Presented by Broadcom and Carahsoft
Modernization may be one of the most popular buzzwords in federal IT today, but it comes with a warning label: don’t move too fast without addressing today’s risks. In this segment of Fed Gov Today, Francis Rose talks with Vikram Thakur, Technical Director at Broadcom, who urges federal leaders to balance long-term vision with near-term realities.
Thakur agrees that artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are essential tools for the future. They have the power to transform how agencies operate, streamline processes, and enhance cybersecurity by detecting threats faster than humans ever could. But he issues a clear caution — agencies cannot leap ahead to futuristic capabilities without first shoring up the basics.
Many federal agencies, he explains, are still operating with sprawling, disconnected legacy systems. Some of these systems were never designed to be online, let alone integrated with modern, cloud-based technologies. They carry decades of technical debt and often lack even baseline security controls. If agencies build next-generation solutions on top of this fragile infrastructure, they risk compounding vulnerabilities and creating even bigger problems down the road.
Instead, Thakur says, agencies must start by establishing government-wide baseline security. This “blocking and tackling” involves hardening legacy systems, patching known vulnerabilities, and ensuring that core networks and services are trustworthy. Once this foundation is in place, agencies can safely introduce more advanced technologies like AI and machine learning.
When deployed on top of a secure baseline, these technologies become powerful force multipliers. Thakur notes that AI can learn what “normal” looks like in a particular environment — whether that’s finance teams running macros, HR departments accessing sensitive records, or frontline staff managing citizen-facing systems. Once normal patterns are understood, AI can flag anomalies
But technology alone won’t solve the problem. According to Thakur, the single biggest hurdle is talent. “The issue is not with technology, but with the talent,” he tells Rose. The federal government simply doesn’t have enough skilled professionals to design, implement, and manage secure systems at the scale required. Thakur estimates the need is in the thousands — possibly tens of thousands — of additional experts to close the gap.
Solving this challenge will require collaboration between government and industry. Thakur suggests agencies must make cybersecurity and IT modernization roles more attractive by offering incentives, competitive pay, and clear career pathways. Industry can help by partnering on training programs, apprenticeships, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that accelerate workforce development.
Only with the right people in place can agencies confidently move forward with ambitious modernization plans. Thakur emphasizes that once baseline security is achieved and teams are properly staffed, agencies will be in a far better position to integrate new technologies securely and at scale. Vikram's message: by addressing today’s vulnerabilities, hiring and training the workforce of tomorrow, and then layering in AI and automation, agencies can modernize with confidence. They can meet today’s mission needs while preparing for the future, ensuring that federal IT systems are both innovative and secure.