From Compliance Checkbox to Mission Enabler: How the Department of War is Redefining Records and Information Management

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In late 2025, the Department of War (DoW) created a new, sharply defined agenda: modernize the department’s network backbone, replace legacy IT systems, strengthen cybersecurity and build up the workforce. Underlying each of these priorities is a single, foundational requirement—clean, structured, enterprise-grade data. That requirement runs directly through Records and Information Management (RIM). This discipline has long been treated as a compliance afterthought but is now emerging as a strategic cornerstone of the DoW’s broader modernization effort.

A Strategic Shift in How the DoW Thinks About RIM

For years, RIM operated in silos, funded project by project, shaped by the priorities of large system integrators (SIs) and measured against narrow compliance benchmarks rather than mission outcomes. The DoW’s updated Central Program Guidelines represent a fundamental departure from that model. The new directives reframe RIM not as a standalone compliance function but as an integral component of Enterprise Data Management, a shift with far-reaching implications for how agencies prioritize funding, evaluate technology and structure their vendor relationships.

The driving insight is straightforward: every emerging technology that supports the warfighter, from artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics to autonomous systems, depends on accurate, well-structured data. If that data lacks proper governance, metadata and organization, AI cannot perform its intended function. By positioning RIM as a subsection of a broader data management strategy, the DoW is signaling that information governance is not a back-office concern. It is a mission-critical capability.

Automation as the Path to Seamless Compliance

One of the most consequential changes embedded in the DoW’s updated guidelines is a decisive push toward automated information management. Rather than placing the compliance burden on individual knowledge workers, the new model asks end users to simply perform their jobs while technology handles governance, metadata tagging, elimination of Redundant, Obsolete and Trivial (ROT) content and structured delivery to backend data lakes. This “one-click records management” philosophy reflects a broader trend across Federal technology: compliance infrastructure should be invisible to the user and automatic in its execution.

AI and automation are making this possible at scale. Modern RIM platforms can ingest unstructured content, apply the correct governance frameworks in real time and curate clean data for downstream mission applications, all without requiring manual intervention at the point of creation. The result is leaner workflows, reduced cybersecurity exposure, consolidated storage and a data foundation strong enough to support the advanced technologies warfighters increasingly depend on.

Overcoming the Barriers to Enterprise RIM Adoption

Despite the strategic clarity of the DoW’s new direction, agencies face meaningful challenges in modernizing their RIM programs. Historically, funding for Environmental Resources Management (ERM) initiatives was limited; guidance existed, but enforcement did not. This allowed agencies to defer implementation in favor of more visible mission priorities. That dynamic created a fragmented market where point solutions proliferated but enterprise-level deployments remained rare. Several persistent challenges continue to shape the modernization landscape:

  • Funding gaps driven by years of deprioritized ERM investment and limited central mandates
  • Perception barriers that kept RIM outside of strategic IT conversations and budget cycles
  • System integrator dominance, which means RIM solutions must be embedded within broader SI solution sets to gain enterprise-level traction
  • FedRAMP certification requirements that have limited the pool of cloud-ready RIM vendors eligible for DoW opportunities
  • Legacy point-solution mindsets that must evolve toward integrated, enterprise-wide approaches encompassing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), privacy, governance, compliance and legal holds

Vendors that learn to align their value propositions with agency mission language, framing RIM capabilities in terms of warfighter readiness, reduced legal costs, faster response times and data quality for AI, will find a far more receptive audience than those leading with traditional compliance messaging.

Carahsoft’s Role in Meeting This Moment

As demand for enterprise RIM capabilities accelerates, Carahsoft is uniquely positioned to connect agencies, technology vendors and system integrators around comprehensive, end-to-end solutions. Rather than advocating for any single point product, Carahsoft’s approach centers on identifying how RIM capabilities can extend and strengthen existing enterprise deployments, creating meaningful cross-sell and upsell opportunities that benefit agencies, integrators and vendors alike.

This Better Together model is particularly powerful in the current environment. When a technology partner holds an enterprise relationship with a Federal agency, there is a clear opportunity to layer in RIM capabilities that address records governance, privacy compliance, FOIA workflows and legal holds as integrated functions of a unified data management strategy. Carahsoft’s breadth of vendor relationships, extensive contract vehicle portfolio and deep agency knowledge makes this type of coordinated solutioning achievable at scale.

The DoW has historically led Federal technology adoption, with Public Sector and State and Local agencies following its lead. The enterprise RIM transformation underway at the department signals where the broader Government technology market is heading. Organizations that align their strategies now will be positioned to deliver mission value as that momentum builds across the Public Sector.

Whether your agency is beginning the journey toward enterprise RIM or looking to integrate AI-driven automation into existing workflows, Carahsoft and its partner ecosystem are ready to help.

Visit Carahsoft’s Records and Information Management portfolio to explore available solutions, or contact the team directly at RIMMarketing@Carahsoft.com to start the conversation.

The Top 5 Insights for Government from GSMCON 2026

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As expectations evolve, Government agencies are redefining how they communicate with the public online. The Government Social Media Conference 2026 (GSMCON) highlighted how Public Sector organizations are adapting their approaches to constituent engagement. The conference gathered over 1,000 Government communicators, senior leaders and social media professionals from across the country in New Orleans, LA to learn strategies on how to build trust, deliver meaningful experiences and demonstrate value across the organization through social channels. 

This year, speakers highlighted how Government agencies can better serve their communities while navigating resources, evolving leadership priorities and platform changes from multilingual communication strategies to stronger internal alignment. 

Here are the top takeaways from the conference. 

Human-Centered Storytelling Builds Trust and Engagement 

Across all sessions, the importance of authenticity emerged as a consistent theme. Constituents are more likely to engage with content that reflects real people and real experiences rather than overly polished messaging. 

Leading agencies are prioritizing: 

  • Frontline individuals who represent the day-to-day work of Government 
  • Simple, approachable content that removes barriers to participation 
  • Internal recognition to encourage staff involvement and ownership 

Whether highlighting public safety personnel, infrastructure teams or community outreach efforts, these human moments strengthen credibility and foster meaningful connections. 

