Category Archives: Federal Government

Better Together: How Nutanix and Omnissa Are Building the Modern Government Workspace

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Public Sector IT leaders navigate rapid change including geopolitical shifts, evolving cyber threats, vendor consolidation and pressure to do more with constrained budgets. For agencies modernizing end-user computing (EUC) and digital workspace environments, progress increasingly depends on integrated infrastructure, flexible architecture and trusted partnerships. Nutanix and Omnissa, distributed by Carahsoft, The Trusted It Solutions Provider™, deliver a combined platform that reduces complexity, accelerates deployment and keeps agency employees productive and secure.

A Partnership Built for the Public Sector

Carahsoft is the bridge between technology innovators and Government agencies, providing procurement vehicles, technical resources and partner support that simplify adoption. That relationship extends to Nutanix and Omnissa, with Carahsoft serving as a distribution partner that helps Federal, State, Local and Education agencies access both platforms through streamlined procurement. The partnership spans years of General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contracting support, proof-of-concept assistance and technical resources that help agencies evaluate, deploy and scale their environments with confidence.

Nutanix brings a unified, software-defined infrastructure platform that combines compute, storage and virtualization into one hyper-converged stack. Rather than managing firmware updates across siloed server, storage and networking components, agencies can use Nutanix Prism Central and its Lifecycle Manager (LCM) to manage lifecycles holistically, reducing administrative overhead and compatibility risks. Nutanix’s cloud platform, NC2, also enables consistent operations across on-premises environments, AWS, Azure and Google Clouds without requiring agencies to re-architect their applications.

Omnissa is fully focused on the modern digital workspace. Through Workspace ONE, Omnissa unifies management of virtual desktops (VDI), mobile devices and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications while providing enterprise-grade security, conditional access and unified endpoint management (UEM). Omnissa also uses AI to proactively monitor and improve the digital employee experience, identifying performance issues before they affect end users.

A Stronger Solution Together

The integration between Nutanix and Omnissa Horizon on AHV, Nutanix’s native hypervisor, reached general availability at the end of December 2025 and has seen significant market response. Its beta program was the largest and most successful in Horizon’s history, and within weeks of general availability, the combined solution had already scaled to over 70,000 users. That momentum reflects real demand from agencies seeking a high-performance, fully supported alternative that avoids the constraints of legacy vendor agreements.

The technical case for combining the platforms centers on optimization. Running Horizon on Nutanix’s hyper-converged infrastructure positions compute and storage in the same stack, delivering measurably stronger VDI performance than traditional three-tier architectures. The operational experience combines Nutanix’s infrastructure management through Prism with Horizon’s app delivery and provisioning capabilities, including App Volumes, giving IT teams a more unified view across their virtual desktop environment. The outcome is faster deployment, lower total cost of ownership and reduced complexity.

Nutanix and Omnissa Better Together Blog, embedded image, 2026

Rethinking How Apps Are Delivered

One meaningful Omnissa capability is its apps-on-demand delivery model through App Volumes. Many agencies still use persistent desktop environments, pre-loading large application libraries onto each VDI instance whether or not they are needed. For engineering teams managing hundreds of applications, this creates unnecessary bloat, complicates patching and introduces avoidable performance overhead.

Omnissa shifts that model by delivering applications on demand, so they are available when needed without the administrative burden of persistent installation. This speeds patching, reduces the management footprint and gives IT teams tighter control over the application environment.

Addressing the Evolving Demands of Government IT

The Nutanix and Omnissa partnership is designed to grow with agency requirements. Hybrid deployments spanning on-premises data centers and cloud environments are now the norm, and both platforms support that reality. Nutanix Cloud Cluster (NC2) enables Nutanix workloads to run natively on AWS and Azure while maintaining consistent management while Omnissa Horizon extends seamlessly across those environments so agencies can place workloads based on performance, compliance and cost requirements.

Licensing flexibility reinforces that adaptability. Nutanix offers End-User Computing (EUC) licensing on a per-user basis so agencies can license per user or by core count. For organizations with power users who need high-performance environments, this model delivers direct cost savings, a meaningful consideration for Public Sector agencies that must justify every technology investment.

Security is embedded, not added on. Nutanix incorporates Nutanix Flow Network Security micro-segmentation and Zero Trust networking capabilities at the infrastructure layer while Omnissa brings conditional access policies, endpoint compliance enforcement and AI-driven threat monitoring at the workspace layer. Together, they create a layered security posture that supports the rigorous Government compliance demands.

Simplifying the Path to Modernization

For agencies running VMware or Citrix environments and navigating the complexity of transition costs, structured migration support removes a common barrier to change. Nutanix and Omnissa both offer migration tools, validated reference designs, pre-sales architects and post-sales services teams designed to move agencies from existing platforms to the integrated stack. Environment sizing tools help partners and agencies right-size deployments before committing resources, reducing the risk of over- or under-provisioning.

