Ep. 235 Identity Gaps are the New Insider Threat
Feds At The Edge by FedInsider
Release Date: 02/12/2026
Feds At The Edge by FedInsider
History shows that nations often enter new conflicts relying on old, familiar tactics. It’s only after those tactics fail that they adapt to something new. Today, thousands of defense contractors and companies are making the exact same mistake with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). By applying outdated, static compliance tools to a modern, dynamic regulatory landscape, organizations face mounting delays, incomplete visibility, and soaring costs. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, we sit down with leading experts from GDIT,...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Everyone has heard about fraud, waste, and abuse, but building an effective fraud prevention program requires more than identifying problems after they occur. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, government and industry experts share practical strategies for helping federal agencies stop improper payments before funds go out the door. Kim Brandt of CMS underscores the scale of the challenge, noting the agency processes roughly $1 million in claims every day. Justin Marisco from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service share how tapping into shared resources, such as...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Permitting delays can increase construction costs, frustrate applicants and slow the delivery of much-needed housing. But modernizing the process requires more than simply replacing paper with technology. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, we explore how government and industry leaders are combining policy reform, digital workflows, cloud technology and AI to reduce permitting backlogs and improve the building approval process. John W. Lane of the Town of Caledon examines outdated bylaws, inconsistent processes and ways to accelerate reviews without sacrificing safety. Philip Mosher...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Identity is central to Zero Trust, making it one of the most attractive targets for cyber attackers. While multi-factor authentication has long been a reliable way to ensure identity, traditional MFA has critical gaps. This week on Feds At the Edge, Mark Brennan from the New Jersey Department of Health, and YubiKey’s Jeff Frederick, explore how phishing-resistant cryptography and hardware security keys provide stronger protection against modern identity-based threats while improving the user experience. The panel also...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Supply chain risk is about more than software and compliance checklists; it’s about making informed decisions that strengthen security and support mission success. This week on Feds At the Edge, Ryan Lewis of the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology joins us to unpack the practical realities of managing supply-side risk in the public sector. Rather than getting bogged down in software bills of materials or endless certifications right out of the gate, Lewis advocates for a broader view of risk assessment, one that starts with developing vendor risk profiles and building genuine...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Ransomware has become a far more serious threat to government than many organizations realize, and it's no longer just about paying a ransom. This week on Feds At the Edge, cybersecurity experts explore what agencies can do to strengthen their defenses, including adopting Zero Trust principles, improving network segmentation, and planning for recovery before an attack occurs. Cesar Gamez from City of Roseville, CA explains how ransomware attacks have evolved, from encrypting files for...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Technology is advancing at an astonishing pace. The number of connected devices per square kilometer is expected to grow from one million to ten million, and the transition to 6G is paving the way with dazzling new levels of speed and capability. This week on Feds At the Edge, Arup Bhuyan from Idaho National Laboratory, Eric Freer from Sterling, and Jorge Escobar from Nokia explore how download speeds could increase from 1 GB per second to 100 GB per second, dramatically reducing latency and making it possible for federal agencies to monitor networks in real time and...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Artificial intelligence is evolving so quickly that agencies often find it difficult to plan for future implementations. This week on Feds At The Edge, we dive into the importance of flexible infrastructure, realistic budgets, and thoughtful planning to successfully adapt to continuously evolving AI models. Sumit Puri, CSO and Co-Founder of Liqid, shares that while 86% of data resides on-premises, leaders also need to understand how the other 14% is being managed. He breaks down the key security, privacy, compliance, and performance considerations organizations should keep in mind. Ariana...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
When it comes to air-gapped networks, there is an assumption that this is the ultimate protection for Federal networks. This week on Feds At the Edge, we speak with three federal experts who share their observations that challenge these assumptions and bring potential cracks in this seemingly impenetrable security measure to light. We’ll explore how air-gapped systems can still be exposed through compromised supply chains, why patching and upgrades become more difficult without internet connectivity, and how manual data...
info_outlineFeds At The Edge by FedInsider
Innovation often follows a familiar cycle: rapid expansion, followed by consolidation. Federal agencies are experiencing this firsthand as AI tools and models proliferate across their environments. This week on Feds At the Edge, technology leaders explore the challenge of rapid innovation and how agencies can regain control before the chaos of disorganized, duplicate data and tool sprawl compromises their missions. Jim Smid, Federal Solutions Architect, Palo Alto Networks, explains how observability now extends beyond servers and IoT devices to...
info_outlineCitizens expect government services to work seamlessly on their phones, and agencies are moving quickly to adapt. But simply extending legacy systems to mobile can leave critical security and usability gaps.
This week on Feds At the Edge, experts from California DMV and SailPoint break down three key lessons for building trusted, modern access.
First, MFA alone is no longer enough. As attackers find ways around one-time codes, organizations are shifting from basic identity checks to stronger, continuous authentication approaches.
Second, “fire-and-forget” permissions create risk. Access must be monitored and adjusted over time as roles and responsibilities change.
Third, what good is a better mousetrap if nobody uses it? Even the best technology fails without adoption. Agencies must engage users, demonstrate value, and make secure tools easy to use.
Tune in on your favorite podcast platform because now is the time to act: evaluate your current systems and identify your gaps, strengthen access, and build the trust needed for successful digital transformation.