For Public Sector organizations, storytelling is a strategic tool for reinforcing transparency, trust and genuine relationships with the community. 

Effective Content Must Capture Attention Immediately 

Today’s digital environment requires Government communicators to deliver significant impact quickly. Agencies have just a few seconds to capture attention and communicate mission-critical messages. 

High-performing content typically: 

  • Begins with the most compelling moment or insight 
  • Uses clear, concise visual and text elements 
  • Creates curiosity that encourages continued engagement 

Short-form video remains one of the most effective formats for reaching constituents. Successful execution depends on pacing, clarity and intentional storytelling that aligns with how audiences consume information. 

Agencies should focus on designing content that is both efficient and engaging while maintaining accuracy and professionalism. 

A Structured Campaign Approach Improves Results 

As Government social media programs develop, a more intentional and consistent campaign approach is becoming essential for sustaining effective communication over time. Zack Seipert, Marketing and Communications Specialist at the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, highlighted the value of the Plan-Build-Run (PBR) framework as a reliable, repeatable model for planning and executing these efforts: 

  • Plan: Define clear objectives, identify your audience, establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and select the right channels based on where constituents engage 
  • Build: Develop compelling creative, implement tracking tools and refine audience targeting for accuracy and relevance 
  • Run: Monitor performance, optimize in real time and apply insights to strengthen future campaigns 

This structured approach helps Public Sector teams create more data-driven campaigns aligned with organizational priorities while delivering measurable results. 

With social media management solutions from our partners at Hootsuite, Public Sector social media teams can maximize limited resources by streamlining workflows and gaining clearer visibility into performance across channels. 

Internal Alignment Strengthens External Impact  

When a Public Sector agency is imparting the same message internally as it is to the public, the impact delivered is much stronger. In the session “This is How We Do It: How to Turn Employees into the Stars of Our Social Story”, Charles Newman of the City of Columbus Department of Public Service emphasized that strong internal alignment starts with bringing employees into the communication process, helping connect day-to-day work to broader messaging goals. 

In “Managing Social Media Response Through Crisis and High-Pressure Events”, Kate Stegall of the Louisiana State Police highlighted the importance of clear internal coordination during high-pressure situations to ensure messaging remains consistent across teams and aligned with agency priorities. 

Effective strategies include: 

  • Delivering regular reports that clearly link performance to agency priorities  
  • Using clear language that supports informed decision-making  
  • Providing actionable insights and recommendations alongside metrics  
  • Building relationships through cross-department collaboration 

Short-Form Video Plays a Key Role in Government Communication  

Multiple sessions emphasized that short-form video has become a core channel for effective Government communication and audience reach. In “60-Second Stories: Trim the Fat & Hold Attention”, Daniel Robinson of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) highlighted how concise storytelling is essential for maintaining viewer attention in fast-moving social feeds, especially when communicating public updates and educational content. 

Similarly, in “Reels for Social Recruitment”, Wendy Aguilar of the Sacramento Fire Department demonstrated how short-form video can be used strategically for workforce recruitment. Aguilar showed that authentic, behind-the-scenes content often outperforms highly produced messaging when building trust and interest. 

In “Strategy, Workflow & Team Culture for Consistent Reel Creation,” Meredith Haynes and Tony Adamo of the City of McKinney, TX, reinforced that success with short-form video depends less on one-off content and more on building repeatable workflows and cross-team collaboration. 

Across these breakouts, speakers consistently pointed to short-form video as a high-impact tool for storytelling, recruitment and public information, especially when supported by clear strategy, consistent execution and content designed for how audiences consume information today. 

GSMCON 2026 highlighted a continued evolution in how Government and Public Sector organizations approach social media. The focus is shifting toward intentional, strategic communication that prioritizes trust, clarity and measurable impact. 

By applying these best practices, Government organizations can build a stronger social media presence and foster stronger, more meaningful relationships with the constituents they serve. 

To further explore the tools, trends and strategies shaping digital engagement in Government, visit Carahsoft’s Customer Experience and Engagement Solutions page and see our portfolio of Government Social Media solutions. 

Contact the Hootsuite Team at Hootsuite@Carahsoft.com to learn more about how Carahsoft’s Government social media management tools can support your organization’s digital strategy. 

OSINT and Executive Protection: A Critical Capability for Modern Security Operations

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As threats to executives, public officials and high-profile individuals continue to evolve, Executive Protection (EP) programs are increasingly reliant on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) to anticipate, detect and mitigate risk. From online harassment and doxxing to geopolitical instability and lone-actor threats, the modern threat landscape is shaped—and often signaled—by publicly available information.

OSINT has emerged as a foundational capability for EP teams, enabling proactive, intelligence-led security decisions that are faster, more adaptive and more comprehensive than traditional approaches alone.

Why OSINT Matters for Executive Protection

EP is no longer limited to physical security and close-in protection. Today’s threats often originate in the digital domain before manifesting in the physical world. OSINT allows EP teams to monitor and assess:

  • Online threats, grievances and fixation behaviors
  • Social media activity and emerging narratives targeting executives
  • Event-driven risks tied to protests, activism or geopolitical developments
  • Travel-related threats, including local crime trends and unrest
  • Digital exposure, doxxing risks and personal data leakage

By analyzing these open-source signals, EP teams gain early warning indicators that can inform protective posture, travel planning and resource allocation.

Supporting Proactive, Intelligence-Led Protection

OSINT enables a shift from reactive protection to proactive threat management. Rather than responding only after an incident or credible threat emerges, EP teams can continuously assess risk and identify patterns that indicate escalation.

Key benefits include:

  • Threat Identification & Prioritization: Distinguishing between credible threats and background noise
  • Advance Planning: Enhancing route selection, venue security and travel assessments
  • Protective Intelligence Integration: Feeding OSINT into broader intelligence and security workflows
  • Scalability: Supporting protection for multiple executives across global environments

This intelligence-driven approach is especially critical as executives maintain a growing digital presence and operate in increasingly complex security environments.

