Top Upcoming 5G Events for Government to Attend

Posted on by Mark DeMerse

Secure Public Sector networks with 5G wireless technology delivers high-speed wireless connectivity, faster data rates and lower latency for systems and communities across the nation. This next-generation mobile network enables the expansion of virtual reality (VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. While many successful use cases have recently emerged showcasing the power of 5G in Government, Carahsoft partners are supporting agencies by providing powerful cellular networks and maintaining reliable mobile connections to achieve mission success without compromising security within workflows.

Explore more ways to leverage Carahsoft and our partners through our various upcoming Government events. Learn about acceleration of real-time delivery from devices, increased adoption of AI and multiaccess edge computing technologies (MEC) and other innovations from leading 5G technology service providers.

5G Summit

August 22 | Reston, VA

5G networks have become more common over the past few years. One study found that 5G’s worldwide share of mobile data traffic in 2021 was about 10% – but expected to grow to 60% by 2027. Government agencies are more selective when it comes to adopting 5G for their networks, partially due to higher costs associated with deploying such networks as well as unique requirements very large organizations such as the Department of Defense pose. Join thought leaders from Government and industry as they outline developments in 5G network rollouts at agencies and the ways 5G can be harnessed to open new opportunities to meet agencies’ various missions.

Sessions to look out for:

5G is at the Heart of CJADC2

5G’s Role in Modernization

The Future of 5G Technology in Government

Carahsoft is hosting this year’s 5G Summit alongside FedInsider, Cradlepoint, Nokia, Intel, T-Mobile, and Dell Technologies providing the latest management news from inside the Government.

T-Mobile Tech Experience: 5G Hub

August 27 | Bellevue, WA

Carahsoft Top 5G Events Blog Embedded Image 2024

Inaugurated in 2016, the Tech Experience has set out to create innovative and engaging experiences to inspire the industry to turn concepts into tangible, transformative solutions. The T-Mobile 5G Hub offers opportunities to meet with engineers, immerse in technology demonstrations and gain other valuable resources. At the event, hear directly from project partners about the successful projects crafted within the 5G Hub, explore video testimonials showcasing T-Mobile’s facilities, technology, expertise and partnerships, and get ready to participate in ample networking sessions.

Carahsoft partners AWS, Dell Technologies, Nokia, Ericsson, Microsoft, Google Cloud and Qualcomm will be featured at the 2024 T-Mobile Tech Experience.

ATARC Federal Mobility Summit

September 19 | Reston, VA

ATARC, the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center, and Carahsoft invite attendees to a day full of networking, innovation and collaboration within the world of federal mobility. At the Federal Mobility Summit, industry experts and leaders in Government will explore the latest trends and updates in mobile technology such as security, Zero Trust, acquisition, best practices and emerging solutions. Connect with peers and gain valuable insights into the future of mobility in the federal sector.

Sessions to look out for:

Securing Mobile Technologies: Identity, Zero Trust, and Threats

Navigating Mobile Acquisitions: Strategies and Best Practices

Next-Generation Networks: 5G, 6G, and Their Impact

Mission Enablement: Tools and Technologies for Success

Carahsoft is proud to host the Federal Mobility Summit at our office in Reston, Virginia and holds an ATARC membership, immersing further into the Federal IT community.

Open RAN GLOBAL FORUM

September 24 | Virtual

Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, is an evolving shift of industry standards and mobile architecture so that service providers can use equipment from multiple vendors while ensuring interoperability. The Open RAN Global Forum brings industry experts and Government together to delve into the latest updates for Open RAN including the role Open RAN will play in 6G, focusing on energy-efficient, AI-driven and customizable technology. Featuring interviews, live discussions and demos, attendees will learn more about adoption challenges and progress surrounding tier-one telecom operators’ roadmaps. Other key themes featured at this year’s event include examining the growth of AI and automation in RIC, exploring Open RAN economics and capitalization opportunities, testing and reducing energy consumption and more.

Carahsoft partners and mobile carries Verizon and T-Mobile will be featured at Open RAN GLOBAL FORUM.