Preparing for an AI-Driven Future

Looking ahead, both organizations are investing in AI integration as a core platform capability, an approach particularly relevant for Public Sector agencies working to adopt AI responsibly. Nutanix supports AI and containerized workloads on the same infrastructure used for VDI, using Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box and reducing the need for separate AI infrastructure. Running AI workloads in a virtualized environment has also shown total cost of ownership (TCO) advantages over bare-metal deployments.

Omnissa is building AI into autonomous digital workspace management, enabling more self-healing, self-optimizing environments that detect and resolve performance issues before they impact productivity. For agencies exploring AI use cases, VDI environments offer a controlled deployment path that routes sensitive data within agency boundaries rather than public cloud AI services.

For Public Sector agencies evaluating their next phase of IT modernization, the combination of Nutanix’s infrastructure simplicity, Omnissa’s workspace management depth and Carahsoft’s procurement and support ecosystem represents a practical, proven path forward.

To learn more about the Nutanix and Omnissa integrated solution, including the general availability of Omnissa Horizon 8 support for Nutanix AHV, visit the Omnissa blog.

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 Nutanix and Omnissa, 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.

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.

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.

Custom AI Without the Complexity: How Automated Fine-Tuning Accelerates Mission-Ready Models

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In the evolving era of generative artificial intelligence (AI), pre-packaged AI often falls short in the Public Sector. Off-the-shelf models typically lack the context needed to perform at the standards required by Government use cases, and building AI models from scratch remains too resource-intensive for most agencies.

However, a middle path has emerged powered by advancements in fine-tuning, accelerated computing and security-conscious infrastructure. This new approach enables agencies to adapt robust foundation models to mission-specific needs quickly, securely and without the traditional complexity of AI customization.

What’s changing isn’t just technology; it’s the framework for how Government thinks about AI readiness. By grounding strategy in full-stack development principles and AI lifecycle management, Public Sector AI leaders can begin moving from research to real-world impact at mission speed.

Accelerated Fine-Tuning, Engineered for Agility

Traditional approaches to AI model development often fail to transition from proof-of-concept to production. They can’t keep pace with mission timelines or infrastructure constraints. This is where automated, accelerated fine-tuning plays a transformative role.

By enabling targeted optimization of foundation models, teams can iterate quickly and cost-effectively. This significantly reduces compute requirements and accelerates iteration cycles, enabling rapid experimentation using sensitive data.

These capabilities allow Federal teams to develop and refine models using their existing infrastructure, removing a major roadblock to operational AI. When fine-tuning is seamlessly integrated with the hardware and orchestration stack, model updates are no longer bottlenecks. They become core to a continuous delivery process.

Security Built In, Not Added On

For Federal leaders, security is not negotiable. It’s foundational. AI platforms must be designed from the ground up to operate securely, not simply comply with policy.

Modern development stacks address this by combining containerized workloads, Zero Trust access control and built-in compliance with frameworks like FISMA and NIST 800-53. These capabilities allow agencies to maintain control of sensitive data while leveraging state-of-the-art model development tools.

Equally important is the ability to trace every stage of a model’s lifecycle. Visibility into data lineage and model provenance is essential for building public trust, ensuring transparency and simplifying audit and ATO processes.

Unifying the AI Lifecycle Under One Stack

The journey from raw data to mission-ready application spans preprocessing, evaluation, deployment and real-time monitoring. Without a unified platform to manage this lifecycle, Government teams face silos, drift and duplication of effort.

The most effective AI solutions deliver a full-stack environment where teams collaborate on the same infrastructure. This alignment ensures that experimentation is not only fast but replicable; models don’t need to be rebuilt for deployment, they’re ready to ship by design.

Operational continuity is especially important in Federal settings, where changes in leadership or mission can disrupt priorities. A unified lifecycle platform provides the flexibility to pivot quickly while maintaining compliance and consistency and can help overstretched teams scale AI impact without proportionally scaling headcount.

Mission-Tuned AI for Complex Government Domains

Generic models often struggle to perform in specialized domains. These challenges are amplified in Government, where datasets are often sparse, highly structured or privacy-restricted.

Fine-tuning large language models using domain-specific data is the most effective way to close this gap. When paired with synthetic data generation and tools like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agencies can create models that operate with high accuracy without increasing exposure to outside data sources.

These models can be deployed across diverse environments thanks to the flexibility of modern accelerated computing platforms, whether in the cloud, on premises or at the tactical edge. This portability, achieved through containerized AI microservices and optimized orchestration, is critical for Government teams.

From Exploration to Execution

The case for custom AI in Government is no longer theoretical. Advances in hardware-accelerated fine-tuning, lifecycle-integrated orchestration and secure, portable inference environments have made the once-difficult possible and practical.

The goal isn’t simply to deploy AI faster but to deploy AI that is trustworthy, domain-aware and cost-efficient, with solutions that enhance mission effectiveness without compromising governance.

As Public Sector leaders navigate tight budgets, workforce reductions and mounting oversight, platforms that streamline AI delivery can provide much-needed relief. Rather than requiring new teams or expensive retraining, agencies can scale with existing staff and systems.

