#191: Securing the Public Cloud: How Seattle & LA County DCFS Are Transforming Cybersecurity
#191: Securing the Public Cloud: How Seattle & LA County DCFS Are Transforming Cybersecurity
From Asset Management to AI: Building Modern Security for Vulnerable Communities
Featuring:
Greg Smith, Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Security & Infrastructure, City of Seattle IT
Allen Ohanian, Chief Information Security Officer, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
Brent Byrnes, Account Executive SLED, Wiz
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Seattle's risk-based approach is transforming traditional government cybersecurity
LA County DCFS's strategy for securing the nation's largest welfare agency's sensitive data in the cloud
Why emerging IoT devices and cloud assets are creating new visibility challenges for government infrastructure
The role of cloud visibility and democratized security in modern government environments
Real-world lessons from Seattle's cross-agency incident response and recovery strategies
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds
(03:14) Seattle's Evolution to Risk-Based Security
(04:52) Securing LA County DCFS's Cloud Environment
(07:38) Cloud Visibility in Government
(09:22) Asset Management Challenges in Modern Infrastructure
(12:45) Cross-Agency Incident Response: Seattle Library Case Study
(16:33) Crisis Communication Strategies
(22:18) AI Implementation and Security Threats
(27:42) Managing Modern Security Vendors
(31:15) Future of Government Cloud Security
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit techtables.substack.com
🎥 Upcoming Live Podcast Tours
1. 2026 IGNITE Powered by Info-Tech LIVE - Austin, TX - Sept. 17th-18th
If you’re an IT leader in Austin, Houston, or nearby, Info-Tech’s got complimentary tickets with your name on them (just DM me I’ll be there). IGNITE is getting past the AI hype and into the real questions CIOs are wrestling with: how to get your people actually using AI, what the shift from “employee in the loop” to “employee on the loop” looks like, and how to budget when the costs keep moving up.
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
2. 2026 EDUCAUSE - Denver, CO - Sept. 30th - Oct. 1st
Returning for a third year in partnership with Carahsoft, and we could not be more excited. TechTables heads to Denver to celebrate the leaders, the stories, and the work shaping the future of higher education!
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
3. 2026 TechTables Austin Live Podcast Tour - November 4th
We’re coming back to Texas for a live podcast stop in Austin, TX and we could not be more excited. TechTables heads to Austin to celebrate the leaders, the stories, and the work shaping the future of public sector!
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
4. 2026 GOVIT Leadership Summit - Bloomington, MN - November 8th - 10th, 2026
We’re heading to the GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium in Bloomington, MN and we could not be more excited to celebrate the leaders, the stories, and the work shaping the future of public sector!
→ See the program & mainstage speakers: click here.
→ Attending? Let's record while you're there. Email: joe@techtables.com
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:
1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter
Thanks for reading TechTables! Get early access to new episodes, insights, upcoming events, and more — straight to your inbox.
2. 🤝 You shouldn't make the hardest calls alone.
A peer advisory board of local government CIOs. Vendor-free, application only, twice a year in person — with 4x private forums in between.
See if you're a fit → https://techtables.com/communities-local-government
3. 🤝 The Better Together Series
The narrative-driven series bringing together industry partners and public sector CXOs. Discover the compelling stories that unfold when we stop working in silos and start building together.
»»» Email joe@techtables.com to learn more.