Mobile World Congress

October 8-10 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Prepare for the new era of hyperconnected business and smart cities or procure technology that can be deployed right now to make legacy systems and existing processes faster, easier and more resilient with industrial-grade 5G. At Mobile World Congress, explore technology themes like enterprise transformation, AI networks and 5G EdgeCloud with 5G leaders, architects and systems integrators, as well as CIOs from successful 5G enterprises, and discover how this technology can solve today’s biggest industry challenges.

Carahsoft partners Verizon, Qualcomm and Microsoft will be featured at this year’s MWC.

5G Round Table Webinar Series

October 3 & November 14 | Virtual

This fall, join us for two 5G Round Table sessions featuring real-world insights from Intel and T-Mobile. Hear from thought leaders from Government and industry outlining developments in 5G network rollouts at agencies and the ways 5G can be harnessed to open new opportunities to meet agencies’ unique missions.

Carahsoft will be hosting this event alongside FedInsider. CPE credits will be provided for qualified participants.

AutoCon 2

November 18-22 | Denver, CO

Full adoption of network automation is a continuous challenge for the mobility community that innovators at AUTOCON 2 hope to discover a solution for. The first, single, in-person event was a foundational moment for collaborators to advance the state of automated network operations. Now, the founders of the event are working to grow AutoCon into a recurring series of practitioner-focused events. This fall’s event will feature informational conference sessions, workshops and networking opportunities.

Carahsoft partners Nokia and Arista will be featured at AUTOCON 2.

Carahsoft’s 5G Podcast Series

Multiple Events | Virtual

Carahsoft’s podcast series dives into the world of 5G technology solutions, featuring expert insights from industry leaders. Explore sessions on the strategic advantages and key technologies for 5G, relevant applications of 5G for Federal, State and Local Governments and specific agency use cases such as the transformative success stories, learning curves and future objectives of 5G for the Department of Defense. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to impact the power and possibilities of 5G technology.

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events please contact us at 5G@carahsoft.com. For more information on Carahsoft and our industry leading Cybersecurity technology partners’ events, visit our 5G Solutions Portfolio and 5G Events page. 

The Basics of Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure

Posted on by Alex Whitworth

In July 2021, the presidential administration signed a National Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems. As these systems are a part of daily life, any damage to them would be a significant threat to national security. To prevent a national crisis, the administration launched an effort to improve cybersecurity across critical infrastructure sectors. The first part of this four-part blog series will cover the basics of critical infrastructure cybersecurity. Subsequent blogs will dive deeper into the Water and Wastewater, Electric and Utility and Transportation sectors respectively.

Realities of Critical Infrastructure Environments

Increasing Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security ranks is a top priority to protect critical US infrastructure and national security. ICS is an information system that is used to control industrial processes such as manufacturing, product handling, production and distribution. These information systems can face a variety of threats from foreign and national bad actors who aim to gather intelligence and disrupt critical functions. With evolving technology, ICS operators must ensure that they implement new cybersecurity functions when connecting Operational Technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to Information Technology (IT) systems.

Best security practices for ICS include:

Restricting logical access to the system’s network and activity through protections such as firewalls to pause network traffic
Implementing unidirectional gates
Restricting physical access to the ICS devices and network to avoid disruptions to the system’s functionality
Securing all ICS individual components
Protecting against unauthorized data changes through network oversight
Having a response plan for potential incidents^[1]

CISA’s Cybersecurity Performance Goals

Section 4 of the National Security Memorandum required the Department of Homeland Security to create baseline cybersecurity guidelines.

To further advance this, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a number of initiatives for agencies to implement that would strengthen their security systems. Every day, CISA works with ICS asset owners and operators to help them identify, protect against and detect cybersecurity threats, as well as to enhance ICS technical, analytical and response capabilities. CISA is working hard with critical infrastructure organizations to improve on the common issues they see, including:

Without basic security protections and foundational measures, critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable to exploit by methods that are easily preventable.
Limitation of resources continues to be a challenge for small- and medium-sized organizations.
There are inconsistencies in the standards for cyber maturity across the various critical infrastructure sectors, leaving security gaps that can be exploited.
Cybersecurity in IT systems are prioritized, leaving OT systems overlooked and outdated.