Ethical, Legal and Privacy Considerations

As with any intelligence activity, OSINT for EP must be conducted responsibly. EP programs must balance threat awareness with privacy, civil liberties and legal compliance, ensuring that collection and analysis focus on publicly available, lawful sources.

Clear governance-defined use cases and analyst training are essential to maintaining ethical OSINT practices while still delivering actionable security insights.

The Growing Role of OSINT in Executive Protection Programs

Across Government, Private Sector and critical infrastructure organizations, OSINT is becoming a standard component of mature EP programs. Whether supporting senior Government officials, corporate leadership or high-visibility executives, OSINT enhances situational awareness and strengthens protective outcomes.

As digital information continues to expand and threats grow more asymmetric, OSINT will remain a vital tool—helping EP teams stay ahead of risk, adapt to change and protect their principals in an increasingly interconnected world.

Ready to Strengthen Your Executive Protection Program with OSINT?

As The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider™, Carahsoft helps Government agencies, defense organizations and critical infrastructure teams access the OSINT tools and expertise needed to build proactive, intelligence-led protection programs.

From Visibility to Zero Trust: Enabling Federal Agency Cybersecurity at Scale

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As Federal agencies accelerate their Zero Trust journeys in response to executive mandates and evolving compliance requirements, cybersecurity leaders face a fundamental challenge: they cannot protect what they cannot see. Zero Trust depends on complete, reliable visibility across modern cloud environments and legacy Operational Technology (OT) systems. Without that packet-level visibility, Zero Trust cannot be effectively enforced.

Closing the Network Visibility Gap

Most agencies rely on Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) ports to correspond network traffic to security tools, but this approach can leave security sensors with incomplete data, especially in legacy OT environments. Garland Technology’s network Traffic Access Points (TAPs) address this directly. Passive hardware TAPs sit in line between network devices, duplicating traffic for monitoring tools. TAPs carry no Media Access Control (MAC) or Internet Protocol (IP) address, making them invisible to adversaries and work across virtually any vendor ecosystem without creating new visibility constraints.

For environments that need strict one-way data flow, hardware data diodes add another layer of protection. They enforce unidirectional traffic at the circuit level, replacing or working alongside existing SPAN or mirror ports without requiring a full infrastructure overhaul. With National Cross Domain Strategy & Management Office (NCD SMO) certification in its final stages, hardware-based data diodes offer Federal agencies a compliance-ready path to enforce one-way traffic.

Distributing Visibility Intelligently with Packet Brokers

Complete network visibility across a Federal environment involves more than a single TAP or sensor. Traffic moves across multiple links, environments and speeds, and it must be routed to the right monitoring and security tools. Network packet brokers from Garland Technology help agencies receive data from multiple sources and distribute them.

Packet brokers make large-scale visibility manageable through capabilities including:

  • Aggregating traffic from multiple feeds
  • Filtering relevant data streams
  • Load balancing across tool sets
  • Deduplicating redundant packets
  • Slicing and timestamping packets for precision analysis
  • Tunneling traffic across segmented environments

These features reduce overload and improve monitoring performance. In practice, packet brokers can feed targeted traffic simultaneously into Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms, intrusion detection systems, network performance monitors and other sensors.

In OT environments structured around the Purdue model, packet brokers typically sit at the operations systems level, aggregating traffic from TAPs and SPAN ports at lower network layers and routing it upward, through data diodes where required, into the tool sets where security teams can act.

Converging IT and OT for Zero Trust Compliance

Zero Trust is accelerating IT and OT convergence. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) framework, along with agency-specific guidance, demands continuous verification of users, devices and applications across the entire network. This is especially challenging because many OT devices in Government networks are decades old and cannot support software updates or inline security tooling without disrupting critical operations.

A practical approach is to leave those systems in place while using network TAPs to pull traffic from legacy OT devices without interrupting operations. That allows security platforms to analyze activity, apply threat intelligence and enforce policy at the network level without touching the devices themselves.

This visibility also enables virtual patching. When a firewall platform can identify an OT device’s version and known vulnerabilities, it can block traffic patterns associated with known threats at the network level without interrupting critical operations. Security teams can also tailor the virtual patching profile to the devices in their environment, resulting in a consolidated, visual asset inventory that maps how OT devices are organized across the network.

A Unified Security Fabric for Continuous Assessment

Zero Trust depends on multiple capabilities working together, including identity, access permissions, segmentation, policy enforcement and continuous assessment. At Federal scale, those functions are most effective when they are integrated rather than spread across disconnected tools. That is where Fortinet Federal brings its security fabric alongside Garland Technology’s visibility infrastructure.

A unified next-generation firewall platform, Fortinet Federal’s FortiGate platform combines routing, Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), segmentation and threat detection into a single operating system, FortiOS, reducing blind spots. FortiGate also extends visibility across switches and wireless access points, enabling security teams to enforce policy more consistently across users, devices and applications.

This consolidated visibility supports Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) by applying consistent policy and authentication standards across remote and on-premises users. Threat intelligence further strengthens this model by continuously updating and distributing protections across the environment. FortiGuard Labs sustains this visibility and enforcement through a global threat intelligence network that continuously feeds into Network Operations Center (NOC), Security Operations Center (SOC), Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) and SIEM platforms, enabling teams to investigate threats and respond in a coordinated manner.

A Trusted, Compliant and Isolated Security Supply Chain

For Federal agencies, Zero Trust readiness also depends on the integrity of the security supply chain. Security tools must come from vendors with the structure, compliance posture and operational safeguards required for Federal deployment.

Fortinet Federal delivers industry-leading cybersecurity and secure networking capabilities to the U.S. Government through a dedicated, independently operated and federally aligned organization. Its purpose is to serve as a trusted mission partner—providing validated, secure supply chain assurance as well as high-performance and cost-efficient technology.

On the visibility side, Garland Technology’s American-manufactured hardware purpose-built for network TAPs, packet brokers, inline bypass and data diodes helps agencies scale to full-time continuous monitoring architectures without requiring major platform changes or vendor transitions.

