Policies changing one day and being revoked the next? Adapt quickly using feature management

Software development teams at government agencies already face a constant challenge in having to quickly adjust and implement policies while still meeting standards for compliance, security, and service continuity. However, rolling out policy-driven changes can be difficult due to the intricacies of traditional software deployment processes. When a new government policy is announced, making an unexpected change to a complex software development cycle can cause costly disruptions. This creates a significant challenge for teams who must change course quickly in response to rapidly shifting administrative mandates. 

Feature management, powered by LaunchDarkly, provides a modern approach to confronting these obstacles. Using feature flags, agencies can implement policy updates rapidly, more safely, and incrementally, without having to wait for the completion of lengthy development cycles or full system redeployments.

How feature flags enable agile policy implementation

Under pressure to respond to evolving mandates, executive orders, and regulatory requirements, federal agencies need a way to:

• Deploy changes quickly to meet deadlines without introducing risk
• Maintain security and compliance standards without waiting for full software releases
• Test and validate updates in real time before they impact all users
• Roll back changes instantly if unforeseen issues arise

Using feature flags for release management can help agencies achieve these goals. Feature flags work as dynamic switches in code, allowing developers to enable, disable, or modify features without redeploying applications. This provides several key advantages when adapting to policy changes.

Deploy policy updates without disrupting services

Instead of bundling policy-driven updates into significant, high-risk releases, agencies can use feature flags to deploy changes progressively. This means:

• Enabling policy updates instantly once they go into effect.
• Gradually rolling out changes to specific groups of users (for example, internal users first).
• Minimizing downtime and service interruptions for constituents.

For example, a government benefits program updating eligibility requirements can test how the policy change impacts its internal system by using feature flags. Developers can enable the new policy for internal teams first, gather and analyze metrics, and then extend the update to the entire system. 

Test and validate policy changes in real time

Agencies can use feature flags to test new policy implementations in production-like environments without affecting all users. This means:

• A/B testing different rule implementations to determine which works best.
• Rolling out changes to a small segment of users to monitor real-world impact.
• Quickly adjusting configurations based on live feedback.

For example, suppose an agency needs to enforce new cybersecurity logging requirements. Developers can test different implementations of the requirements before making them the default, ensuring that they work efficiently in production. 

Focus on security and compliance with controlled rollouts

Feature flags can help agencies stay compliant with federal mandates such as Zero Trust security principles, AI governance, and customer experience (CX) improvements by:

• Restricting new features to authorized users until they pass security reviews.
• Enforcing security policies dynamically (by granular targeting of user segments at the application layer).
• Providing audit logs for accountability and tracking.

For example, consider a scenario where a federal agency needs to comply with a new Executive Order on AI transparency. Feature flags can enable the agency to introduce AI implementation changes in phases, starting with an internal review before deploying them publicly.

Instantly roll back unintended consequences

Unlike traditional deployments where a problematic update requires a complete rollback or emergency patch, feature flags enable agencies to turn off faulty updates instantly without disrupting other systems.

• Found a compliance issue in a new policy rule? Disable the feature flag immediately.
• Receiving unexpected user complaints? Roll back the change while investigating.
• Need to revert to a previous policy version? Toggle back to the old logic instantly.

This enhances business continuity and mission assurance, helping to protect critical public services from being inadvertently disrupted by policy updates.

Empowering agencies to work smarter, not harder

By integrating feature flags into DevSecOps workflows, federal IT teams can respond to policy shifts with agility and stay ahead of changing requirements while continuing to serve the public effectively. To learn more about how feature management can support your agency’s mission, contact us today at usgovernment@launchdarkly.com.