CISA offers a wide array of resources to help critical infrastructure organizations. These include the 2022 Cybersecurity Performance Goals—the CPGs. The CPGs are intended to be both voluntary and not comprehensive. It is not a mandated act for agencies to implement, nor does it consist of every helpful cybersecurity practice for every organization. Rather, they are intended as a beginner guideline that can be communicated to a non-technical audience. The CPGs were set as a baseline set of cybersecurity practices that are broadly applicable across critical infrastructure and have known risk-reduction value for IT and OT owners. And lastly, the CPGs stand out from other control frameworks by not only considering practices that address risk to individual entities, but also the aggregate risk to the nation.^[2]

The Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals provide a set of IT and OT cybersecurity practices that will help organizations increase cyber resilience in their Critical Infrastructure systems. CISA has organized the practices into 8 categories:

Account Security
Device Security
Data Security
Governance and Training
Vulnerability Management
Supply Chain / Third Party
Response and Recovery
Other

In March 2023 CISA released and updated version of the CPGs to include a key updates from the October 2022 guidelines.

The CPGs have been reordered to fit the NIST CSF functions, and accompanying documents have been adjusted to reflect this.
The Multifactor Authentication (MFA) goal has been updated to reflect the most recent CISA guidelines.
To aid in organizations’ recovery planning, CISA added a goal based around GitHub feedback.
There were slight changes made to the glossary to not only reflect the previously listed changes, but to acknowledge additional stakeholders who’ve contributed to the guidelines.

To better connect with the greater community, there are now additional opportunities to provide input on the goals CISA discussion page. CISA welcomes feedback from partners in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure communities.

Check back to read our second installment of this critical infrastructure series that will cover the best cybersecurity practices in the water and wastewater sectors.

To learn more about protecting agencies against cyber-attacks, visit Carahsoft’s Cybersecurity Solutions Portfolio.

Resources:

^[1] “Recommended Cybersecurity Practices for Industrial Control Systems,” CISA, https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Cybersecurity_Best_Practices_for_Industrial_Control_Systems.pdf

^[2] “Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals,” CISA, https://www.cisa.gov/cross-sector-cybersecurity-performance-goals

How 5G Will Enable New Capabilities for Your Agency

Posted on by The Carahsoft Team

5G technology is the fifth generation of technology standards for broadband cellular networks. For government agencies, this evolution brings a revolutionary punch to the delivery of services and mission execution.

For starters, 5G has ultra-low latency and high data speed, fueling a whole new Internet of Things (IoT) capability and transforming how mission communication is done. It is 10 to 20 times the speed of 4G and capable of supporting up to 1 million devices per square kilometer. It will account for increased density in cities and help bridge the digital divide in rural regions.

It will also deliver high-speed broadband access to a wider audience. This will support residential and commercial users where fiber cable has not been laid and reduces deployment and maintenance costs. Multi-access edge computing (MEC) will bring resources closer to the end-user, reduce latency, and deliver critical information to the tip of the spear.

There is a world of opportunity in 5G for the government user. However, many agencies are still working out how to best tap into it. Others are still looking at the challenges they will experience in adopting 5G. This blog will explore some of the ways that government agencies will be able to tap into 5G and improve their ability to deliver on the mission.

Expanding the sphere of influence

5G will have a general impact on global communications, but for government agencies it offers the potential to do more mission-critical work untethered from a physical location. Public health operations will have access to full systems, even in remote areas. The military will have the first “smart base.” Emergency services will have more and better data before entering a potentially dangerous environment. Think of it this way: 5G puts the human at the center of the mission.

Government services—especially those in the field—will be far more responsive to customer needs. Instead of residents having to come to a central location to complete a task, government agencies will have the option of bringing the service directly to residents without impacting the quality of service. Communities themselves will become better connected.