Building Toward a More Secure Future

The path to Zero Trust in Federal environments requires the right partners working together. Garland Technology provides purpose-built visibility infrastructure that reliably delivers packet data across IT and OT environments without disrupting legacy systems or creating new points of failure. Fortinet Federal’s federally vetted, supply-chain-isolated security platform turns that visibility into enforceable policy through threat intelligence, network segmentation, ZTNA and continuous assessment. Together, Garland Technology and Fortinet Federal give agencies the integrated foundation needed to implement Zero Trust at scale, protect critical infrastructure and stay ahead of evolving threats.

To learn more about achieving packet visibility and Zero Trust at scale, watch Fortinet Federal and Garland Technology’s webinar, “From Visibility to Zero Trust: Enabling Federal Agency Cybersecurity at Scale.”

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Fortinet and Garland Technology, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

VMware Private AI: Secure, Scalable AI Adoption for Healthcare

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Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is nearly universal with approximately 98% of healthcare executives reporting a desire to implement or expand AI capabilities, yet most remain stalled at the starting line. The barrier is not a lack of ambition, but rather the complexity of execution. Fragmented platforms, unclear procurement pathways and the difficulty of integrating AI with sensitive patient data have made deployment feel out of reach for many care teams. Broadcom’s VMware Private AI, now natively embedded within VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9, is designed to change that equation.

From Add-On to Foundation: The VCF 9 Integration

The most significant architectural shift in Broadcom’s AI strategy over the past year is the evolution of VMware Private AI from a standalone service into a core component of the platform. With VCF 9, organizations that already hold VCF licensing have immediate access to Private AI capabilities without separate procurement or added complexity.

This shift is especially meaningful for healthcare IT leaders tasked with balancing innovation and compliance in highly regulated environments. By embedding AI capabilities directly into the foundational infrastructure layer, VMware Private AI eliminates the “moving parts” that have historically made AI deployments costly and unpredictable. Healthcare organizations can now activate and govern AI workloads within an environment they already operate and trust.

Five Components Built for Production-Ready AI

VMware Private AI is organized around five functional pillars, each designed to address a specific stage of the AI lifecycle, from model governance to real-world deployment:

  • Model Store: A secure repository where models are curated, tested and governed before entering production, ensuring only validated and policy-compliant models used in clinical or administrative environments.
  • Service Infrastructure: Templatized deep learning virtual machines (VMs) that can be provisioned on demand, accelerating deployment timelines while maintaining standardization and security controls.
  • Model Runtime: The generative AI (GenAI) execution layer handles active model inference, forming the operational core of the Private AI environment.
  • Model Insights and Action: Tools that support model interaction, response logic and fine-tuning, enabling teams to continuously refine AI performance using real operational data.
  • Vector Databases with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG): Instead of retraining base models with proprietary data, RAG enables AI systems to retrieve and reference internal knowledge in real time, delivering accurate, contextually relevant outputs without exposing sensitive data externally.

Keeping Healthcare Data Where It Belongs

Data sovereignty remains a non-negotiable priority in healthcare. Patient records, clinical notes and operational data are governed by strict regulatory requirements, and any AI solution that routes this information through public cloud services or third-party providers introduces significant compliance risk.

VMware Private AI addresses this directly through its RAG-based architecture. By connecting AI models to internal data sources—including SharePoint repositories, local file systems and internal databases—and processing information within the organization’s own infrastructure, the solution ensures that sensitive data never leaves the controlled environment. Documents are segmented into discrete chunks that the model can reference contextually, producing outputs grounded in the organization’s actual knowledge base rather than generic training data.

Additionally, new observability tools provide administrators with real-time visibility into model health, capacity utilization and Application Programming Interface (API) access patterns, supporting both operational continuity and security monitoring.

Healthcare Use Cases: From Clinic to Back Office

 VMware Private AI supports a broad range of healthcare applications across four primary domains:

  • Clinical Decision Support: AI-assisted tools that help clinicians navigate complex case data supports precision medicine and population health initiatives.
  • Administrative Automation: Automated documentation, clinical annotation and digital chat assistance for care teams reduces clerical burden, staff burnout and documentation backlogs.
  • Patient Engagement: AI-powered digital assistants that guide patients through post-discharge treatment plans improve adherence and reduce readmission risk.
  • Operational Efficiency: Predictive maintenance for medical equipment and AI-driven resource allocation optimizes capacity management for healthcare systems.

The broader vision is a shift toward ambient intelligence, AI that monitors, learns and assists in real time without requiring manual prompting, freeing care teams to focus on patients and less on administrative systems.

A Practical Framework for Getting Started

Not all AI use cases offer the same balance of value and implementation complexity. Broadcom recommends a prioritization framework that evaluates each potential application against two key dimensions:

  • The value delivered to patients or the organization
  • The complexity required for deployment

By starting with high-value, low-complexity use cases, such as administrative automation or patient communication, organizations can build momentum, demonstrate Return on Investment (ROI) and develop internal expertise before advancing to more complex clinical applications.

This phased approach reflects a broader evolution in healthcare AI. It is no longer confined to research environments; it is now an operational capability. Organizations that approach AI with deliberate governance, clear prioritization and secure foundational infrastructure will be best positioned to realize its full potential.

Explore how VMware’s Private AI capabilities can support your organization’s clinical and operational goals.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including VMware, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

From Data Islands to Defensible Intelligence: Modernizing Public Sector Transportation Infrastructure

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Across the United States, transportation agencies are operating in a moment of historic opportunity, and equally significant pressure. With more than $200 billion in capital funds required to be obligated before the 2026 deadline, agencies are tasked not only with delivering projects at scale but also with doing so with a level of transparency, accountability and precision that withstands public and regulatory scrutiny.

Yet while funding has accelerated, many of the systems used to manage transportation programs have not kept pace with the complexity of the initiatives themselves. The result is a growing disconnect between project activity in the field and decision-making at the program level.

Closing that gap requires more than new tools. It requires a shift from fragmented data to defensible intelligence.