This moment represents a shift from experimentation to operationalization. The agencies that act now—building their capabilities on a modernized, full-stack AI architecture—will not only realize early wins but will be best positioned to adapt to the accelerating pace of AI innovation in the years ahead.

Doing More with Less: How Government Agencies are Rethinking Cybersecurity

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In December 2025, Carahsoft and Broadcom commissioned Forrester Consulting to survey 212 U.S. Government cybersecurity decision makers about the state of Public Sector security operations following the budget and headcount reductions of early 2025. What they found was a sector under sustained pressure, but also one actively searching for smarter, more resilient ways forward. The findings provide a candid assessment of where agencies stand today and the steps required to strengthen their cybersecurity posture in an era of constrained resources.

Budget Cybersecurity Gaps

Budget instability remains widespread, with 38% of agency budgets still classified as mostly or completely fiscally unstable. Another fifth of agencies reported no change since the initial cuts were enacted. The result is a cybersecurity landscape where teams are being asked to protect increasingly complex digital environments with fewer people, fewer tools and less financial runway than they had even a year ago. Over half of the respondents report that budget constraints have moderately or significantly impacted their ability to maintain core security operations. Perhaps most telling, just 38% of cybersecurity leaders express confidence in their agency’s security posture following headcount reductions.

The areas most exposed under current resource limitations are network security, data protection and incident response. Roughly a third of respondents also flagged concerns around endpoint security, visibility, analytics and compliance. For agencies already navigating a complex regulatory and threat environment, these vulnerabilities represent more than operational friction; they signal genuine risk to mission-critical systems and the sensitive data agencies are entrusted to protect. As leadership teams work to roadmap investments for the year ahead, two priorities have risen to the top: securing critical infrastructure against bad actors and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity capabilities.  

Rising Breach Risk in a Leaner Environment

Understanding the current risk landscape is an essential first step toward addressing it effectively. 86% of respondents anticipate an increase in potential compromises or breaches in the coming year due to the recent staffing and funding reductions. More than a quarter expect breach numbers to climb by 1–10%, while over 20% anticipate increases of 30% or more. For agencies responsible for protecting sensitive Government data and public-facing services, this trajectory demands immediate strategic attention. The connection between resource reduction and elevated risk is already being experienced across teams, where reduced personnel have created measurable gaps in detection, response and remediation capacity.

The operational data reinforces this concern. 61% of respondents report that security incidents overall have increased in frequency, while 65% say their mean time to remediate (MTTR) has been negatively affected. Over half indicate their ability to secure technology and architecture delivery has also suffered. These are not isolated data points; they reflect a compounding effect where each unaddressed gap creates the conditions for the next. Agencies that do not act strategically in prioritizing their highest-risk exposure areas will face growing difficulty in maintaining the compliance posture and operational resilience their missions demand.

AI and Automation as Force Multipliers for Lean Teams

Amid the challenges, a clear opportunity is emerging. Agencies are increasingly recognizing that AI and automation are essential tools for maintaining security effectiveness when human capacity is stretched thin. 72% of respondents indicated openness to automation tools as a means of enhancing cybersecurity resilience. The top priority areas for automation adoption include incident response, network security, compliance and data protection, precisely the domains where resource gaps are most acute.

Forrester’s recommendations reinforce this direction. Leveraging AI to automate network traffic analysis, policy validation and alert triage allows teams to concentrate on high-confidence threats such as data exfiltration and lateral movement, rather than being consumed by manual tasks. Applied effectively, AI can help offset staffing shortfalls, reduce analyst burnout and preserve or even improve, mean time to investigate (MTTI) or MTTR metrics. Agencies that invest in AI-driven security tools now are not just responding to a short-term resource problem; they are building a more adaptive, scalable security model that can sustain performance through continued uncertainty. This is a strategic shift as much as a technical one, and cybersecurity leaders who embrace it early will be better positioned to protect their environments long-term.

Strategic Consolidation as the Path Forward

The data points toward a clear prescription: agencies must work smarter, not just harder, with the resources available to them.

On the investment side, respondents are focusing on limited resources where they will have the greatest impact: threat detection, incident response, network infrastructure modernization and process automation. Forrester recommends that agencies rationalize their security stack to eliminate overlapping capabilities, adopt consolidated platform solutions such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) or unified network security platforms and reduce one-off tool purchases that contribute to sprawl and complexity. Critically, agencies should plan for sustained lean operations rather than assume a return to pre-2025 staffing or budget levels. Redesigning operating models around automation, risk prioritization and efficiency will be the defining factor for resilient agencies.

The findings from this Forrester study make one thing clear: the agencies that will emerge strongest from this period of constraint are those that treat resource limitations not as a barrier, but as a forcing function for smarter, more deliberate security strategy. By concentrating investments in high-risk areas, embracing AI and automation and consolidating their security stack, Government cybersecurity teams can build a leaner, more resilient security posture that holds up under pressure, today and in the years ahead.

