The Government Technology Insider Podcast

Supporting the all-important mission of ensuring national security, the Department of Defense is made up of 33 agencies. One of these agencies is the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). DISA focuses on IT and communications and leveraging them to support the DoD’s defense and security mission. With the evolution of the cyber landscape into a new domain, combating cyber threats has become a critical part of national defense. To support operations in this domain, DISA is building its capabilities in the cloud both in the Continental U.S. (CONUS) and Outside the Continental U.S. (OCONUS). These were the key themes of our Government Technology Insider podcast about DISA’s plans and partnerships for the coming year. Host, Matt Langan, talked with Jeanne Gentry, DISA Business Development Manager with Verizon and Adam Clement Jones, the Solutions Architect for Verizon’s defense business in EMEA. Both executives discussed how DISA is expediting cloud development and the benefits this will bring to national defense in 2023 and beyond.

In today’s modern IT environment, rapid systemic change is an ideal that many strive for, but few achieve. This is doubly the case for federal agencies which often lack the lateral movements that their public sector counterparts may have. However, in today’s podcast, Government Technology Insider hears how agencies are overcoming operational issues to bring the next generation of government customer experience to their services. “Federal agencies are recognizing and preparing to build the internal culture and the focus on the customer experience,” Teresa Weipert, General Manager and President of Maximus Federal told Government Technology Insider. “[To build both] you need to understand the vulnerabilities facing your audience.” One case that Weipert pointed towards as an example of how federal agencies can cultivate a customer-focused mentality was the CDC’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. “Not everyone had access to a phone that can download apps, [the CDC realized that] you need to be in libraries, in kiosks, or something else that is devised to engage with citizens directly.” While bolstering accessibility must be a priority, federal agencies still face challenges with implementing solutions against limited and difficult-to-expand budgets. Weipert’s advice to cost-conscious agencies looking to focus on customer experience? Learn more about how the ROI can result in a more efficient and well-received agency. “[When you go to capture the ROI], capture not only the hard assets, e.g. technology benefits,” Weipert continued, “but also make sure to include the soft dollar returns, e.g., improved citizen trust.”

As more work occurs between on-premise environments and the cloud, and a rising number of connected devices, federal agencies must continue to evolve strategies for managing risk, compliance, and security in today’s complex operating environment. Fortunately, many small businesses are filling this gap by effectively tackling this landscape of compliance and security for government. By fostering co-innovation between companies such as Arlo Solutions and Verizon, the federal government is able to take advantage of specialized and niche cyber offerings that help agencies to best address today’s cyber challenges. In this episode, Emily Bien, Managing Partner for Small and Diverse, Partner Team at Verizon; and Lonye Ford, CEO of Arlo Solutions, discuss how co-innovation is helping to pave a new path towards advanced cyber capabilities.

In the government arena, small businesses often provide agile, cutting-edge solutions that help agencies meet their mission needs. As a minority-woman-owned HUBZone small business, ReliaSource works with larger organizations such as Verizon to help government agencies manage their mobile devices and equipment. Offering solutions such as conditional access control, information protection, and co-managed devices with existing technologies, ReliaSource provides a wide range of solutions for enhancing mobile device management applications. It can also help to maximize existing workflows for federal agencies.These were the key insights of a recent episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast focusing on the value small business partners bring to solving the challenges faced by federal government agencies. In this episode on mobile device management Patrick Aquino, Partner of Channel Management and Development at Verizon; and Michael Gentile, Director of Business Development at ReliaSource discuss the challenges and opportunities facing government agencies as mobile devices become ubiquitous.

In the federal arena, co-innovation allows agencies to partner and create innovative solutions and strategies that meet mission goals. By partnering with small businesses, like Colossal, agencies can collaborate on cutting edge solutions that help boost performance levels and drive down operation costs. Co-innovating can also lead to increased productivity, agility, and overall synergy. These were the key insights of an episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast series on the indispensable role that small business partners play in mission success. In this episode titled, “Co-Innovation Helps Government Better Meet the Mission,” Patrick Aquino, Partner Channel Management & Development at Verizon and Anthony Closson, CEO and Founder of Colossal Contracting share their experiences supporting co-innovation with government agencies.