The New Reality: High Stakes, Limited Visibility

Transportation leaders today are navigating a complex operating environment shaped by three converging pressures:

  • Federal funding deadlines and obligation requirements that leave little room for delay
  • Technical complexity, where construction teams must not only lead traditional construction effort, but also the tech associated with those projects
  • Increased audit and compliance scrutiny, requiring agencies to demonstrate clear, traceable use of public funds

Individually, these challenges are manageable. Together, they expose two systemic issues: limited visibility across the capital program lifecycle and unnecessary complexity.

Without a unified view of project information, cost, field activity and performance, agencies are

often forced to rely on lagging indicators, manual reporting and disconnected systems, making it difficult to act with confidence.

The Persistence of Data Silos

Despite advances in digital tools, many Public Sector transportation programs still operate across fragmented environments:

  • Field data is captured inconsistently or stored locally
  • Financial tracking exists separately from project execution
  • Compliance documentation is often assembled in an ad hoc manner
  • Key intelligence gathering during the build phase is often not handed off to operational teams

This creates what can be described as data islands, pockets of information that are not easily connected, validated, or scaled across the portfolio.

The implications are significant:

  • Delayed decision-making due to incomplete or outdated information
  • Inconsistent reporting across projects and stakeholders
  • Limited ability to identify risks early
  • Increased exposure during audits and compliance reviews

In this environment, even well-managed projects can appear fragmented at the program level, making it difficult to demonstrate accountability with confidence.

A Shift Toward Defensible Intelligence

To address these challenges, transportation agencies are beginning to rethink how data is structured, governed and used across the lifecycle of capital programs.

This shift can be understood as a move from data collection to defensible intelligence.

A defensible approach ensures that:

  • Data is captured consistently from the field
  • Information is standardized across projects
  • Data is not only collected, but analyzed to proactively mitigate risk
  • Documentation is audit-ready at every stage, not just at project closeout

At its core, this is about establishing a system of record that allows teams to shift from looking at projects in the rearview window after the fact, to having clear project visibility through the entire asset lifecycle.

Building the Foundation: Governance & Clarity

The first step in this transformation is strengthening governance.

Adoption as a Prerequisite for Insight

Even the most advanced systems fall short if they are not consistently used. In transportation programs, where multiple stakeholders, contractors and teams are involved, adoption is critical to ensuring that data is both accurate and timely.

An adoption-first approach helps ensure:

  • Consistent data capture across the field
  • Standardized workflows across projects
  • Greater confidence in reporting and analytics

Establishing Secure, Traceable Oversight

Given the scale of public investment, transportation agencies must demonstrate fiduciary responsibility at every stage of a project.

This requires:

  • A clear audit trail of decisions, approvals and changes
  • Centralized access to financial and project data
  • Alignment with Federal security and compliance standards

Advancing the Model: Connected Control

With a strong governance foundation in place, agencies can begin to unlock the next level of capability: connected control over project delivery.

Improving Responsiveness Through Visibility

Access to timely, integrated data allows program leaders to:

  • Identify schedule variances as they emerge
  • Understand cost impacts in context
  • Drive corrective actions, whether on site, at the office or on the Hill
  • Use historical data to make informed forecasting decisions today

This represents a shift from retrospective reporting to proactive program management.

Bridging Construction and Operations

One of the most persistent challenges in transportation infrastructure is the transition from construction to operational readiness.

When systems are disconnected:

  • Critical asset data may be lost or duplicated
  • Operations teams lack visibility into construction decisions
  • Time to project delivery is delayed

By maintaining continuity of information across the lifecycle, agencies can:

  • Enable smoother transitions into active service
  • Reduce rework and data re-entry
  • Support long-term asset management from day one

Looking Ahead: A More Connected Future for Transportation Programs

The modernization of transportation infrastructure is not solely a matter of funding or scale. It is increasingly a matter of data maturity.

Agencies that continue to rely on fragmented systems may find it difficult to keep pace with evolving requirements around compliance, reporting and delivery speed.

Those that invest in connected, well-governed data environments will be better positioned to:

  • Navigate funding deadlines with confidence
  • Respond to issues in real time
  • Demonstrate accountability across the full lifecycle of their programs

As transportation programs grow in complexity and visibility, the need for clarity, consistency and control becomes more critical.

Moving from data islands to defensible intelligence is not just a technology shift; it is an operational one. It reflects a broader evolution in how agencies plan, deliver and oversee infrastructure in a high-stakes environment.

By strengthening governance and enabling connected control, Public Sector transportation leaders can build not only infrastructure, but also predictability, transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Ready to improve visibility and control across your transportation projects? Connect with us.

Hybrid AI That Moves with the Mission

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Federal missions operate across complex, distributed environments, from secure data centers to cloud enclaves and tactical platforms in disconnected conditions. Artificial intelligence (AI) must now match this operational agility.

Hybrid AI integrates cloud, on-premises and edge compute, enabling intelligence where and when it is needed. Whether inside a SCIF, within a FedRAMP-moderate enclave or in contested environments, hybrid architectures ensure trusted intelligence is continuously available to support mission outcomes.

Why Hybrid AI is Mission-Critical for Federal Agencies

As mission data becomes more dynamic and dispersed, centralized compute models alone cannot meet operational demands. Agencies must process, generate and act on information securely, whether in the field, across partner networks or in highly regulated environments.

Hybrid AI brings compute to the data, respecting governance and sovereignty while maintaining flexibility. AI capabilities must function reliably in environments where connectivity is degraded or unavailable, and where data cannot move freely due to classification or jurisdictional constraints.

This ensures real-time inference and decision support at the point of need while safeguarding CUI, PII and FOUO data under FISMA, EO 14110 and Zero Trust principles. AI-powered insights remain accessible even when the network does not.

The Technology Foundations of Mission-Ready Hybrid AI

Data sovereignty is essential
Agencies must process, train and infer within regulatory boundaries, maintaining full control of sensitive data across its lifecycle, from edge ISR streams to classified model development. Containerized and optimized AI software must run flexibly across accelerated environments, from enterprise cloud to air-gapped data centers.