Download the full study, “Smarter Security for Leaner Budgets and Teams” and join our webinar as experts and Government showcase the key findings in depth and discuss the path forward.

A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Carahsoft and Broadcom, March 2026.

Top 10 Autonomy and Robotics Events for Government in 2026 

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Autonomy and robotics are reshaping how Government agencies approach defense, public safety, infrastructure and mission-critical operations. From Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs) and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled platforms to geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) tools and autonomous maritime solutions, these technologies are accelerating innovation across every domain of the Public Sector. Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, is a leading resource for Government agencies navigating this rapidly advancing field, connecting agencies with a robust ecosystem of vendor partners and solutions tailored to the unique demands of defense, law enforcement and civilian missions. Below, we highlight the top autonomy and robotics events of 2026 where Carahsoft will be present to help Government professionals explore, evaluate and adopt the latest in autonomous technology. 

Sea-Air-Space 

April 19–22, 2026 | National Harbor, MD | In-Person Event 

Sea-Air-Space, hosted by the Navy League of the United States, is North America’s largest annual maritime defense exposition, drawing policy makers, senior military leaders, program managers and industry decision makers from across the sea services. The event spans four expansive exhibit hall experiences and 22 sessions—including keynotes, strategy luncheons and expert-led industry discussions—focused on the future of maritime, naval and defense operations. Government attendees will find timely value in sessions addressing AI and robotics for sustainment and manufacturing, naval IT modernization, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure and the Marine Corps’ evolving force structure. 

Carahsoft will showcase its aerospace and maritime technology solutions and partner ecosystem at Sea-Air-Space 2026, giving attendees direct access to innovative capabilities spanning autonomous systems, defense communications and advanced maritime technologies. Stop by Carahsoft’s booth (#415) at Sea-Air-Space and explore technologies from our 36 demoing partners. Our team will be on hand throughout the event to engage with naval and defense professionals on how Carahsoft’s trusted partnerships can support their mission requirements. 

GEOINT Symposium 

May 3–6, 2026 | Aurora, CO | In-Person Event 

Hosted annually by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), the GEOINT Symposium is the nation’s foremost gathering of GEOINT professionals dedicated to advancing the GEOINT tradecraft across Government, industry, academia and professional organizations. The event explores the intersection of technology and national security, engaging experts and innovators to address challenges and opportunities in today’s complex geopolitical landscape. With more than 33 events across the program—including 14 dedicated sessions, morning and afternoon training tracks and rich networking opportunities—GEOINT 2026 provides exceptional value for professionals at the forefront of geospatial and autonomous intelligence. 

Sessions to look out for:  

  • Main Stage Panels: National security executives and industry professionals will discuss advancements redefining GEOINT, providing insights into the latest developments and future direction. 
  • Training Sessions: Participants can engage in hands-on training on topics such as mission planning, precision timing and navigation, enhancing their practical skills and knowledge in GEOINT applications. 

Carahsoft will have a strong presence at GEOINT 2026, featuring a pavilion (Booth #1823) with partner demos throughout the show. As intelligence agencies pursue enhanced situational awareness, precision analytics and real-time decision superiority, we remain focused on linking GEOINT professionals with capabilities that amplify mission effectiveness. Additionally, Carahsoft will host a networking reception offering an evening of food, music and networking. Check back for more details closer to the event!  

XPONENTIAL 2026 

May 11–14, 2026 | Detroit, MI | In-Person Event 

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI’s) XPONENTIAL is the premier global event for uncrewed systems and autonomous technology, connecting professionals across the air, land, sea and space autonomy domains in one expansive program. The conference encompasses regulatory and policy sessions, technical workshops, live demonstrations and hundreds of exhibitors representing the full spectrum of autonomous capabilities available today. A standout addition for 2026 is the Law-Tech Connect Workshop (May 13–14), a co-located program bringing together legal, policy and technical leaders to navigate the evolving regulatory and legal landscape governing uncrewed and autonomous systems. 

Carahsoft will be exhibiting at XPONENTIAL 2026 at booth #34022 with live technology demonstrations from our autonomy and robotics vendor partners, offering Government attendees hands-on opportunities to explore mission-enabling solutions across multiple domains. Our team will be available throughout the event to help agencies identify and evaluate the technologies best suited to their operational requirements and compliance obligations. 

SOF Week 

May 18–21, 2026 | Tampa, FL | In-Person Event 

SOF Week is the leading annual conference for the international Special Operations Forces (SOF) community, jointly sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation. The event unites thousands of special operators, defense industry leaders and international partners around trailblazing capabilities, strategic priorities and next-generation technologies shaping the future of SOF missions.  

