Federal Tech Podcast: for innovators, entrepreneurs, and CEOs who want to increase reach and improve brand awareness

Stephen Ringo, a Senior Solutions Architect at Akamai and an expert in API security, unpacks the critical role APIs play in securing federal systems amidst rapid cloud adoption. He reveals that 99% of organizations struggle with API security, emphasizing the importance of inventorying known and hidden APIs. Ringo advocates for proactive measures, highlighting the need to educate federal CIOs and evaluate security controls with cloud providers. The discussion also touches on the alarming risks of misuse and the ongoing shortage of API security professionals.

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com We all know the quote from Peter Drucker, "If you can measure it, you can manage it."   It's pretty easy to apply when throwing a javelin but difficult when measuring success in complex software development projects. Today, we sat down with Jeff Gallimore, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and founder of Excella. He brings with him decades of experience collaborating with teams on successful federal projects. We start by noting the fallacy of using one metric to measure success. While completing the initiative on time might make an agency administrator happy, that will change rapidly if compliance is not achieved, and scaling will break the system into pieces. Jeff has seen breakthroughs using a framework called DORA, DevOps Research and Assessment). The key metrics are deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and failed deployment recovery time.  These metrics, now part of Google, are research-based and predictive of IT and organizational outcomes. They emphasize the importance of a holistic approach, avoiding single-metric focus, and the role of leadership and culture in fostering high-performing teams

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com The Partnership for Public Service recently conducted a poll, and just 23% of Americans believe federal services are easy to navigate. Today, we will examine the importance of User Experience and how to overcome some of the challenges federal agencies face when attempting to improve. Lisa Hoover is the Head of Experience and Design at Karsun Solutions. In that role, she has experienced all aspects of federal design. She begins by observing that customer challenges may be recognized but not remediated.  She argues that there are several reasons for this standstill. Many federal agencies are dealing with legacy systems, and attempts to improve the CX can have unintended consequences. Further, qualitative improvement is difficult to determine in a world of bits and bytes. Sometimes, the ease of scaling data can make a system so complex that one does not know where to begin. Lisa Hoover recommends looking at Karsun Solutions' ReDuxAI offer. It leverages AI to establish a “blueprint” to see how everything connects, making digital transformation possible. Hoover also addresses the need for efficiency in federal IT, aiming to streamline processes and improve customer satisfaction. The conversation underscores the potential of AI to enhance federal service delivery. https://karsun-llc.com/innovation-center/innovation-center-projects/go-redux-ai/    

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com Here we are at the beginning of 2025, and Bill Church, F5's CTO, discusses the company's role in helping federal agencies navigate the complexities of multi-cloud environments and cybersecurity threats. F5's strength spans the application portfolio of enterprise organizations. This includes application security, enhancement, quick access, improved availability, and even making them secure. It doesn't end there; they also help with encryption and authentication. Church emphasizes the importance of flexibility and consistency in managing diverse cloud environments. He highlights the challenges of API discovery, noting that many organizations are unaware of the number of APIs in their systems. F5's tools, like the App Study Tool, help identify and manage these APIs. Church also discusses using AI and machine learning in F5's solutions for enhanced security and data protection, including an AI gateway for large language models.

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com Matt Lembright, Global Lead of Censys Search, discusses the company's role in scanning the entire internet for threats, focusing on frequency, accuracy, and data richness. Censys helps government agencies and private organizations manage their attack surfaces by identifying exposed devices and vulnerabilities. The conversation highlights the challenges of securing operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, emphasizing the importance of understanding device protocols and maintaining up-to-date software. Lembright stresses the need for community engagement, local government involvement, and effective communication to protect critical infrastructure. He also mentions Censys' cybersecurity glossary as a resource for understanding key terms and concepts.