Infrastructure must scale seamlessly
Hybrid environments enable compute to move across core, cloud and field deployments, keeping AI aligned with changing mission needs.

Accelerated computing powers mission AI
Advanced generative and deep learning models demand high-efficiency, accelerated compute platforms. Hybrid AI leverages this capability to deliver high-throughput, low-latency insights not only in data centers but also at the tactical edge—essential for mission-aligned generative AI and emerging agentic applications.

Interoperability drives flexibility
Containerized AI microservices and API-driven architectures ensure seamless integration with mission platforms like health and geospatial, while enabling secure, policy-compliant operations across hybrid environments. Architectures should also support flexible integration of retrieval pipelines and evolving data governance models, ensuring mission intelligence is grounded in trusted, up-to-date sources.

Real-World Applications: Hybrid AI in Action

Agencies are applying hybrid AI today to extend mission capabilities beyond what centralized architectures allow.

In public health, sovereign data platforms combined with edge analytics support real-time outbreak modeling and informed containment planning. Disaster response teams ingest and analyze aerial imagery and IoT data locally, providing actionable insights even when disconnected from central networks.

Generative AI is transforming document-centric workflows. It accelerates the summarization of complex reports and regulatory analysis while maintaining strict control over sensitive content.

Sovereign AI innovation is advancing rapidly. National AI clusters allow agencies to train and refine models domestically, ensuring compliance with governance mandates while enhancing operational independence. Many of these efforts begin under SBIR, OTA or BPA contracts and evolve into modular architectures that scale with mission requirements.

Key Considerations for Building Hybrid AI

Hybrid AI success requires intentional architecture, policy fluency and alignment with mission realities.

Architectures must enable agility, supporting rapid adaptation to evolving mission needs, data sources and model advancements. Flexibility ensures AI remains relevant as both operational risks and opportunities evolve. Hybrid environments should also be designed to support emerging model types, including multi-modal, agentic and retrieval-augmented AI, and to accommodate evolving policy mandates.

Interoperability is essential. Open, standards-based pipelines and containerized services enable integration with evolving toolchains, partner ecosystems and commercial innovation while maintaining governance.

Federal leaders are using hybrid architectures to operationalize responsible AI principles outlined in EO 14110. Early alignment with procurement vehicles—OTAs, GWACs and BPAs—ensures scalable, policy-ready architectures. High-impact use cases, such as edge-deployed generative AI assistants and sovereign model training pipelines, continue to demonstrate the value of this approach.

Next Steps for Federal AI Leaders

Hybrid AI represents an inflection point for Federal missions. Leaders who invest in scalable, policy-aligned AI infrastructure today will be positioned to harness tomorrow’s AI innovations at mission speed.

By supporting secure, accelerated AI capabilities across edge, cloud and on-premises environments, hybrid architectures help agencies maintain operational advantage in any scenario. The focus is not just on deploying AI models, but on building adaptive infrastructure that delivers intelligence wherever the mission requires it.

Hybrid AI architectures also lay the operational foundation for the emerging era of AI Factories—systems that continuously generate, adapt and deploy intelligence at scale, across mission environments.

Federal leaders who establish this foundation today will ensure that AI serves the mission with the trust, agility and resilience it demands—and with the flexibility to evolve alongside the accelerating pace of innovation.

Deploy AI in Days, Not Months: The Infrastructure Imperative for Mission-Aligned Models

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What makes one agency able to move artificial intelligence (AI) into mission production in days, while another still navigates the same barriers months or even years later? The answer isn’t technical talent or budget alone. It’s whether infrastructure is intentionally built to support velocity, trust and scale.

As Federal leaders sharpen their focus on operational AI, speed is becoming the key differentiator. Not speed for its own sake, but speed that is purposeful, compliant and aligned with outcomes the public and the mission demand. Moving AI from pilot to production quickly now defines AI leadership in Government.

Rethinking AI Readiness for Federal Missions

Simply demonstrating isolated AI successes is no longer sufficient. Federal agencies are now expected to embed AI into core workflows, drive outcomes and uphold public trust. CAIOs are shifting focus from pilots to impact. That shift requires more than technical oversight; it demands leadership that can drive operational change and enable the workforce to prioritize higher-value work.

Scaling mission-aligned AI requires rethinking old norms. Agencies embracing this shift are achieving faster deployments, greater agility and increased transparency, while others risk getting stuck in pilot mode without the proper foundation.

Building the Foundation for Mission-Aligned AI

Reliable acceleration comes from an intentional foundation, not shortcuts. Agencies moving AI from concept to capability consistently align strategy, data, infrastructure, teams and governance from the outset.

Mission Strategy First

Successful AI efforts prioritize mission impact over technical novelty. Clear goals ensure leadership, infrastructure and resources move in sync toward measurable outcomes.

Data That Moves at Mission Speed

AI needs fast, secure access to trusted structured and unstructured data. Retrieval-based architectures anchored in vetted sources support both performance and privacy.

Scalable, AI-Optimized Infrastructure

Traditional IT can’t handle AI’s demands. Agencies moving at mission speed rely on infrastructure optimized for accelerated computing and seamless operations across domains.

Integrated, Agile Teams

Scaling AI takes more than data science. Cross-disciplinary teams aligned on outcomes and able to deliver in agile cycles are key.

Compliance as an Enabler

Built-in transparency and risk management turn compliance into an asset. Agencies that embed governance early shorten ATO timelines and boost public trust.

A Roadmap for Responsible Acceleration

Moving fast without structure is risky. Moving fast with structure enables repeatable, responsible AI delivery. A maturity roadmap helps agencies balance acceleration with alignment to Federal guidance.

1.    Baseline Assessment

Clear visibility into current data maturity, infrastructure readiness, governance posture and workforce capabilities helps agencies prioritize investments. Addressing common gaps, like fragmented data pipelines and siloed teams, systematically gives AI initiatives a foundation that scales without risk.