The hitch to all this goodness, however, is that government infrastructure must be prepared to respond to the democratization of data and a society where fast wireless internet is available in every region, not just urban areas.

Kickstarting MEC

Arguably, the biggest impact 5G will have is multi-access edge computing (MEC). By computing at the edge, users are physically closer to where computing happens. This reduced latency means a faster and more reliable environment. Government agencies will be able to extend their reach outside of physical locations and bring services to citizens, no matter where they are.

With MEC, applications are faster and more reliable—without improving or altering the actual system. It brings the data center to the end user. For government agencies, it’s an opportunity to dive into some of the most advanced technologies. Previously, this may not have been possible because of inefficient and unreliable networks.

This means the potential use of technology like deep learning, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) in low-bandwidth environments. Military training can happen in field. Deep learning will enable agencies to harness the power of AI/ML in new ways. For example, enhanced translation capabilities will enable government agencies to reach all citizens. Or, using 5G AI capabilities to perform rapid colorization of panchromatic imagery to increase the value of analysis. 5G can even deliver a deep-learning computer that refines its own ability to recognize an object. The possibilities and ramifications of deep learning aren’t even fully understood yet.

AR and VR create a powerful learning environment without the requirement—or risk—of being somewhere. Combined with 5G, it means AR/VR can happen anywhere. Dangerous missions like space exploration can be replicated in any room, enhancing training opportunities without increasing the danger. AR and VR can also be extended to military or emergency management functions.

The potential to leverage AR and VR to interact with citizens is also significant. From storytelling and public information campaigns to social service and telehealth, virtual worlds may change how agencies interact with citizens moving forward.

The future is…when?

The national rollout of 5G is ongoing—and will be for a few years still. As of early 2021, approximately 80% of the United States had coverage, with the remaining 20% anticipated by the middle of the decade. The transition will be seamless to the end user, although full adoption will take a bit longer since most older devices do not support the technology.

Government agencies will likely move slower with implementation. It will be an accelerant, but agencies should start preparing today. It’s clear the technology will be a gamechanger for agencies and how they fulfill their mission.

Do you want to know how 5G can help your agency? Contact 5G@carahsoft.com or call (703) 871-8626.

The Rise of Edge Computing

Posted on by The Carahsoft Team

The proliferation of internet-of-things (IoT) sensors and an increasingly mobile workforce were dispersing government IT operations farther from the data center long before the coronavirus struck. But the pandemic has spotlighted agency employees’ increasing need for robust, secure capabilities in the field — or at home, in the case of remote work — and decision-makers need fast access to data analytics in a wide variety of situations. All those factors are driving interest in computing at the network edge, or processing data at the site of generation rather than storage. Edge computing has profound implications for a wide range of government missions across local, state, and Federal government, and with the emergence of 5G networks, it is becoming easier to incorporate. And if implemented thoughtfully, the benefits can be immense – reduced network stress, increased cybersecurity and savings in cost, time and storage. Read the latest insights from industry thought leaders in edge computing in Carahsoft’s Innovation in Government^® report.

Streamlining the Adoption of Edge Computing

“Open source is a necessary component of edge computing for two main reasons. First, open source is much more secure than its proprietary counterparts due to the increased transparency. For edge deployments with hundreds or even thousands of sites, initially securing and maintaining them are solved through Red Hat open source. Second, open source supports a level of innovation most proprietary systems simply can’t match. When thousands of people work on a technology, that gives it a substantial advantage in terms of new ideas and accelerated innovation.”

Read more insights from Red Hat’s Practice Lead of OpenShift Virtualization, Storage and Hyperconverged Infrastructure in the North American Public Sector, Garrett Clark.

