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Description:
In this episode of the Reckless Compliance podcast, Max is joined by the CTO of Valid Eval, who shares the journey of achieving FedRAMP Ready status and securing an IATO from NASA. From early career work on advanced defense systems to building a SaaS platform that streamlines proposal evaluation for government agencies, this episode dives deep into the realities of navigating federal compliance. The conversation highlights strategic investments in Kubernetes and open-source frameworks, lessons learned from choosing the right FedRAMP path, and why owning your own ATO can be a game-changer for growth in the federal space. You'll also hear insights into how and why Valid Eval chose Ignyte as their audit partner.

Discussion Topics:

• Career path from defense systems to SaaS for government proposal evaluation
• What the platform does and how it enables structured, auditable group decision-making
• Why FedRAMP became a growth imperative and how readiness was achieved
• Technical architecture decisions: Kubernetes, Big Bang, and open-source frameworks
• Open-source vs. proprietary compliance platforms — key trade-offs for small companies
• Step-by-step strategy: from raw architecture to IATO and beyond
• Selecting an auditor: what mattered most and how the decision supported speed and success
• Why owning your own ATO unlocks long-term flexibility and risk mitigation

Max Aulakh Bio:
Max is the CEO of Ignyte Assurance Platform and a Data Security and Compliance leader delivering DoD-tested security strategies and compliance that safeguard mission-critical IT operations. He has trained and excelled while working for the United States Air Force. He maintained and tested the InfoSec and ComSec functions of network hardware, software, and IT infrastructure for global unclassified and classified networks.

Connect with Max:
LinkedIn: Max Aulakh
Website: Ignyte Assurance Platform

Connect with the Guest:
LinkedIn: Jacob Ablowitz

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In this episode of the Reckless Compliance podcast, Max is joined by Jack Rumsey, Head of GRC at Swimlane. Jack shares his journey of navigating the world of compliance as Swimlane grows its presence in the federal market. The discussion covers Swimlane’s move toward CMMC Level 1, the challenges of balancing federal compliance with commercial certifications like SOC 2 and ISO, and the complexities of managing government systems. Jack also explains Swimlane’s experience with GRC, strategies for scoping compliance efforts, and how their automation tools help drive compliance.

Discussion Topics:

• The role of Swimlane in security automation and compliance
• The process of navigating CMMC Level 1 and self-attestation
• The intersection of commercial compliance standards (SOC 2, ISO) and federal requirements (CMMC, FedRAMP)
• Managing expectations and aligning compliance efforts with business value
• Strategies for reducing the scope of assessments and managing government contracts
• The importance of technical and security controls in federal compliance

Max Aulakh Bio:

Max is the CEO of Ignyte Assurance Platform and a Data Security and Compliance leader delivering DoD-tested security strategies and compliance that safeguard mission-critical IT operations. He has trained and excelled while working for the United States Air Force. He maintained and tested the InfoSec and ComSec functions of network hardware, software, and IT infrastructure for global unclassified and classified networks.

Connect with Max:

• LinkedIn: Max Aulakh
• Website: Ignyte Assurance Platform

Connect with Jack:

LinkedIn: Jack Rumsay

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Welcome to this episode of the Reckless Compliance podcast, brought to you by Ignyte, where we share our expertise on cyber risk and help you navigate the complexities of federal compliance. I am your host, Max Aulakh.

Our guest today is Aaron Bray, co-founder of Phylum, a company specializing in securing software supply chains.

We discuss:

• What is an SBOM? Understanding the Software Bill of Materials and its role in risk management
• Open-source security risks: How third-party libraries expose organizations to vulnerabilities
• Executive Orders & Compliance: The evolving enforcement of SBOMs in federal regulations
• Automation & AI in SBOM Management: How organizations can use automation to stay compliant and secure
• Challenges of Software Supply Chains: Managing risks with thousands of dependencies and contributors

Max Aulakh Bio:

Max is the CEO of Ignyte Assurance Platform and a Data Security and Compliance leader delivering DoD-tested security strategies and compliance that safeguard mission-critical IT operations. He has trained and excelled while working for the United States Air Force. He maintained and tested the InfoSec and ComSec functions of network hardware, software, and IT infrastructure for global unclassified and classified networks.

Max Aulakh on LinkedIn

Ignyte Assurance Platform Website