2.    Mission-Driven Objectives

Successful AI leaders define what “mission success” looks like in concrete terms. This discipline prevents overbuilding, keeps efforts tied to operational outcomes and builds clear value stories to sustain leadership support.

3.    Phased Testing Environments

Test beds and controlled environments provide space to validate AI approaches before full production. These environments foster safe iteration, surface governance needs early and create reusable patterns that accelerate future deployments.

4.    Continuous Model Feedback

AI systems must adapt over time, not just at launch. Embedding continuous monitoring, performance tuning and user-driven feedback ensures models remain mission-relevant and trustworthy as operational contexts evolve.

From Use Case to Outcome: What Speed Requires

Agencies moving AI into production quickly focus on the right use cases. Logistics optimization, document analysis and fraud detection are examples of areas where AI at mission speed delivers immediate benefit.

Another key enabler is avoiding unnecessary reinvention. Pre-trained, enterprise-grade models tailored to agency needs dramatically reduce development time.

Modern platforms that support containerized deployment and orchestration of AI microservices across cloud and on-prem environments accelerate this process. Agencies gain flexibility to optimize cost, performance and control based on mission needs. Modular, adaptable architectures also help avoid lock-in and support evolving policy and security requirements.

Security and compliance must be integrated from day one. Systems aligned with FedRAMP, FISMA and Executive Order 14110 requirements to avoid rework that can stall even well-intentioned efforts late in the process.

The Capabilities That Make Rapid AI Possible

To deploy AI at mission speed, infrastructure must deliver scalability, explainability, risk management and collaboration-readiness.

Systems must handle expanding data sources, dynamic mission demands and increased user load without degradation. Models must produce outputs that analysts, operators and oversight bodies can trust and interpret.

Ethical risk management must be proactive, not reactive. Bias checks, audit trails and transparency must be built in from training through ongoing monitoring. Collaboration across agencies and partners must be seamless to maximize impact and minimize duplication of effort.

These capabilities must be grounded in alignment with Federal frameworks such as the AI Risk Management Framework and GSA’s AI guidance. Infrastructure that is “policy-ready” supports faster delivery and greater trust in outcomes.

Leading with Principles That Scale

For Federal AI leaders, the challenge is scaling AI to deliver real mission outcomes while maintaining public trust. Success requires investing in scalable, policy-aligned infrastructure and fostering a culture where speed and governance go hand in hand.

Sustainable, enterprise-wide impact demands leadership that connects vision with execution. The CAIO must drive cross-agency collaboration, operational change and continuous feedback to keep AI responsive to evolving mission needs.

Fast, Mission-Driven AI is Achievable—If You Build for It

Deploying AI in days—not months—is possible when infrastructure, strategy and culture align to support it. Agencies embracing this imperative are setting the pace for responsible, impactful AI in Government.

When AI systems are grounded in mission need, accelerated by the proper infrastructure and governed with intention, they enable something bigger: a Government workforce empowered to focus less on routine tasks and more on the high-impact decisions and public outcomes that matter most.

For Federal AI leaders, the opportunity is now: to move from pilot to production with velocity, governance and trust—and to deliver mission outcomes at a speed that matches the urgency of the moment.

Evolving AI Infrastructure Without Disrupting Government Operations

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You’ve launched artificial intelligence (AI) pilots and proven their initial value. Now comes the harder question: how do you scale that progress without disrupting core operations or exceeding current system constraints? For Government AI leaders, the goal isn’t just AI adoption—it’s enabling AI evolution through resilient infrastructure that aligns with mission continuity and operational control.

Many agencies face the same tension. They need modernized systems to meet new expectations from Executive Order 14110 and similar mandates, without risking service downtime or fragmenting mission workflows. This requires moving beyond piecemeal integration and toward a scalable, secure and interoperable AI deployment architecture that fits within existing environments.

From Integration to Evolution

Agencies often begin with targeted AI pilots or API-based tools. But real progress means transitioning to infrastructure designed to support high-reliability, mission-aligned AI deployments at scale. AI stacks built for performance, observability and governance, not just experimentation, will allow agencies to achieve this progress.

What does this look like in practice? It means infrastructure that supports model training, inference, lifecycle management and secure data movement are all underpinned by capabilities like versioning, rollback, audit logging and support for MLOps practices. These capabilities help ensure operational readiness as agencies move from pilot to production.

This evolution doesn’t require scrapping functional systems. By using modular designs and accelerated computing, agencies can layer AI capabilities onto their existing IT backbones. Compatibility with containerized environments and orchestration tools enables phased implementation, which reduces duplication, minimizes disruption and supports operational continuity.

What to Look for in a Modern AI Infrastructure

Adaptable and Modular Design
Agencies benefit from modular infrastructures, with reusable building blocks such as containerized microservices, pre-trained models and policy-controlled pipelines. Modern designs accelerate deployment while maintaining alignment with internal security and governance frameworks’ practices.

Deployment Flexibility
Support for on-premises, hybrid and Government-authorized cloud environments ensures that sensitive workloads can be managed without vendor lock-in. AI capabilities should be deployable across systems with varying levels of connectivity, compliance and mission assurance requirements.

Embedded Security and Compliance
Encryption, runtime integrity checks, secure boot and audit trails with access controls must be native, not bolted on later. Compliance-readiness for frameworks like FedRAMP, NIST and digital sovereignty requirements is critical in regulated environments. These controls support zero-trust principles and enable responsible AI deployment across sensitive Government workloads.

Performance and Scale
AI workloads, from large-scale model training to low-latency inference, require optimized systems. Optimizations may include high-throughput, accelerated computing and GPU-based operations. Support for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) can further extend GenAI capabilities by safely leveraging agency-specific grounded, context-aware outputs aligned with mission requirements.

Modernization Without Disruption

A step-by-step modernization plan helps agencies validate functionality, performance and alignment before scaling enterprise-wide. AI infrastructure should offer version control, rollback capabilities and seamless patching to reduce service risks in live environments.

Integration with legacy systems is equally vital. AI systems must coexist with core IT functions, avoiding the need for redundant tooling or excessive abstraction layers. Using standardized APIs and interoperable components helps limit rewrites and eases workforce adoption.

