AI Is Transforming Government—How to Stay Secure in 2026 with Chris Townsend of Elastic

AI is moving fast—and cyber threats are moving faster.
As federal agencies race to modernize, how can they adopt AI securely without increasing risk?

In this episode of FORUM’s Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Chris Townsend, Global VP of Public Sector at Elastic, to unpack what’s coming next for AI, cybersecurity, and federal IT modernization in 2026.

With the federal government prioritizing AI adoption and digital transformation—highlighted by the 2025 AI Action Plan and procurement initiatives like GSA’s OneGov program—agencies are under pressure to innovate quickly while maintaining security, compliance, and mission continuity.

Chris explains how Elastic’s open, scalable Search AI Platform helps government organizations modernize legacy systems, strengthen security operations, and gain real-time visibility across data silos. The conversation also dives into the growing risks tied to rapid AI adoption, including supply chain attacks, identity-based intrusions, and zero-day exploits.

You’ll also hear insights on Elastic’s recent partnership with CISA, focused on developing a unified SIEM-as-a-Service to standardize security data collection and accelerate incident response across federal civilian agencies.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The top cybersecurity challenges facing government agencies in 2026
• How AI can turn security data into faster, smarter decisions
• Why standardized security data collection is critical for federal defense
• How Elastic supports Zero Trust, secure AI adoption, and modernization at scale

As cyber threats continue to grow in complexity, this episode offers practical insights for public sector leaders balancing AI-powered innovation with the imperative to protect sensitive data.

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Keeping IT Brief with Mary Ann Brown features quick, insightful conversations with government and industry leaders on federal IT, cybersecurity, AI, and emerging technologies shaping the future of government operations.

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