As the Department of Defense (DoD) undergoes technology transformation periods and updates their legacy systems, modernizing TDM networks is rising up as a key priority. However, there are several challenges to overcome while updating legacy systems and achieving true TDM modernization. One of the main questions that must be addressed is how to modernize and support networks with legacy systems while continuing to adapt for the future and maintain overall network readiness.These were the key themes of the recent Government Technology Insider “TDM Modernization in the DoD Podcast,” where David Rouse, Director of Department of Defense Sales with Verizon; and Chris Ransbottom, Senior Director, DoD and International Programs at Ciena, discussed the advantages for the DoD with TDM modernization and the ways it can help improve mission readiness.

In May of 2022, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a whitepaper on planning for a Zero Trust Architecture, which defines Zero Trust principles and discusses the development and implementation of the architecture. Whether it’s supporting a hybrid workforce, or responding to an emergent mission, the agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) face challenges when identifying a security framework to support the new environment. Zero Trust architectures can enable DHS and their sub agencies to become more adaptable and deliver secure connectivity regardless of the mission or the environment.These were the key insights of a recent episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast titled “Securing the Homeland with Zero Trust.” In this episode, Mike Bukowski, Security Domain Specialist at Verizon; and Nate Smolenski, Head of Cyber Intelligence Strategy at Netskope, discuss the topic further.

Following significant security breaches in late 2020 and early 2021, civilian agencies need to be even more vigilant with securing their networks. A key first step in helping agencies improve their security postures was the 2021 Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. While supplying critical information, the Order left agencies needing more concrete guidance. In response, the White House issued the M-22-09 memorandum in January 2022. The memorandum outlined strategies and provided more concrete guidance for agencies around the Zero Trust Architecture strategy. For civilian agencies that regularly interface with the American public, and handle highly sensitive personal information, having a robust Zero Trust Architecture in place is vital. It’s also vital for agency workforces to understand Zero Trust principals, which can also help with securing government networks.These were the key insights of a recent episode of the Government Technology Insider “Zero Trust Architecture and the Federal Government Podcast Series” episode titled, “Improving Security Posture with Zero Trust Architecture” with Jim Farrell, Senior Cybersecurity Solution Executive, Verizon; and Wayne LeRiche, Field CTO of Palo Alto Networks.

Defense and intelligence agencies are demystifying Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and developing an understanding of what it is and how to integrate it within their organizations. With recent government mandates, it is important to understand the key principles of Zero Trust so that agencies can meet the mandates. By educating the workforce, the warfighters, and collaborating with other agencies, the defense and intelligence communities can be better prepared to deploy Zero Trust infrastructures. A key challenge is gaining clarity around how Zero Trust is different from older Defense in Depth strategies and using repeatable Zero Trust capability models for ongoing adoption. These were the key insights of a recent episode of the Government Technology Insider on Zero Trust and the federal government. In this episode on “Demystifying Zero Trust for the DoD and IC,” Wes Withrow, Public Sector Solutions Executive with Verizon; and Patrick Perry, Senior Director Strategic Initiatives DoD and IC Focused at Zscaler take the time to unpack the term and identify its central tenets.

Severe storms inflict widespread damage on everything in their path. From pinpoint damage done to homes and structures to large-scale disruptions caused by downed powerlines, the aftermath of a storm leaves communities with the monumental task of picking up the pieces. Making the process harder are many disaster response communication challenges, which require significant effort to overcome.Thankfully, the growing number of communities affected by server storms and other natural disasters are not alone. When dark clouds gather on the horizon, teams of emergency responders are waiting in the wings to help restore power and communications as soon as possible. However, those teams cannot rely on the regular communications infrastructure as they are repairing it. Disaster response is a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local governments and private sector partners.In the most recent installment of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, our team heard from Verizon Frontline Response Manager Tetoya Gibson and Client Partner Manager, Nieama Booker about the communications challenges first responders face and shared best practices for overcoming them. Both Tetoya and Niema play a crucial role in helping government organizations respond to disasters and bring a sense of normalcy back to the citizens in affected areas.