Feds at the Edge

  The U.S. healthcare system, which includes roughly 200 federal hospitals, are constantly at risk for or under cyber-attack.   This week on Feds-At-The Edge we explore ways to improve security through basic controls like software updates and patching, with the conversation quickly turning to the importance of practical strategy.   >> Developing a good data inventory: Full of IoT devices? Learn wh...

  Managing vast amounts of data, reducing alert fatigue, and improving threat detection can all be accomplished with automation.   This week on Feds At the Edge, we  have three experts in automating cybersecurity response to provide guidance on best practices to deploy automation. They highlighted the need to establish a valid baseline for expected network behavior to identify deviations effective...

SaaS (Software as a Service) applications, due to their ease of launch and proliferation, have created a "perfect storm" for attackers, and a significant challenge for cybersecurity professionals. Organizations with over 1,000 employees typically use 150+ SaaS applications, often unmanaged, which expands the attack surface and poses a unique threat to entities like the federal government.      Thi...

Malicious actors are always looking for the "Easy Button" when it comes to breaching your system.  This week on Feds At the Edge, we are revisiting our conversation on looking at the protection of Operational Technology (OT), critical hardware on premises. Traditionally separated from IT systems by air gaps, OT is now increasingly managed by IT departments due to the convergence of IT and OT.   Fe...

This week on Feds-At-The Edge we explore AI used as a strategic tool, focused on risk mitigation, applications, and continuous user feedback.  >> Risk Mitigation: Risks vary by application. Luke Keller, Chief Innovation Officer at US Census bureau, highlighted using NIST guidelines, including bias reduction frameworks, to ensure ethical and accurate AI deployment. High-quality, diverse datasets ar...

AI is just another tool in the technology market, only becoming a powerful resource when agencies learn how to best utilize it to reach mission goals.   This week on Feds-At-The Edge we explore several insights on deploying AI effectively for the federal government landscape.   Caroline Carusone, Deputy CIO for NRC, discusses AI's potential in identifying security risks and solving complex enginee...

Software as a Service (SaaS) is incredibly enticing with its ease and affordability, however despite the heavy lifting being done for you, the responsibility of protecting your data and network remains in your hands.   This week on Feds-At-The Edge we sit down with Eoghan Casey, VP of Cybersecurity Strategy & Product Development for Own Company, who highlights essential security practices for agen...

If you've tuned before then you've heard the three magic words; People, process, technology. While technology often takes the spotlight, there's a reason why "people" come first.   This week on Feds-At-The Edge we explore the cultural shifts agencies are prioritizing to achieve zero trust.   Jothi Dugar, CISO at NIH's Center for Information Technology emphasizes the age-old advice, communication i...

In today's data-driven world, network systems are under immense pressure to handle increasing loads of data while staying compliant in a rapidly evolving landscape. How can agencies effectively secure their systems when every little nook and cranny requires oversight?   This week on Feds-At-The Edge we explore how microsegmentation is emerging as a vital strategy for agencies working toward a robu...

The concept of "continuous" protection, inspired by continuous software development, is gaining traction among federal tech leaders in response to rising cyber-attacks.   This week on Feds At the Edge, we sit down with subject matter experts who provide guidance for transitioning from the basic "Authority to Operate" snapshot in time to a "Continuous Authority to Operate."   Col Bryan A Eovito, Co...

Your agency will be attacked. Even if we look at the most conservative estimates, a company like Statista shows 32,211 attacks on federal agencies in 2023. The conclusion is obvious: you will be attacked and must have a way to remediate the problem. Today, we sat down with three experienced cyber professionals to hear suggestions on improving federal cyber security resilience. Russel Marsh from th...

This week on Feds At the Edge, sit down with an industry expert and state election officials from Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia to focus on election security challenges and solutions.    Challenges:  >> Traditional threats like disinformation and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks continue to be significant. There is also a growing concern about the physical threats faced by election officials,...