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com There is an idiomatic expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.”  Essentially, it means that some people are so focused on the details that they cannot see the bigger picture. Today, Bob Ritchie, SAIC's Chief Technology Officer, takes a step back and examines the evolution of federal technology from a strategic perspective. He argues that because digital transformation is so convoluted, leaders tend to focus on the details of a transition rather than the ultimate objective. He frames this analysis in terms of systems integration vs. mission integration. He explains that while systems integration focuses on integrating technology for better outcomes, mission integration emphasizes achieving specific mission outcomes by iterative learning and adapting to technological changes.  Ritchie highlights the importance of aligning systems with mission goals and maintaining vigilance to ensure technology choices support these objectives. He also discusses the need for a mature approach to technology adoption, including the strategic use of legacy systems like mainframes and the importance of a standard data layer to reduce complexity.  

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com In spy movies, the federal government has unlimited funds for intelligence. In fact, it is always at its fingertips, no matter where it is located. Would it be so? In the real world, agencies have budgets that limit their ability to do everything from reducing fraud to ensuring the safety of a supply chain. One way to leverage the funds allocated for this task is to use Open-Source Intelligence or OSINT. During today’s interview, Jason English from Babel Street shares his thoughts on how OSINT should be a part of the matrix where federal agencies can get practical intelligence. He starts by defining OSINT, which includes search engines, social media, public relations, news sources, web scraping, data analysis, and, yes, the dark web. This information is freely available to everyone, which gives it distinctive advantages. First, classified information can be costly to obtain. Rather than limiting your information sources to one area, OSINT will provide a much wider range of sources quickly. Further, transparency is becoming a more prominent theme in technology—by definition, one can review the origin of any piece of information to assure its veracity. When it comes to collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information, OSINT provides benefits that answer many of today’s federal agency requirements.  

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com Technology comes and goes; you can call it the cloud, zero trust, or even Artificial intelligence. In early 2025, we see stress that we have not seen before. The GAO has issued a report examining the federal IT Acquisition process and concluding that it needs to strengthen oversight, implement a mature acquisition strategy, and have a capacity-capable system. Today, we sat down with Reid Jackson from Unison to discuss how to make these key acquisitions.  During the interview, he discussed Acquisition Management, Cost Engineering, Virtual Acquisition, and Project Management. Unison has been involved in federal acquisition since 1984 and has a deep and thorough understanding of the procurement process.  Reid Jackson relates that some newer organizations may have a superficial knowledge of regulations and may deploy software solutions that do not enable astute and effective decisions for federal agencies. During the interview, Reid Jackson from Unison overviews many aspects of these challenges.  

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com Bill Sullivan, an independent consultant with experience in federal technology, discusses the impact of the new administration's policies on federal projects. He advises federal employees to maintain professionalism despite the hiring freeze and emphasizes the importance of security standards, particularly in AI and data management. Sullivan highlights the need for government to adapt its acquisition process to keep up with technological advancements. He also compares the current AI initiative to the Kennedy space mission, suggesting it could improve energy production. Sullivan emphasizes the importance of security, especially considering global competition, and praises Elon Musk's systematic approach to change. Key takeaways: >>> Maintain a professional demeanor and continue working diligently despite the changes. >>> Monitor the developments around the $500 billion investment and its potential impact on energy and data center co-location. >>>   Advocate for reforms to the federal acquisition process to enable faster adoption of modern technologies.

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com A recent SAS report shows that 84% of government decision-makers plan to invest in Generative AI in the next fiscal year. During today’s interview, Reggie Townsend details some of the precautions federal leaders must take to leverage this innovative technology. We begin the interview by mentioning that, in a governmental setting, technology cannot go beyond what is necessary to achieve a legitimate aim.  Although that is a noble concept, it can be futile because we are in the incipient stage of this technology. We do not have any laws about using AI; we have a patchwork of national and international regulations on the ethical application of AI. We can start with the Executive Office of the President. In addition to other Executive Orders, President Biden released further guidelines his last week in office. While well-meaning, these guidelines are not practical when put into perspective of what is going on in other countries. Reggie Townsend indicates that AI Safety Institutes can promote consistency and a proper ethical response to using data from citizens to feed AI.