A CISO's Guide to Securing AI - Securing AI for Federal, DIB, and DoW Entities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping federal missions, defense operations, and critical infrastructure. From intelligence analysis to logistics and cyber defense, AI’s transformative power is undeniable. Yet, with great power comes great responsibility and risk.Breaking the Search Habit
In today's fast-paced digital world, digital workers of all kinds are constantly seeking ways to streamline their workflows and enhance productivity. One of the most exciting new tools available is Copilot, an "answer engine" that goes beyond the capabilities of traditional search engines. To help illustrate the unique benefits of Copilot, I recently hosted a game show-style event showcasing its ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and provide comprehensive answers, saving time and energy. The best part? I used Copilot itself to help me create the framework for this gameshow in just a few minutes. I'll include the prompts and responses I used at the end of this article so you can see just how easy it was. A special thanks to all those who attended our recent Tribal Nations conference and learning event where leaders from some of America's most tech-forward tribes come to explore what Copilot could do to bring greater productivity and equity to its members and business interests. So, why a game show format? I believe that engagement == better learning so the game show format was designed to be interactive and quasi-competitive, making it easy and fun for participants to grasp the differences between Copilot and standard search engine experiences in a memorable way. The event featured a series of fun activities and challenges that highlighted Copilot's conversational ease and ability to provide composite answers. For example, participants were asked to solve complex queries using both Copilot and traditional search engines, demonstrating how Copilot's approach simplifies the process. For extra fun, Copilot also provided me with taglines, slogans, and even a fun graphic, all in literally just a few minutes. I went from idea to implementation, all in under 20 minutes. Copilot is an Answer Engine Unlike traditional search engines that require multiple queries and manual collation of information, Copilot acts as an answer engine, synthesizing data from various sources to provide a single, comprehensive response. The game show showcased activities where participants experienced firsthand how Copilot can save valuable time and effort. By leveraging Copilot, information professionals can focus on more strategic tasks rather than getting bogged down in repetitive search queries. I find this an incredibly important distinction for a couple reasons... First, we've all adopted search syntax as a second language. When we sit down at that search prompt we choose the right key words, in the right order, and heck… we've gotten pretty good at it. But the same string of keywords sent to Copilot frequently disappoint in results. It can be a challenge to trust the natural language capabilities of Copilot to hear and understand (and communicate back!) without using stilted search syntax tricks. Second, part of how Copilot differentiates itself from standard search queries is that it can actually retrieve information from disparate sources to compare and collate its response. The more specific and natural-language your question the better it seems to response. An example that seemed to resonate with folks during the gameplay: "I am a 49 year old cloud solution architect with 27 years of experience in the IT field, living in the Seattle area and I'm considering moving to Tampa Bay Florida. What can I expect in terms of changes to my cost of living and compensation?" What's important to note is that both contestants are likely to generate an answer, but Copilot excelled by doing it faster and more comprehensively. Collating and presenting data from several different searches as a complete answer, and it self-cites so you can quickly vet your information sources! Most importantly, it invites follow-up questions in a conversational manner that lets you dig further into details or compare more broadly in the abstract. Here's a quick screenshot of the reply generated in just seconds: Breaking the Search Habit The tagline "breaking the search habit" captures the key takeaway from the event. Copilot offers a different experience, emphasizing conversational ease over specific search syntax. Participants learned that talking to Copilot is more intuitive and efficient, allowing them to obtain the information they need without the hassle of crafting precise search queries, and then stitching together data from across a dozen different web results. This shift in approach can significantly enhance productivity and streamline workflows. Conclusion The game show event was a resounding success, providing participants with a fun and informative way to understand the benefits of Copilot. By breaking the search habit and embracing Copilot's answer engine capabilities, they unlocked new levels of efficiency and productivity. I encourage everyone to explore Copilot and experience the difference for themselves and hope that this approach can be a fun and engaging way to help folks in your organization add a powerful new capability to their toolkits. As promised, here are the handful of interactions with Copilot that produced everything I needed to make this fun game show in just minutes...DIB Embraces Cloud PCs: Streamlined Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Cost Savings