Sessions to look out for:  

  • ISR, GEOINT and Mission Planning Technologies  
  • SOF Interoperability and Multi-Domain Operations  
  • Emerging Technologies Supporting Tactical Decision-Making  

Carahsoft will host a pavilion (#633 – SOF Warrior Zone) at SOF Week, reinforcing our profound respect for operators who depend on superior GEOINT and technology advantages in high-stakes environments. Our team will collaborate with SOF professionals throughout the week to explore how geospatial innovations, autonomous systems and advanced communications enable mission success while keeping operators safe.  

Commercial UAV Expo 

September 1–3, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event 

Commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Expo is one of the premier commercial drone events in North America, featuring dedicated education tracks, keynote presentations, breakout sessions and an expansive exhibit hall focused on the commercial integration of UAS technology across high-impact industries. The event addresses drone operations across various verticals, including energy, infrastructure, public safety and logistics, making it an essential gathering for Government professionals responsible for evaluating, adopting and managing UAS programs. Attendees gain valuable exposure to regulatory developments, emerging industry trends and real-world case studies that directly inform how agencies can leverage drone technology to enhance operations and achieve mission outcomes. 

Carahsoft will be present at Commercial UAV Expo 2026 with live technology demonstrations from select vendor partners, providing Government and Public Sector attendees direct access to innovative UAS capabilities and expertise. Our team looks forward to engaging with agencies navigating drone integration decisions and helping them connect with the right solutions through Carahsoft’s trusted partner network. 

AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition 

October 12–14, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event 

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition is the largest land power exposition and professional development forum in North America, designed to deliver the Army’s message by spotlighting organizational capabilities and a wide array of industry products and services. Over three days, attendees engage with State-of-the-Army presentations, panel discussions on military and national security subjects and extensive networking events that connect leaders across Government, industry and academia. For professionals focused on land power modernization and the evolving role of autonomous and robotic systems in ground operations, AUSA remains an indispensable annual event. 

Carahsoft will be at booth #4255 on the AUSA show floor, allowing Army and defense professionals to engage with our comprehensive portfolio of autonomy, robotics and defense technology solutions. Our team looks forward to connecting with mission-focused leaders to explore how Carahsoft’s trusted partner ecosystem can support land power modernization and the adoption of next-generation technologies across the force. 

FAA Drone and AAM Symposium 

November 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium brings together representatives from the FAA, Government agencies, international aviation experts, industry leaders and academia to accelerate the safe and efficient integration of drones and advanced air mobility platforms into the National Airspace System. Presenters and panelists address the latest developments in diverse drone applications and the regulatory path for advanced air mobility aircraft, including air taxis, into controlled and uncontrolled airspace. The symposium is a critical annual forum for shaping the frameworks and operational standards that will define the future of aviation, autonomous flight and airspace management across the United States. 

Carahsoft is actively exploring sponsorship and participation opportunities at the 2026 FAA Drone and AAM Symposium, reflecting our continued investment in the autonomous aviation community.  

More Events 

Geo Week 

February 16–18, 2026 | Denver, CO | In-Person Event 

Geo Week is a premier industry gathering that unites geospatial and mapping professionals, technologists and industry leaders to explore advancements in spatial intelligence, digital mapping, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), reality capture, AI and machine learning (ML), mobile mapping, digital twins and integrated data workflows. With more than 50 conference sessions, keynotes, workshops, panel discussions and exhibit hall theater talks, the event delivers real-world applications across infrastructure, construction, transportation and emergency response. Government attendees will find value in sessions focused on UAS and drone integration for mapping and inspection, AI-driven geospatial workflows and Public Sector case studies highlighting practical outcomes across agencies. 

Carahsoft brought together our geospatial and autonomy technology partners to support Government attendees exploring the latest spatial intelligence solutions at Geo Week 2026. Our team discussed how Carahsoft’s vendor ecosystem can address agency needs in mapping, autonomous systems and actionable geospatial data. 

Drone Responders National Public Safety UAS Conference 

March 10-11, 2026 | Williamsburg, VA | In-Person Event 

The Drone Responders National Public Safety UAS Conference is a key annual event dedicated to advancing the use of UAS by first responders and public safety agencies. As a nonprofit-driven initiative, the conference serves as a hub for knowledge-sharing, best practices and innovative solutions tailored to the operational realities of emergency management and law enforcement. Sessions addressed critical topics including hurricane response operations, law enforcement tactical detection and mitigation and new FAA public safety waivers—equipping attendees with actionable insights to strengthen their UAS programs. 

Carahsoft served as an Exhibitor Sponsor at this year’s conference, supporting the public safety community’s growing need for trusted UAS technology solutions. Our participation reflects Carahsoft’s long-standing commitment to equipping first responders and public safety agencies with the tools they need to protect communities and execute time-sensitive missions. 

Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Summit 

April 8–9, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event 

The 14th Annual Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Summit convenes key experts, decision makers and innovators from the Department of War (DoW), military services, industry and academia for in-depth dialogue on the advancements driving unmanned and autonomous technologies in military defense. As the battlespace becomes increasingly defined by drone dominance and the ability to produce, maneuver and sustain UASs at scale, this summit examines how the DoW is developing comprehensive drone guidance to ensure operational superiority, responsible integration and strategic deterrence.  

