November 5, 2025
Presented by Commvault
Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com
Richard Breakiron, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Commvault, joins Francis Rose to discuss how artificial intelligence and smart architecture can transform federal cybersecurity from reactive to proactive. Breakiron explains that AI is no longer just a helpful tool—it’s becoming a core component of how agencies can modernize, strengthen, and simplify their defenses while improving operational readiness.
Breakiron begins by noting that some of the world’s largest companies are voluntarily adopting the FedRAMP Highframework, even though they aren’t required to do so. He says that this move reflects a growing recognition that security should not be an afterthought. Rather than adding protections at the end of modernization projects, these organizations are integrating cybersecurity into the very architecture of their systems and business processes. According to Breakiron, this shift gives them a “strategic advantage,” ensuring that as they innovate, security moves with them—not behind them.
He underscores the importance of seeing architecture as a set of requirements—not a rigid blueprint. Breakiron compares it to designing a hospital where patient transport needs to flow through locked doors. The requirement is clear: movement must be fast and secure. How that happens—whether through video recognition, badges, or sensors—is up to the organization. In the same way, he says, a zero trust architecture gives agencies flexibility to choose the right solutions for their needs while maintaining a secure foundation.
Breakiron points out that government agencies, like the Department of Defense, are already driving this mindset. He describes a recent example of an agency planning to upgrade its data protection systems. Reviewers challenged the agency to think differently
Another major theme in the conversation is culture. Breakiron believes true modernization happens when employees are “thinking secure at the outset.” Embedding security into daily operations—not treating it as a compliance box—creates a culture of proactive defense. This mindset ensures that when a cyber event occurs, the organization is already prepared rather than scrambling to respond.
As the discussion turns to artificial intelligence, Breakiron highlights how AI ties people, process, and technology together. He references a recent talk at the Library of Congress, where AI was described as “the algorithm that allows people to be compressed.” In other words, AI can handle administrative and routine tasks, freeing experts to focus on the nuanced work that only humans can perform. For example, AI can automatically flag potential supply chain risks or verify vendor security certifications, providing real-time insights and reducing manual effort.
Breakiron emphasizes that AI doesn’t replace human expertise—it amplifies it. The key, he says, is understanding that AI can make automation dynamic rather than static. When AI proactively identifies risks or inefficiencies, agencies can shift from reacting to problems to anticipating them.