Turning Federal Backup Data Into an AI-Ready Asset

Marlin McFate, Public Sector CTO and CISO, Cohesity

Federal agencies are required to maintain backups, but data sprawl, duplication and limited visibility continue to complicate compliance, security and innovation. Marlin McFate, public sector CTO and CISO at Cohesity, unpacked how these challenges are accelerating the push to modernize data management across government.

McFate shared real-world examples of how an agency transformed backup data into a centralized, secure resource to unlock new opportunities for analytics and AI while strengthening cyber resilience. He also offered practical guidance for agencies early in their AI journey, outlining how modern data management can simplify AI adoption, reduce complexity and deliver measurable value quickly.