Feds at the Edge

For the video of this podcast: How Agencies Can Adopt AI Swiftly & Securely

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

Artificial Intelligence saves consumers and businesses time and resources by instantly producing content and images. But where does it fit in helping agencies serve the mission?

Karen Hay, Digital Health Transformation Lead for the Global Public Sector with Salesforce sums it up perfectly, "Generative AI can unlock the knowledge trapped in data."

This week on Feds At the Edge, we explore how this innovative technology can revolutionize the way our government runs.

A guideline for data collection, use and sharing when utilizing AI.

Utilizing AI to protect personal data information

Analytics AI can provide on predicting real world event such as traffic patterns, crime patterns, and sound recognition to localize pothole locations and even the sound of gunshots.

Tune in on your favorite podcasting platform to hear our experts discuss applying AI in a fast and secure manner while giving you the basic building blocks for success.

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

While always looking for ways to stay connected with the citizens they serve, Government institutions continually face the challenge of improving citizen services while they remain understaffed and underfunded.

This week on Feds At the Edge, we pose the question; Can modern technology like AI be successfully implemented within an agency's allotted budget and set a new standard for citizen service?

Amanda Nabours, IT Architect of the Emerging Technology Advisory Panel with Dallas, Texas believes the answer begins with data and ends with workforce training. Agencies must prevent bias and protect privacy, but the key to a successful deployment of AI provided assistance lies in the proper training of their employees.

Tony Orlando, General Manager of Data and AI with Google Public Sector sites six models to improve the citizen experience utilizing AI's speed of response, and automation of reporting tasks that will ultimately provide a better personal experience.

Tune in on your favorite podcasting platform to hear our experts weigh in on this great practical application for AI in Government.

For the video of this podcast: Challenges of Continuous Compliance with a Remote Workforce

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

Compliance is difficult enough in an air-conditioned data center, so for those out on the edge with spotty communication and potential bullets flying around, it could be near impossible. Despite this disruption, newly coined Denied Disconnected Latent, or DDL, when communications are restored, compliance still must be maintained.

This week on Feds At the Edge, we offer some perspectives on how to manage this arduous task. We'll explore how the developers who deploy the application may not be the ones responsible for endpoint security, and how these two needs to continually be in sync.

Checking compliance during the regular maintenance process & transferring information.

The tools needed to automate this once manual process now in a state of profusion.

Federated vs. centralized compliance.

Defining "end points" in an As-A-Service world.

Tune in on your favorite podcasting platform to hear our experts weigh in.

For the video of this podcast: The Cyber Wild West is Still Wild

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

When the United States expanded westward, citizens found that surprise could lurk around any corner, earning the nickname "the wild west." Today, with unlimited storage, fast speeds, and artificial intelligence, our technical landscape can and should be considered just as wild.

This week on Feds At the Edge, we've gathered federal experts who corral malicious code and prevent bad actors from robbing you blind.

Marisol Cruz Cain, Director of Information and Cybersecurity Team for US GAO, highlights some of the unpublicized aspects of AI, like its ability to rewrite code which can make attribution difficult.

Paul Blahusch, CISO for the Department of Labor, shares where agencies should anticipate weaknesses and how funding should be appropriated.

JD Jack, General Manager for Google Public Sector Cybersecurity, talks how "security validation" can show you how to look at the tools you have, and find a way to evaluate them.

We also discuss "red" teams, independent groups used to attack a system to find any unanticipated weaknesses that need to be addressed.

Tune in now on your favorite podcasting platform to hear our experts weigh in on protecting your assets in the current "wild west" environment.

For the video of this podcast: Breaking the System into Tiny Little Pieces: a DoD approach to Zero Trust and micro segmentation.

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

Four years ago, conversations among thought leaders focused on getting over the hurdle of defining Zero Trust Architecture so both private and public sector organizations could recognize and enjoy its benefits.

Today, we move to the "hows" of implementation, and turn focus to micro-segmentation. This week on Feds At the Edge, we are breaking the system into tiny little pieces.

Angelica Phaneuf, CISO with US Army Software Factory (formerly Kessel Run) known for their innovations, offers practical tips for deploying ZTA, emphasizing assembling a diverse toolkit for micro-segmentation success.

Dr. Cyril "Mark" Taylor, Chief Technical Officer of Communications for United States Special Operations Command, leans on his experience with the military, where teams have well defined goals to make successful transitions.

Patrick Thompson, Director of Infrastructure for the US Coast Guard showcases their leap forward with high-speed satellite services, turning ships into what he calls floating data centers.

And Dave Zukowski, Director of Defense Solutions for the Public Sector with Akamai Technologies warns of the risk factors, reminding everyone just because you can integrate systems, doesn't mean you should.

Tune in now on your favorite podcasting platform to hear our experts weigh in on pushing boundaries and transforming how we approach security and technology.