Sessions to look out for: 

  • Counter-UASs in Multi-Domain Operations 
  • Defense-Industrial Acceleration in Uncrewed Systems 
  • Emerging Autonomous Platforms for the Modern Warfighter 

Carahsoft participated as an Exhibitor Sponsor at the Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Summit, engaging directly with defense professionals who are shaping the future of uncrewed operations. Our team connected with mission-focused attendees with our portfolio of autonomy and defense technology partners to help advance the capabilities of tomorrow’s warfighter. 

From battlefield autonomy and naval defense to public safety UAS programs and commercial drone integration, these events represent the full breadth of opportunities shaping the future of Government autonomy and robotics. Carahsoft is proud to be a trusted presence across this landscape, connecting Public Sector agencies with the technology solutions, vendor partnerships and expert insights needed to advance their missions in an era of rapid technological change.  

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events, please contact us at AutonomousTechMarketing@Carahsoft.com. 

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry-leading Autonomy and Robotics technology partners’ events, visit our Autonomy and Robotics solutions portfolio. 

How Government Agencies Can Modernize Transportation with Uber for Business

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State and Local Government agencies are under pressure to do more with less while still delivering reliable services. Transportation is fragmented in many agencies, with four or five separate vendor contracts across departments in larger agencies. There is an over-reliance on legacy vendors that are significantly more expensive, including specialty vendors that are important for certain populations and services but may not be necessary for every rider. In many cases, these systems require rides to be booked days in advance, sometimes through offline means such as phone calls. This lack of centralization also limits reporting and visibility into how transportation dollars are being spent.

Uber for Business helps Government agencies move away from a fragmented model by offering a single enterprise platform that can support a variety of transportation needs across departments. With more than 9.4 million participating drivers and couriers, Uber has the largest rideshare network in the world. Centralized administration and reporting provides agencies with a complete view of their transportation programs while reducing the burden on staff who currently manage rides manually.

Supporting Employee Travel and Community Programs

Agencies are using Uber for Business in several capacities. One major use case is employee travel. Many agencies still rely on rental cars or motor pools for staff traveling for work. Uber for Business provides an alternative that can also augment existing fleet operations, helping reduce reliance on basic sedans while allowing fleet teams to focus on specialized vehicles. Agencies can set controls around who can ride, when they can ride and what trip options are available. This is especially appealing as many employees are already familiar with using Uber in their personal lives, making it a seamless and intuitive option to extend into official Government travel.

Agencies are also using Uber for Business to support community-facing programs, including:

  • Court systems use rideshares to transport victims and witnesses, ensuring they arrive on time reliably and have access to a mode of transportation they are familiar with.
  • Social service departments and similar programs are using rideshare to close mobility gaps for the populations they serve, including workforce reentry, recidivism and youth and family programs that need reliable transportation to access essential services or job opportunities.
  • Public safety and transportation agencies are leveraging rideshare to support anti-driving under the influence (DUI) and safe ride campaigns, helping reduce impaired driving by providing residents with accessible transportation alternatives during high-risk times.

Delivering Value Quickly

One of the clearest advantages of Uber for Business is how quickly agencies can begin seeing value. For program managers responsible for overseeing social service and community programs, the benefits can be immediate when constituents are able to get where they need to go more reliably. Smoother transportation can make programs easier to manage and more effective overall.

Programs can be set up as fast as a couple of days. This speed can be especially important when agencies have immediate transportation needs or are looking for a fast, low-lift way to modernize existing processes.

Reducing Costs and Administrative Burden

Uber, Modernize Transportation Blog, Embedded Image, 2026

Cost savings are another major driver for adoption. Through Uber’s partnership with Carahsoft, the solution is available through a National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) agreement that includes built-in incentives for agencies. Uber also applies a tax exemption tag when setting up programs so eligible rides are exempt from applicable taxes.

Beyond discounts and tax advantages, agencies can realize significant operational efficiencies. Program managers no longer need to call in rides or worry about whether clients are reaching their destinations. Instead, they can see trips in real time, communicate with drivers during the booking process and distribute ride credits easily. These streamlined workflows reduce administrative effort and help programs run more efficiently.

Improving Visibility, Compliance and Oversight

For agencies in large counties, Uber for Business can be set up with a parent account that all department accounts fall under. This gives agencies centralized administration rights and better reporting across the organization. It also supports auditing and grant compliance by allowing administrators to view granular details for each trip.

Centralization also helps agencies capture unmanaged transportation spending that may otherwise happen informally across departments. Instead of relying on ad hoc rideshare use with little oversight, agencies can bring transportation activity into one system and enforce internal policies more consistently.

Enhancing the Transportation Experience

Ease of use is a major reason agencies are adopting Uber for Business. For riders, the biggest advantage is on-demand access. Rather than scheduling transportation days in advance, riders can get a trip when they need it. This flexibility can make a meaningful difference for participants in social service and workforce reentry programs, where reliable access to transportation can affect whether someone is able to reach work, court or other essential services.

