Ep. 279 Avoiding Agentic AI Pitfalls in Federal Digital Transformation
Release Date: 11/04/2025
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_outlineA recent study from Carnegie Mellon University is titled "AI Agents Fail at Office Tasks Nearly 70% of the Time."
Federal agencies are adopting Agentic AI for the efficiency it can deliver. Unfortunately, many do not realize that Agentic AI is prone to operational risks, ranging from technical glitches to legal complications to accidental database deletion.
When Agentic AI causes problems at a federal agency, there can be lives at stake.
Today, we sat down with Travis Rosiek, Rubrik's Public Sector Chief Technology Officer. During the interview, he explores the federal challenges of implementing Agentic AI, building an Agentic AI inventory, and making Agentic AI visible, auditable, and reversible.
CHALLENGES
Everyone —from a systems administrator to an agency administrator —knows that data must be backed up. However, very few understand that Agentic AI is a collection of agents that can be attacked, just like a database.
Rubrik offers the capability to reassure users that Agentic AI can be reversed if malicious actors enter the picture.
STARTING POINT
Most cybersecurity professionals agree that one starts by understanding a system's apps, data, and connections. Five years ago, it was easy; getting a grasp on what Agentic AI connects to is a much more intangible concept.
During the interview, Travis Rosiek unpacks Rubrik's history and its unique ability to understand complex systems.
CAREFUL
In a rather shocking statement, Rosiek says one should approach introducing technology with the assumption that it will fail. This is not a pessimistic approach, but a nuanced understanding of how complexities in current systems can lead to unintended consequences.
Rosiek advises starting with the end goal in mind, planning for worst-case scenarios, and building trustworthy AI architectures to mitigate risks and ensure reliable operations.