For the video of this podcast: Unlocking Modernization with AI Management: Meeting the Mission Imperative

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

Unlocking Modernization with AI Management: Meeting the Mission Imperative (E144) While AI is not the panacea to solve all federal technology problems, it does hold promise to be an assist to federal agencies. Cautiously, agencies are exploring how AI can help meet their missions.

In this week's Feds At the Edge, agency and industry thought leaders share their thoughts on two of the biggest issues agencies face while implementing AI:

Legacy Systems – Can they be upgraded? Should they be? Risk – Oversight, false information and other considerations AI will include in its decision making. Kevin Walsh, Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity for U.S. GAO, shares how a broad stroke approach may not be the answer, especially when it comes to legacy systems. He warns of the risks that every agency should have top of mind.

Pritha Mehra, Chief information Officer and Executive Vice President for USPS, showcases how the Post Office is leveraging AI to enhance services, optimize delivery times, and tackle supply chain issues.

With guidelines available, and successful case studies, AI will be the next advancement in improving agency missions. Tune in now on your favorite Podcasting Platform.

For the video of this podcast: Generative AI in Government

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

With the release of Chat GPT, there was an explosion of people lauding the benefit of vacuuming up previous knowledge and presenting it in many formats at the touch of a button. As technology evolved, headlines everywhere sang the praises of possibilities with Generative AI, but serious glitches such as producing narratives with factual inaccuracies make for troubling results.

This week on Feds At the Edge, we showcase some successes Federal agencies have had with Generative AI, but also the aspects they should be aware of including concepts like hallucinations, test beds, and establishing trust.

Sukhvinder Singh, CTO, Responsible AI Official, & Division Chief, Information & Process Management Division for USAID, shares how setting up a test bed will allow federal leaders to experiment with data, try governance processes and gain an understanding of cost while avoiding "hallucinations," a common term in the field for results that are entertaining, but frustratingly inaccurate.

Balaji Subramaniam, Director, Information Technology for TSA explores how organizations that have public-facing websites like theirs are seeking to utilize Generative AI in a completely different way, where it provides repeatable operational responses.

Tune in now on your favorite Podcasting platform to hear our experts weigh in on which use cases can make this innovative technology sustainable and trustworthy.

For the video of this podcast: Facing the Challenges AI Poses

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

The artificial intelligence landscape is rapidly changing, and we pose the question- can agencies keep up?

With programs like ChatGPT, portrayed as the answer to every conceivable problem for the beleaguered federal technology professional, this week on Feds At the Edge, we delve into how agencies can leverage these advancements while managing the risks associated with them

Mangala Kuppa, CTO & Responsible AI Officer for the Department of Labor, highlights the importance for tailored approaches, warning against assuming universal solution will always work

Kurt Steege, CTO for ThunderCat Technology, sheds light on AI's dark side, citing instances like Dark Bard, Poison GPT, and Deep Fakes as cautionary tales.

And Julian Zottl, CTO for Cyber Protection Solutions at Raytheon, emphasizes the inevitability of AI's role in defense against such threats due to its speed advantage over humans.

Tune in now on your favorite Podcasting platform to hear our experts weigh in on the crucial considerations of governance, goal alignment and accountability in crafting effective AI frameworks for government agencies.

For the video of this podcast: Tapping into the Strategic Power of Data

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

Years ago, Federal leaders would dream of getting terabytes of data; few thought we would have more computing power than trusted information.

This week on Feds At the Edge, our discussion focuses on some of the risks in storing, sharing, and analyzing that data.

We tackle on the questions now being asked:

How is data collected, and what method is used to collect it? What impact does generated data have?

Is there too much on protecting networks, applications and even APIs rather than the data itself?

How do you determine collaboration efforts? Share everything? Or just pieces?

Casey Johnson, Vice President of Digital Platforms with ICF shares the difficulty of detaching from bias and letting the data lead the way. Jeff Shilling, CIO for NCI expertly points out the balance needed between statistical analytics & human deliberation to get valid results.

Tune in now on your favorite Podcasting platform.

For the video of this podcast: Letting the Good Ones In, Keeping the Bad Ones Out: Managing Access for Zero Trust

Follow FedInsider on LinkedIn

In the realm of cybersecurity, Multifactor Authentication (MFA) has long been seen as a safeguard against cyber threats, but malicious actors are adapting to every blockade put in their path. Research has revealed that even when performing flawlessly, MFA can still leave opportunities for attackers.

This week on Feds At the Edge we take a look at current threats and best practices for reducing the attack surface for federal technology.

Active Directory, ubiquitous in both commercial and government sectors, is estimated to hold a staggering 90% market share.

Jay Bonci, CTO of the Air Force, highlights the necessity of designing systems that mitigate Active Directory's weaknesses.

Andre Murphy, Federal CTO from CrowdStrike, describes a new concept called, "access brokers," which provides identities to bad actors. Who needs malicious code when you can walk in the front door?

Tune in now on your favorite Podcasting platform to hear strategies that evolve beyond traditional MFA and actively address vulnerabilities in systems.