Uber has also invested in accessibility features, building tools for riders who may not have a cell phone or the Uber app, as well as for those who speak another language or have low vision or hearing-related disabilities. For Government agencies focused on serving all constituents, not just most, these capabilities can help expand access and improve inclusivity.

A Centralized Transportation Strategy

According to Uber, the most successful deployments happen when an executive or procurement leader helps identify which departments across an agency could benefit from a more modern, efficient mobility solution. That agency-wide visibility makes it easier to structure the right program from the start, including setting up the parent account, selecting the right products for different departments and developing an implementation and training plan for staff. This kind of centralized planning can help agencies move beyond isolated pilots and create a transportation strategy that serves multiple departments and use cases through one platform.

For agencies just getting started, most programs can be up and running in less than a month. While some agencies may choose to run their own solicitation process, others can take advantage of existing contracts through NASPO and Carahsoft to start immediately. In emergency situations, deployment can be done within a day. Uber can move as fast as an agency requires.

As agencies look for ways to improve service delivery, manage budgets more carefully and give employees and constituents more reliable transportation options, Uber for Business provides a scalable and flexible model for modernization. From employee travel and fleet augmentation to court systems and social services, a centralized rideshare platform can help agencies simplify operations, improve oversight and better meet transportation needs across the communities they serve.

To learn more about how Uber provides modern travel and rideshare options to Government agencies, view their Uber for Business portfolio.

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 Uber for Business, 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

Integrated Threat Hunting: A Smarter Path for Stretched Federal SOCs

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Why visibility, automation and collaboration are now mission-critical

Federal Security Operations Center (SOC) teams are under relentless pressure. Teams are increasingly stretched thin as agencies grapple with AI-enhanced threats, Zero Trust requirements and operational mandates like FISMA 2.0. Despite limited staff and growing workloads, though, the mission remains clear: defend critical infrastructure, secure sensitive data and maintain compliance.

For split-second contexts in the face of critical alerts, fragmented tools and siloed data only make matters worse. Analysts lose time switching between platforms. Revalidating and responding to quickly escalating threats takes time away from mission continuity.

Federal SOCs require integrated, intelligence-driven platforms that support end-to-end threat visibility, rapid response and secure information sharing.

Modern Federal SOCs Face Mounting Challenges

Staffing shortfalls are now a systemic issue. The cybersecurity talent gap currently exceeds 5.5 million unfilled roles globally, with Federal agencies competing for a shrinking pool of qualified professionals.

Meanwhile, tool sprawl and console fatigue complicate workflows. Analysts must juggle multiple platforms to correlate data, validate incidents and track lateral movement all while meeting increasingly complex compliance reporting mandates.

Agencies must also contend with:

  • AI-generated malware that evades signature-based detection
  • Expanding attack surfaces from hybrid environments and remote endpoints
  • Escalating compliance expectations tied to FISMA modernization, OMB M-24-14 and Zero Trust architecture maturity

To keep pace, teams need tools that consolidate, correlate and streamline.

Real-time Response Enhances SOC Agility

Threat impact is defined by the time it takes to respond properly. Delayed containment leads to higher costs and increased exposure. That’s why real-time response is now essential to any defensible cybersecurity posture.

Modern endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms allow teams to:

  • Isolate compromised endpoints instantly
  • Terminate malicious processes at the source
  • Prevent data exfiltration in-flight
  • Apply automated playbooks for repeatable, standards-based remediation

These capabilities reduce manual intervention and align with CISA’s SOAR guidance, enabling SOCs to act swiftly within a Zero Trust model. For Federal teams, this also supports audit-readiness with timestamped forensic records that meet FISMA and OMB compliance requirements.

Unified Telemetry Accelerates Threat Hunting

Siloed data weakens an analyst’s ability to detect patterns and perform deep investigations. By unifying endpoint telemetry across devices and environments, teams gain access to richer datasets and longer retention windows for root cause analysis.

Carbon Black EDR captures high-fidelity endpoint activity and retains up to 180 days of telemetry, letting teams uncover threats that may have originated weeks or months prior.

With behavior-based analytics, SOCs can move past static signatures and detect anomalies faster. This involves pinpointing lateral movement, privilege escalation and indicators of compromise before damage escalates.

Collaboration and Data Sharing Reduce Operational Risk

Cybersecurity is a team sport, but without integrated data sharing, even the best defenses can fall short. Fragmented environments limit visibility, making it difficult to act on shared intelligence across tools and agency teams.

Integrated platforms streamline threat intelligence sharing through features such as:

  • The Carbon Black Data Forwarder, which simplifies integration with SIEM/SOAR platforms
  • API-driven data sharing that supports automation and collaboration
  • Compatibility with Zero Trust frameworks, particularly the Device Pillar of OMB M-24-14

With cross-environment visibility and collective learning, SOC teams can improve incident response while advancing cybersecurity maturity across the agency.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Federal SOCs face high-stakes situations where time and clarity are critical and impact lives in real time. Every alert demands focus. Every decision must be defensible. To operate effectively under pressure, teams need platforms that reduce noise, unify workflows and enable smart action.

