Ep. 264 How Automation is Accelerating Digital Transformation Across Federal Agencies
Release Date: 08/08/2025
Ep. 290 AI + Zero Trust: The New Line of Defense for Federal Data
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? We are at the point where AI is almost expected in any technology offering. Today, we sat down with John Kindervag from Illumio to learn how AI can be applied to the world of federal Zero Trust. Some have characterized today’s current cybersecurity situation as an arms race; some call it a whack-a-mole game. An innovative technology, such as AI, becomes popularized, and adversaries use it to improve attacks. As a result, the defenders of data must bolster their response, and they, in turn, use AI to...
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Ep. 289 How Microsegmentation and Zero Trust Protect Federal Data from Modern Threats
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? It is rare to see AI applied to federal cybersecurity mandates. However, today, we will sit down with Louis Echenbaum from Color Tokens. He will unpack the concept of using AI to help federal leaders improve their ability to implement microsegmentation. We all know about Executive Order 14028 and the OMNB Memo M-22-09, which are forcing federal agencies to deploy a robust Zero Trust framework. The key components include identity and access management, asset management, continuous monitoring, and micro...
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Ep. 288 Is Federal Data Ready for the Post-Quantum Era?
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? In the world of federal technology we are being deluged with so much information about Artificial Intelligence that we may not see what some of other technologies that may have as great an impact as AI. The White House, the OMB (M-23-02), the Office of the National Cyber Director have made it clear that the time to prepare for post-quantum cryptography is now. Agencies are required to inventory cryptographic systems, prioritize high-value assets, and build migration plans in line with NIST...
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Ep. 287 Protecting Federal Data with Zero Trust Architecture and the Enterprise Browser
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? John Kindervag began the concept of Zero Trust; he probably did not realize the impact it would have on the technological community. Today, we look at the federal government and Zero Trust implementation from 40,000 feet. Kindervag will opine on topics such as browser security, the importance of data, and operational technology. Instead of using his technical knowledge as a cudgel, Kindervag reinforces the importance of a balanced approach in which federal leaders consider both technological and behavioral...
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Ep. 286 Securing Federal Systems: The Power of Continuous Monitoring
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? A quick review of malicious activity shows large-scale cyberattacks being run without any human intervention. That means traditional penetration testing, which occurs once a year, can be easily defeated by massive, systematic attacks. During the interview with Snehal Antani, CEO of Horizon Three, he highlights the importance of continuous autonomous penetration. He suggests that it may be the only response to a non-human automated attack. Horizon3 has recently collaborated with the NSA’s Cybersecurity...
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Ep. 285 Securing the Federal Workplace: Why Enterprise Browsers are the Next Cybersecurity Frontier for Government Software Teams
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? The good news is that federal security measures are preventing successful attacks; the bad news is that adversaries are examining every nook and cranny of a federal system and increasingly targeting the browser itself as an attack vector. During the interview, Scott “Monty” Montgomery gives a quick overview of Enterprise Browsers and Secure Enterprise Browsers. After all, browsers have been around since 1994. It may be the only application ubiquitous on home-based machines and in enterprise...
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Ep. 284 Automation That Keeps Agencies Running: Continuity Strategies for the Next Federal Shutdown
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? Every federal agency prepares a backup strategy to protect data. This is a rigorous endeavor in which teams practice what to do in the event of a breach or system failure. However, nobody really has a plan for a temporary federal shutdown. Any political pundit worth his salt knows there will be another federal shutdown sometime in the future. It is reasonable to consider automation to see how it can be used to bridge services during a temporary shutdown. David Grundy is the Public Sector CTO for Tines. He...
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Ep. 282 the Hidden Cyber Gaps Threatening America’s Digital Infrastructure
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? In a recent report from Microsoft, they share that foreign adversaries are increasing attacks on American infrastructure. One variation is that they will not penetrate systems and attack, but they will steal credentials and install code to act in stealth mode. This code can hide for years and be deployed when the antagonist wants. Today, we sat down with Travis Roseik from Rubrik to try to find some options for defending against this hidden attack. Let us say an agency has improved its resistance to foreign...
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Ep. 283 Smarter, Scalable Threat Hunting to Protect Federal Data
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? The federal government recognizes that threats are multiplying at an exponential level. In fact, in October 2025, CISA released a free vulnerability scanner, and 10,000 organizations have signed up. Today, CISA is at its current capacity. Today, we examine solutions from a successful startup called CrunchAtlas. One of the co-founders, Ben Fabrelle, will share with the audience his experience in threat hunting in the federal government and why he combined with another veteran to form a company that can assist...
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Ep. 280 How Zero Trust Automation Helps Federal Agencies do More with Less
Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness
Ep. 281 How Zero Trust Automation Helps Federal Agencies do More with Less Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn Want to listen to other episodes? As this interview was recorded, the federal government was in the middle of a shutdown. Hundreds of pundits have given interviews about the politics of the situation; very few have looked at the impact on cybersecurity during a phase of workforce reduction. Today, we sat down with Gary Barlet, the Public Sector CTO at Illumio, to see whether Zero Trust can help the federal government bridge this short personnel gap. Barlet begins by...
info_outlineEp. 264 How Automation Is Accelerating Digital Transformation Across Federal Agencies
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/
Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com
In this episode of the Federal Tech Podcast, host John Gilroy interviews Nabil Amiri, Vice President of Business Development for the federal practice at NWN. The discussion introduces NWN’s expanding role in helping federal agencies adopt advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), as part of broader digital transformation efforts.
Amiri explains NWN’s recent acquisition of Leverage Information, a move that brought deep federal experience—especially with defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies—into NWN’s already strong commercial portfolio. This merger allows NWN to deliver robust, secure IT solutions tailored to the complexities of federal requirements such as FedRAMP, STIGs, and Zero Trust. He emphasizes that innovation and compliance can—and must—coexist in the federal space.
The conversation touches on the real-world challenges federal agencies face, like outdated systems, budget cuts, workforce reductions, and tool sprawl. Amiri critiques the proliferation of “single panes of glass” in IT environments, which often complicate rather than simplify operations. NWN’s strength lies in delivering visibility across systems, reducing complexity, and enabling security and automation through integrated, scalable platforms.
Key themes include Zero Trust architecture, infrastructure modernization, automation, and streamlining tech procurement. NWN’s flexible acquisition pathways (e.g., via GSA and SEWP contracts) make it easier for agencies to respond quickly to crises like COVID or cyberattacks.
On AI, Amiri emphasizes its role in real-time data analysis to improve visibility and prevent outages, critical for mission continuity. NWN remains vendor-neutral, working with a broad ecosystem of partners to deliver best-in-class, mission-focused outcomes.
Looking ahead, Amiri confidently predicts that AI will become foundational to all federal IT strategies, driving operational resilience and transformation in the next five years. The interview sets the stage for deeper dives into emerging topics like agentic AI and cloud-native strategies in future discussions.