Aerospace and Defense Distributor Embraces Cloud PCs: Streamlined Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Cost Savings Jaco Aerospace holds a pivotal role in the aerospace and defense industry. As a distributor, they serve a remarkably diverse clientele, including the Defense Industrial Base, airlines, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, general aviation, space exploration, rocketry, satellites, supersonic aircraft, lunar landers, Air-Taxi initiatives, and Defense Technology companies. This diversity brings heightened responsibilities, especially in meeting stringent compliance requirements. Beyond the standard distributor regulations, they have to adhere to rigorous standards such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DoD), AS9120, and the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). For a detailed breakdown of these requirements, check out their whitepaper here. Early Adoption of Cloud PCs Jaco Aerospace was an early adopter of cloud technology, transitioning their operations to Cloud PCs in February 2022. They recognized the transformative potential of cloud computing for IT infrastructure and firmly believe traditional PCs will soon become a thing of the past. By integrating Cloud PCs, they enhanced their AS9120-certified quality system, prioritizing risk reduction. The decision to migrate to the cloud in a post-COVID-19 world has unlocked numerous benefits, including: Enhanced Compliance Their operating environment meets the requirements of CMMC Level 1 (self-attestation). The straightforward in-house implementation enabled them to achieve and maintain compliance with ease. Robust Cybersecurity Cloud PCs help mitigate cybersecurity risks by enabling granular control over user permissions through conditional access policies. For example, they restrict most users' access to Microsoft apps on mobile devices, ensuring sensitive data remains secure. Consistent User Experience With Cloud PCs, they deliver a uniform user experience across the organization, improving productivity and streamlining workflows for all team members. Cost Savings The reduced need for IT-related user interactions and minimal hardware changes translate to significant cost savings in both the short and long term. Increased Connectivity Employees benefit from breakneck internet speeds when connecting to Cloud PCs, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted workflows. Furthermore, as they use Microsoft Teams for all phone communication, this speed results in high-quality calls not always found in their legacy VOIP solutions. Scalable Resources Cloud PCs allow them to dynamically scale memory and RAM based on individual user requirements, providing flexibility and operational efficiency. Simplified Scalability for Growth As their business grows, onboarding new employees is seamless. In rare employee departures, they can quickly offboard them and repurpose their equipment, ensuring a smooth transition. Risk Mitigation in Action The benefits of risk mitigation are often challenging to quantify, but recent events provided a clear example of its value. Their Valencia headquarters was in an evacuation zone during the Southern California wildfires. Thanks to their cloud infrastructure, employees swiftly transitioned to working from home by taking their thin client devices. Jaco Aerospace was required to maintain uninterrupted operations as a critical part of the Defense Industrial Base during COVID-19. At that time, the absence of a cloud-based system posed significant IT challenges. In contrast, during the wildfire evacuation, their team experienced just a one-hour disruption before resuming full operations—a stark difference that underscores the agility enabled by Cloud PCs. Looking Ahead At Jaco Aerospace, they see Cloud PCs (Windows 365) as a cornerstone of their future, enabling them to stay agile, secure, and ready to tackle any challenges that come their way. Whether it’s meeting stringent compliance requirements or ensuring seamless business continuity during unexpected events, their transition to the cloud has proven to be an invaluable asset. With the upcoming release of Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link, companies shifting to a Cloud PC environment will benefit from its affordability and the streamlined process of embracing this forward-looking technology. As the industry evolves, they remain dedicated to adopting innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and deliver unparalleled value to their customers.GCC/GCCH Teams Phone Summit - Feb 25-26 Arlington, VA - REGISTRATION OPEN!
Registration is now open for the GCC/GCCH Teams Phone Summit in Arlington, VA, Feb 25-26. Click here to register: https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=3586839266 We look forward to hosting you at the GCC/GCCH Teams Phone Summit on Tuesday, Feb 25 and Wednesday, Feb 26, in Arlington VA! The This is your opportunity to explore current and coming capabilities to your government environments! You’ll be surrounded by the experts to get answers and receive the tools and resources to navigate your unique voice journey. Day 1 - Tuesday, Feb. 25 - 8:30am-4:30pm Welcome from Javier Vasquez, VP, Microsoft Federal Teams Phone and Device Overview - latest and greatest and coming capabilities Call Records Insights Admin Tips and Tricks Fireside Chat highlighting 3 government agency's journeys to Teams Phone Partner Corner: Momentum Telecom (Lunch Sponsor), CIS Secure (Breakfast Sponsor), Audiocodes, SOFTEL, and Poly Day 2 - Wednesday, Feb. 26 - 9:30am-3:00pm 1:1 time with Dave Jennings - only 3 slots left (11am-12pm, 12-1pm, and 1-2pm EDT) - sign up here: Book Time with Dave! Topical breakout sessions with GCC/GCCH engineering experts (each one delivered three times during the day): Unlocking Insights: Mastering Teams Phone Monitoring and Reporting Teams Fortress: Ensuring Security & Compliance Microsoft Teams Advanced Calling and Beyond MS Teams Phone and the Future of Copilot/AI Lunch coupons to local establishment(s) to be provided Reach out to Danny McBride at dannymcbride@microsoft.com with any questions.The Strategic Advantage of AI for the Defense Industrial Base
In an era where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) stands at the threshold of a transformative opportunity through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The integration of AI into defense operations promises unprecedented efficiency, operational superiority, and strategic advantages. The Department of Defense believes so much in AI technology that they budgeted $1.8B in FY24 to support AI efforts which could include identifying potential threats or targets on the battlefield.Preparing for CMMC 2.0: Build New or Fix Old?
When preparing for CMMC compliance, defense contractors often evaluate two options: build a new environment or try to fix their current one. Both options have pros and cons, and the decision will depend on several factors, such as the current state of the environment, the budget, the timeline, and the desired level of CMMC certification.