Carbon Black and Carahsoft help Federal teams do more with less. We empower analysts with the real-time insights and interoperability they need to protect what matters most.

Contact us to learn how your agency can simplify threat detection, response and collaboration with Carbon Black EDR.

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 Broadcom, 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.

The Federal 100 Signals Optimization in Federal IT

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The Federal 100 reflects more than individual achievement; it reveals how technology is fueling great things in Federal Government. Serving as a judge this cycle provided a front-row view of the work happening across agencies and the priorities shaping it.

Optimization had been a stated priority for years. Over the past cycle, it became visible in day-to-day decisions. Leaders were recognized for tightening how technology environments operate: setting clearer enterprise direction, reinforcing shared standards and embedding modernization into routine governance.

That shift showed up across security, acquisition, data strategy and workforce systems. Programs moved beyond isolated efforts and began operating with greater cohesion across components.

That pattern was especially visible in national security organizations.

Many of this year’s honorees came from Defense, DHS and Energy. When agencies responsible for the nation’s most demanding missions lead in enterprise alignment, platform standardization and structured governance, it signals that these practices are no longer experimental. They are operational. They are institutional. And they are delivering measurable mission impact.

Enterprise Leadership Drove Alignment

The leaders who stood out had enterprise reach. They worked across organizational boundaries and aligned components around shared priorities.

That leadership showed up in measurable ways: faster ATO approvals, stronger FedRAMP execution and authorization built into delivery rather than added at the end. Identity now anchors security strategy, reinforcing Zero Trust and allowing bureaus to operate on common foundations.

What this means for the vendor community:
Agencies are aligning at the enterprise level and across organizations. Solutions that integrate across components and scale cleanly will move more easily.

Optimization Became the Operating Model

Optimization is now part of how agencies operate. Leaders are simplifying architectures, cutting duplicated data and strengthening shared platforms so systems connect without unnecessary friction. Unnecessary data movement and storage are being designed out of the system rather than absorbed as the cost of doing business.

The impact was measurable:

  • Identity consolidation lowered integration complexity
  • Multi-cloud strategies improved resilience
  • Enterprise data fabrics reduced duplication
  • Shared platforms supported multiple bureaus

What this means for the vendor community:
Agencies need solutions built to integrate cleanly and minimize unnecessary data movement.

AI Moves from Pilot to Program

AI is no longer confined to experimentation. Programs that began as pilots are gaining executive ownership and defined accountability.

For the first time, Chief AI Officer roles were recognized, reflecting formal accountability for the deployment and governance of AI. That shows AI is maturing into the same category as cybersecurity and cloud: a capability that requires strategy, standards and sustained leadership.

What this means for the vendor community:
Fast Proof-of-concepts with a plan to move into production is important. Solutions must support enterprise integration and sustained use.

The Rules of Government Buying Are Changing

Several of this year’s leaders are literally rewriting the rules of Government buying. The FAR rewrite reshapes the governing framework, and OneGov pushes a long-promised goal into practice: aligning agencies around shared buying strategies instead of fragmented procurements. Expanded use of OTAs and CSOs rounds out the shift by speeding access to new technology.

The combined effect is a more coordinated, more flexible acquisition environment.

What this means for the vendor community:
Vendors who understand enterprise procurement strategies, regulatory shifts and alternative purchasing pathways will be best positioned to support their customers effectively.

Workforce Modernization Is Delivering Results

Workforce systems are undergoing substantive modernization. Agencies are eliminating long-standing backlogs and delivering near real-time workforce data to leadership.

Modernization is extending into core business operations and strengthening how agencies hire, manage and support their people.

What this means for the vendor community
Demand is strong for secure, scalable workforce platforms that integrate with enterprise systems and deliver timely insight.

Emerging Technologies Are Strengthening the Mission Edge

Advanced capabilities are being deployed with clear mission impact. Autonomous systems are extending operational reach. Operational technology security efforts are hardening critical infrastructure. Post-quantum planning is addressing future cryptographic risk. High-performance computing is accelerating analysis and modeling tied directly to national priorities.

These efforts reflect growing confidence in deploying advanced technology within demanding mission environments.

What this means for the vendor community:
Government is embracing new and emerging technologies. This shift creates significant opportunities for vendors prepared to innovate and adapt to changing procurement models.    

What This Signals for the Year Ahead

Federal IT is operating with greater urgency and focus, with speed and mission impact as top priorities.

Enterprise leadership coordinates large organizations. Optimization shapes architecture decisions. AI has named accountability. Acquisition frameworks are being revised. Workforce and emerging technologies are delivering measurable outcomes.

The leaders recognized this year are shaping how Government will function over the next decade, not just how it will deploy the next tool. Congratulations to all the winners.