrace secure integration as a pillar of innovation empower every team involved in the system lifecycle—from engineering to operations to compliance. Instead of slowing progress, SSI-aligned practices create a foundation for secure agility.
The result? A competitive edge rooted not just in speed or features, but in trust. Clients, users, and stakeholders can move forward knowing that the systems they rely on were built with both resilience and performance in mind.
Cyber innovation isn’t just about cutting-edge tech; it’s about building systems that are both secure and future-ready. And that starts where the SSI framework lives, at the nexus of systems integration and cyber strategy.
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Anthony Dezonno serves as Chief Engineer for Boeing’s Open Source Program Office. He specializes in intellectual property concerns surrounding engineering. He is listed as inventor in over 100 patents worldwide, and referenced in more than 2,000 patents. He has a broad skillset that includes innovation & intellectual property management, program management, project management, open source licensing, hardware engineering, systems development, engineering & supplier management, software export & import requirements.