A Unified Approach to Edge Computing

“To avoid piecemeal implementation, edge computing must be part of an agency’s overall IT infrastructure. When done well, it will empower agencies to make more efficient and faster decisions because they’ll be able to harness more data from across the entire landscape. It will also give end users better and faster access to data in the field so they can take advantage of those insights in real time. Edge devices will not replace existing IT but instead will expand on what’s already in place. By incorporating edge computing into enterprise modernization, agencies can also start applying machine learning and other emerging technologies to harness the power of data. However, with edge devices and data now outside agencies’ firewalls, security must be embedded into edge computing. Important tools include automated security and centralized management, perhaps via the cloud.”

Read more insights from Nutanix’s Senior Director of Public Sector Systems Engineers, Dan Fallon.

How to Unleash the Power of Edge Computing

“Edge computing holds a great deal of promise as a stand-alone capability, but when paired with technologies such as advanced connectivity and enterprise data platforms, edge computing can fuel new customer and employee experiences at scale. When agencies combine edge computing with advanced connectivity, for example, they can empower rich, personalized experiences for customers as well as employees. Imagine moving from a 2D world of video consumption to a 3D world with immersive experiences personalized at scale for the individual. Edge computing coupled with advanced connectivity and SAP’s data platform can serve as the foundation to bring these new experiences to life. To help fuel this innovation, advanced connectivity such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6 play an integral role.”

Read more insights from SAP’s Vice President, Global Center of Excellence, Frank Wilde.

Accelerating Mission Success at the Edge

“Sometimes an agency will want to be in a cloud environment, sometimes it will choose an edge computing environment, and often, it will need both. In that situation, some quick analytics can happen at the edge, but then the data can move to the cloud for a deeper evaluation that will draw out more predictive insights and analytics. There are three key considerations agencies should keep in mind when moving to edge computing. First, they should think about it as part of a larger continuum alongside their core technologies, including cloud. Second, agencies should design for consistency in management and orchestration. Regardless of where a workload is running, a consistent approach helps agencies manage IT resources and costs and allows the organizations to scale and expand. The third consideration is more far reaching, but I encourage agency leaders to think about the opportunities that edge computing opens up.”

Read more insights from Dell’s Global Marketing Director of Edge and IoT Solutions, Kirsten Billhardt.

Beyond the Data Center and the Cloud

“We expect the number of connected devices to reach nearly 45 billion by 2025, gathering close to 80 zettabytes. Unfortunately, sending that growing amount of data to the cloud for processing is not always the best option due to bandwidth limitations and cost concerns. Many government systems are also not connected to the cloud and need to process data locally. Edge technology evolved to meet those challenges by bringing the advantages of cloud closer to the edge. Business applications enabled by edge computing include autonomous delivery, machine control, environmental monitoring, fleet vehicle diagnostics, vision-based analytics and defect detection. Edge computing is particularly beneficial in two situations: when a great deal of data needs to be migrated to the cloud for storage but there is little or no bandwidth and when data needs to be collected and acted on quickly at the edge (e.g., autonomous vehicles and drones).”

Read more insights from AWS’s Principal Technical Business Development Leader for IoT in the Worldwide Public Sector, Lorraine Bassett.

Edge: The Next Paradigm Shift in IT

“Agencies can protect their data and applications across any cloud strategy (including on-premises, private, hybrid, multi-cloud or edge computing) with a cloud-agnostic, edge-based Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solution. A globally distributed WAAP will protect websites, applications and APIs from downtime and data theft due to web attacks and distributed denial-of service (DDoS) attacks. All network-layer DDoS attacks, including those by large IoT botnets, are instantly dropped at the edge because a WAAP functions as a reverse proxy and only accepts traffic via ports 80 and 443. Any application-layer DDoS or web attack will be automatically inspected and stopped at the edge without disrupting access for legitimate users. Additionally, modern application architectures are shifting toward greater use of microservices and away from monolithic pieces of software. Small, independent microservices are assembled into more complex applications so they can leverage fully functional and distributed processes from third-party APIs.”

Read more insights from Akamai’s Senior Vice President of Web Performance, Lelah Manz.

Download the full Innovation in Government® report for more insights from these government edge computing thought leaders and additional industry research from FCW.

| Carahsoft

Category Archives: IoT and OT