Cost containment and alignment

Managing cost also plays a central role. Modular infrastructure helps reduce unnecessary spend, avoids one-off duplications across programs and supports coordinated cross-agency deployments, especially as centralized AI procurement strategies evolve.

Building a Future-Ready AI Strategy

Lifecycle Alignment
AI Infrastructure should span the entire lifecycle, from data ingestion and labeling to training, inference, deployment, monitoring and governance. Gaps between these phases introduce risk and slow down scaling.

Support for What Already Works
Agencies shouldn’t be forced to abandon functioning legacy systems. Look for infrastructure that layers AI capabilities onto existing environments, enabling incremental expansion without disrupting current operations or compromising system security.

Security and Trust at the Core
From day one, AI infrastructure must enforce robust controls, auditability and observability to satisfy both internal oversight and external regulatory demands. These safeguards are essential for enabling secure, compliant and trustworthy AI operations across the entire model lifecycle.

Scalable by Design
From pilots to full-scale rollouts, AI infrastructure should scale efficiently, without sacrificing reliability, operational control or observability.

Governance and Workforce Enablement
Mature infrastructure strategies pair AI capability with internal enablement. Documentation, integrated MLOps tooling and standardized lifecycle workflows ensure teams are ready to manage and scale AI sustainably. Support from an ecosystem of trusted technology partners can further accelerate enablement and integration, helping agencies stand up Centers of Excellence, streamline operational onboarding and drive long-term capability transfer.

The Path Forward

Government AI leaders have a clear opportunity: to advance innovation without compromising operational resilience. The right infrastructure strategy doesn’t require starting from scratch; it builds on existing investments with modular, accelerated and secure components that integrate into mission workflows. When agencies align their AI deployment architecture with mission demands by embracing capabilities like retrieval-augmented generation, hybrid deployment models and full-lifecycle support, they can scale AI with control, trust and lasting impact.

The most effective AI infrastructure is more than a technical foundation; it’s a strategic enabler. When AI is embraced as part of a bigger strategy, it ensures Government agencies are not only ready for today’s AI challenges but also equipped to lead through tomorrow’s opportunities.

The Importance of Creativity in Government and How Creative Software Improves Digital Workflows

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In today’s rapidly changing world, Government agencies are under immense pressure to deliver efficient, transparent and citizen-focused services. They often work with limited budgets and follow strict rules. Although creativity is commonly associated with the Private Sector, it has become increasingly important in the Government space. Creative thinking allows employees to develop better solutions for complex challenges, such as emergency response and policy implementation. Adobe’s creative software plays a valuable role in this shift by helping agencies improve their digital workflows, reduce delays and operate more effectively while meeting high standards for security and compliance.

The Value of Creativity in the Public Sector

Creativity in the Public Sector goes beyond new ideas. It helps agencies address important issues like public health, infrastructure improvements and fair access to services. By encouraging fresh thinking, Government teams can create clearer communications for citizens, present complex data in simple ways and design programs that truly meet community needs. When creativity is supported, agencies tend to achieve better results, build stronger public trust and adapt more easily to change. Without creative approaches, traditional processes can limit progress and make it harder to serve the public effectively.

Enhancing Digital Workflows with Creative Software

One area where creativity makes a real difference is in digital workflows. Many Government operations still depend on manual, paper-based steps that take considerable time and effort. Creative software tools help transform these into faster, more collaborative digital processes. Applications for graphic design, video production, document creation and data visualization enable teams to produce professional materials more efficiently. This includes public awareness campaigns, reports and e-learning training resources. Improved system integration also makes it easier for departments to share information and collaborate effectively. 

Bottlenecks remain a common challenge in Government. Excessive paperwork, lengthy approval processes and outdated systems often cause delays, increase costs and reduce productivity. Creative software and automation offer a practical way to address these issues. By simplifying routine tasks, agencies can save significant time and resources. Features such as electronic signatures, document templates and real-time collaboration help speed up processes that could take up to twice as long using traditional methods. 

Real-World Success Stories

Several Government agencies have seen clear benefits from creative software. Adobe Creative and Adobe Document Cloud, featuring Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Sign, further helps by automating document-related tasks. The City of Denver used Adobe Creative Cloud to strengthen its online services and public outreach campaigns (City of Denver Case Study, n.d.). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) integrated these tools to modernize its grants management process. This change reduced paperwork and allowed funding for major infrastructure projects to proceed at a faster pace (FAA Case Study, n.d.). The United States Marine Corps achieved a 38 percent reduction in Adobe eLearning production costs by updating its training workflows with Adobe solutions (USMC Case Study, n.d.). The U.S. Census Bureau also realized substantial savings—between $1.4 billion and $1.9 billion—by digitizing forms and outreach efforts (US Census Bureau Case Study, n.d.). Importantly, Adobe’s tools are designed to meet strict Federal security, accessibility and compliance requirements.

A Step Toward More Effective Government

By embracing creativity through secure and accessible creative software tools, Government agencies can reduce operational bottlenecks and deliver better service to the public, supporting greater efficiency, innovation and accountability.

Check out our on-demand webinar series for more information about how Adobe solutions empower teams to streamline workflows, harness AI-driven tools and elevate creative output.

Sources

“City and County of Denver Case Study.” https://business.adobe.com/customer-success-stories/city-county-denver-case-study.html

“Automating digital documents to improve government efficiency and effectiveness.” May 1, 2024. https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2024/05/01/automating-digital-documents-improve-government-efficiency-effectiveness

“USMC Extends Elite Training to the Digital Classroom.” https://business.adobe.com/customer-success-stories/usmc-case-study.html

Adobe Customer Success Story – “U.S. Census Bureau.” The savings range reflects estimates from Government Accountability Office (GAO) reporting on the 2020 Census digital innovations. https://business.adobe.com/customer-success-stories/us-census-bureau-case-study.html

Adobe Customer User Cases. Government Solutions: Efficient, Impactful, Modernized

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