Ep. 238 State and Local Government: Streamlining Operations to Improve Efficiency, Cost Effectiveness
Feds At The Edge by FedInsider
Release Date: 03/04/2026
Feds At The Edge by FedInsider
Is your agency ready for the quantum revolution? Quantum computing promises incredible breakthroughs, but it also brings new challenges to federal cybersecurity. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, we explore how agencies can proactively prepare for the quantum future and protect sensitive data today. While a Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computer (CRQC) may still be on the horizon, adversary tactics like "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" (HNDL) make quantum readiness an immediate priority. U.S. GAO’s Marisol Cruz Cain and Leidos’ Joe Kovba, along with Rosa Underwood from...
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While we all know AI can boost productivity, agencies everywhere are trying to figure out how that will relate to the government workload. In this episode of Feds At The Edge, experts familiar with the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission unpack what it takes to move from AI experimentation to secure, scalable, mission-ready infrastructure across national laboratories and research environments. Dana Grisham of Sandia National Laboratories explores a fundamental architecture question: how do you balance centralized control with the flexibility of a federated model, especially when...
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Here is the final copy for this one and I will have the next over to you soon: Software management presents itself as an easy task: install software, then deinstall it at the end of its life. Unfortunately, the complexity of modern systems has made managing software in enterprise situations more of a nightmare than a walk in the park. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, government and industry thought leaders share practical approaches to managing software assets, from establishing authoritative data across...
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The concept of EDR is flawless, but complex federal environments present distinct operational hurdles. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, we dive into Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) in the federal government and explore how expert-suggested approaches can help agencies overcome today's barriers. While EDR provides continuous monitoring and automated containment across agency devices, federal civilian networks face unique challenges in practice. Broadcom’s Paul Miller admits that EDR's core weakness is its reactive nature, discussing how AI...
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According to Greg Touhill, the first CISO of the United States, complexity is the bane of IT security. Today, that lesson remains especially relevant. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, several thought leaders share how agencies can reduce complexity, integrate legacy systems, balance usability with security, and build a Zero Trust environment that continues to improve over time. Robert Skinner of Skinner's Strategic Solutions, explores the power of reducing system complexity and data flows to unlock...
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Listeners may be familiar with a quote from Frederick the Great, “He who defends everything, defends nothing.” Federal leaders understand this all too well. As they are deluged with data, attacks, and new technology on a daily basis, it can be confusing what to prioritize and in trying to defend everything, agencies can be left vulnerable to attack. In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, several thought leaders share how they set priorities, leverage existing tools, and experiment with new solutions to enhance efficiency and security....
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineAI has the power to transform government operations, but only if it’s used wisely.
This week on Feds At the Edge, we dive into the high-stakes world of applied AI within public agencies, where the potential for massive efficiency gains sits right next to the risk of moving too fast without a map.
From Todd Sharkey of Lorain County, OH’s look at the document "drowning" in many government organizations to Brandon Ragle at Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology’s vital warnings on data privacy and strict procedural safeguards, we explore the thin line between innovation and liability. Brad Porter of Knowledge Lake joins us to bridge that gap, demonstrating how AI can classify and secure sensitive data at speeds once thought impossible.
Tune in on your favorite podcast platform for our experts' takeaways: start small, pilot carefully, and measure the impact. When implemented thoughtfully, AI can turn overwhelming archives into actionable insights.