Visibility, AI Governance, and Defending Against Emerging Threats

Presented by Infoblox & Carahsoft

Chris Usserman, Global Public Sector CTO at Infoblox, focused on the growing challenge of defending against AI-enabled cyber threats while agencies simultaneously accelerate AI adoption.

Usserman explained that threat actors are advancing faster than many organizations because attackers are less constrained by governance requirements, compliance standards, and operational oversight. Government agencies must move quickly enough to defend themselves while still maintaining appropriate governance, privacy protections, and accountability structures.

He argued that visibility is the foundational requirement for cybersecurity in an AI-driven environment. Organizations cannot secure systems they cannot see. AI tools are already embedded inside browsers, productivity suites, and enterprise software platforms, meaning many organizations are already using AI whether they formally recognize it or not.

Usserman warned that attackers increasingly leverage “living off the land” techniques, where they exploit trusted applications and enterprise tools rather than deploying obvious malware. AI-powered systems can potentially help attackers identify sensitive data, automate reconnaissance, and move laterally across environments using legitimate applications already deployed inside organizations.

The conversation also addressed the federal government’s push toward commercial technology adoption. Usserman explained that government agencies must define clear cybersecurity requirements while allowing industry partners to innovate rapidly. Government should focus on establishing security expectations while leveraging the agility and technical innovation of private sector providers.

He stressed the importance of collaboration among agencies, standards organizations like NIST, and private cybersecurity companies to continuously monitor evolving AI threats and translate emerging intelligence into operational protections.

Key Takeaways

• Visibility across networks, applications, and AI systems is essential for modern cybersecurity operations.
• AI is already embedded in many trusted enterprise applications, creating hidden security challenges.
• Government and industry collaboration is critical to keeping pace with rapidly evolving AI-enabled threats.