Feds at the Edge

Today’s panel answers this basic question from several perspectives. First, the subject matter experts look at the National Security Strategy and some of its top concerns. Then, they look at existential threats and solutions Finally, they deepen the discussion with specific recommendations to avoid trouble.

In case you think these attacks on federal systems are blown out of proportion, then visit the Cyberstructure & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) site and see the “Shields Up” for guidance. Because of malicious cyberactivity, you can see the latest updates as well as specific actions for all organizations.

For the last decade, commercial and federal technical specialists have been talking about the power and flexibility of virtualization in servers. Today’s discussion brings us up to date with the impact of similar changes in the world of federal networks.

Today’s federal networks must manage a drastic increase in volume, inconsistent data flows, maintenance changes, as well as managing costs.

Jim Westrop from Ciena Government Services puts the increase in volume in simple terms. During the discussion, he mentions that the edge of the network is now one hundred times the size it used to be. We all know that a data center has seen similar increases, but in a data center, the volume can be managed easily because it is consistent. The drastic increase in data-generating at the edge does not come in easy-to-digest packages. There may be peaks and valleys that challenge any system.

Dr. John B. Murphy from Rubrik sets the stage when he says that if you look at the average time an attacker is in a network, which is subsequently compromised, it is around 70 days. What about a hospital that has surgeries scheduled and emergency room patients arriving hourly? Dr. Murphy suggests that it is a best practice to have backups that are immutable and readily accessible to maintain continuity of service for extremely sensitive networks.

The concept of an electric car is nothing new; images abound of electric vehicles from a hundred years ago. Decades of inexpensive oil prices have forced electric vehicles into small niches like convenience transportation on golf courses. Reports of human-caused climate change have caused interest in electric vehicles to rise. Combine that with action from aggressive entrepreneurs like Elon Musk is setting the stage for a major transition to electric vehicles.

However, it is not as easy as changing a manufacturing plant from gasoline engines to electric engines, infrastructure must be implemented to accommodate the charging and maintenance of new modes of transport.

Today’s discussion looks at electric vehicles from the perspective of infrastructure, data, and federal leadership in using fleets of electric vehicles.

At one time the “tactical edge” was a man on horseback. Today’s tactical edge encompasses sensors, satellites, flexible communication, and much more. To orchestrate this new capacity, military leaders are adopting capabilities to make that valuable data resilient, secure, and timely.

During the interview Colonel Khatod, United States Army Cyber Command, gave some details, "I look at the entire Army, we have 1.4 million end points on five continents."  Those end points can produce a staggering amount of data that needs to be analyzed and acted upon.

Today’s current events sharpen everyone’s focus on how the United States military can cooperate with other allies. Jeffrey Phelan from Rubrik leads a discussion among two American leaders and Brigadier General Crossfield from the United Kingdom.

Each one of them comments about four key elements: security, interoperability, data sharing, and data as a structural asset. Each person presents concerns about each issue.

In 2021 the White House issued its Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce. This is a conversation that addresses the goals of that initiative. The discussion includes a healthcare informatics professional and two medical doctors who look at the Veterans Administration patient experience. Topics include equity, diversity, and telehealth.

Google has been using Zero Trust for six years, the Executive Order from the White House has finally gotten behind this cybersecurity best practice. The question is, how can federal information leaders apply those concepts to an estimated 1.8 million federal employees?

This is a discussion that includes experiences from three federal leaders and a battle-hardened commercial subject matter expert