In a world of rapid change and threat, organizations need to be ready and waiting with a plan. One good approach some are taking to navigate an ever-evolving landscape is to lean on a "digital playbook." Customized to each situation and the unique and individual needs agencies big and small have, these playbooks could make the difference between a scramble and a smooth transition.   This week on F...

The 2021 Colonial Pipeline incident has stood in history as a prime example of the importance of cyber resilience for critical infrastructure. This week on Feds At the Edge, we delve into the call-to-action events like this have created for agencies everywhere and the resources available for even the smallest entities.    Cheri Caddy, Senior Technical Advisor for Cybersecurity at the US Department...

When a network is attacked, analysts return to the logs to gain an understanding of where the point of vulnerability was, which makes keeping these records a crucial tool in cyber resilience.   However, a lack of staff, poor existing systems, and limitations on information sharing in our increasingly complex and hybrid landscape could prevent agencies from keeping their records reliable and up-to-...

With an accelerated leap in our post-COVID world, mobile devices such as cell phones have become a crucial part of the landscape for remote workers and in turn have also become a key component of today's attack surface.  This week on Feds At the Edge, leaders from the Federal and commercial sectors share vulnerabilities in the devices we bring from home, and the popular apps that put our sensitive...

The transition to cloud computing by federal agencies has highlighted the importance of security, especially as sensitive federal assets are now in hybrid environments.   This week on Feds At the Edge, leaders from federal and commercial sectors focus on improving security within the complex cloud environment. When code is written with the cloud in mind, applications can be moved easily, updates c...

In this week's episode of Fed's At the Edge, we are talking about US Elections. From observations about challenges seen in previous elections to best practices to ensure a safe and fair election process.   We'll explore sources of help for election officials like utilizing CISA, local associations, and the US Election Assistance Commission. We also touch on critical areas like cybersecurity, commu...

People imagine large organizations such as the Department of Transportation when they think about who needs to utilize Zero Trust. What they don't realize is that a smaller entity can make for a profitable attack, even a gateway to those larger targets.   In this week's Feds At The Edge podcast, Nick Graham, Senior Technical Sales Engineer of Civilian Sales from Raven Tek offers some solutions tha...

When the federal government adopts Zero Trust principles, it must consider both user identity and the data being accessed.  This week on Feds At the Edge, leaders from federal and commercial sectors stress the importance of centralized coordination, automated labeling, and real-time access control through Identity Management.   Bryan Rosensteel, US Federal CTO for Ping, advocates for a "federated"...

In this week's episode of Fed's At the Edge, we talk with agency and industry experts about the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) in government, where improved knowledge management and a reduction on tedious tasks are just some of the benefits waiting to be unlocked.   We'll explore the large Knowledge Management Platform CMS has put together to assist federal professionals access informat...

Disputes over the 2020 presidential election have persisted for four years.    This week on Feds At the Edge,  we discuss best practices to ensure the 2024 election's safety and accuracy with a focus on the need for robust cybersecurity measures, having a strategy to respond to cyber threats and the need to have strong partnerships with the private sector.   Lester Godsey, CISO, Enterprise Technol...

To achieve a successful digital transformation in your organization, it's essential to consider the users.   This week on Feds At the Edge, we have gathered leading experts from City of Brownsville, TX, Delaware Department of Technology and Information,  California Department of Technology, City of Roseville, CA, and Equinix who share valuable insights into making meaningful changes in their respe...

  Chat GPT has made AI a household term, citizens can quickly gather useful data such as where the best places to travel through Italy are. But how are agencies using artificial intelligence technologies when it comes to larger and more serious topics, such as nuclear weapon distribution?   This week on Feds At the Edge, we have gathered leading experts from the FDA, National Cancer Institute and...

Zero Trust has revolutionized the way agencies everywhere are securing their networks, and this week on Feds at the Edge, we talk with titans in the field, including John Kindervag, Chief Evangelist with Illumio ,  who in 2010 coined the phrase  " zero trust model. "     We delve into this stricter cybersecurity program where identity leads in the guideposts in defending today's cyber landscape.  ...