Category Archives: Zero Trust

Better Together: How Nutanix and AccuKnox Are Securing the Tactical Edge, and Beyond

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Modern defense operations demand more than connectivity; they demand resilience. As mission environments grow increasingly contested and disconnected, the ability to process intelligence, deploy applications and enforce security at the edge has become a strategic imperative. Nutanix and AccuKnox have built a compelling answer: a tightly integrated platform that pairs the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) with AccuKnox’s Zero Trust security layer to deliver a complete, hardened stack, from the software factory to forward-deployed vessels to orbiting satellites. This hardened stack is also hardware agnostic and can be deployed on bare metal tactical servers, and up to IL6+ Govcloud instances. For the Department of War (DoW) architects, system integrators and space operations professionals, the critical question is no longer whether to modernize, but how to do it in environments where reach back is unreliable, swap space is constrained and the cost of failure is operational.

Kubernetes as the Foundation for Tactical Edge Operations

Delivering enterprise-grade infrastructure to physically remote, resource-constrained environments requires more than Kubernetes alone. Kubernetes represents roughly 30% of the solution; the remainder is a curated ecosystem of microservices, service mesh, observability tools and storage integrations that together form a complete operational platform. Without that full stack, organizations risk spending months assembling disparate open source components, only to find that their workloads are still unable to reach production. The NKP addresses this by delivering a pre-integrated, hardware-agnostic solution deployable on bare metal, in the cloud or fully air-gapped at the tactical edge. Whether the use case is a carrier strike group operating disconnected at sea, a forward-deployed Army unit running legacy virtual machines (VMs) alongside containers, or an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) requiring a minimal footprint, NKP provides a single platform capable of self-healing, automated scaling and continuous operation, regardless of connectivity status.

AI Delivery and Agentic Capabilities in Disconnected Environments

In contested environments, artificial intelligence (AI) cannot depend on cloud inference. It must run locally, reliably and securely. Nutanix Enterprise AI layers on top of NKP to provide a managed platform for running Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems and agentic AI applications with full GPU support, all within disconnected environments. At a recent TechNet San Diego demonstration, RAG AI was used to surface answers from complex naval system maintenance manuals in seconds, a direct application for shipboard readiness operations. Agentic platforms are now deployed with Army units and fielding requests from naval activities, running fully on NKP hardware aboard vessels and mobile command centers without internet dependency. AI models trained at core installations are pushed to forward-deployed assets, where they run locally and queue updates for synchronization upon reconnection, preserving operational continuity without compromising security or model integrity.

Zero Trust Security Woven Into Every Layer

Security at the tactical edge requires continuous policy enforcement at every layer of the software stack, from code commit to container runtime in the field. AccuKnox integrates below the application layer to enforce least-permissive security policies at the kernel level using eBPF-based telemetry. Its Discovery Engine analyzes applications both statically and dynamically, automatically generating security manifests that accompany each application throughout its full deployment lifecycle. These policies define exactly where an application can communicate, what data it can access and how it may interact with adjacent system components—creating enforcement that is architectural rather than reactive. For acquisition officials and Authorizing Officials (AOs) managing distributed mission systems, the platform also automates the generation of compliance evidence covering Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) and relevant security frameworks, compressing what has historically been a months-long manual process into continuous, audit-ready assurance.

Extending the Stack to Orbit: DevSpaceOps

The Nutanix and AccuKnox partnership extends beyond the terrestrial edge to software-defined satellites and orbital platforms. Modern satellite platforms support containerized payloads, multi-tenancy and high-tempo software updates, and they carry significant security exposure. A representative sample of open source software deployed across current satellite initiatives contains more than 60 million lines of code and upwards of 20,000 CVEs. Unlike ground-based nodes, satellites cannot rely on real-time downlink for security decisions; they require local policy enforcement, runtime monitoring and eventually consistent posture reporting to the ground. The concept of DevSpaceOps, modeled on DevSecOps but adapted to the constraints of orbit, addresses how development teams can certify, deploy and manage satellite software with verifiable confidence, leveraging lightweight versions of KubeArmor, automated SPARTA TTP mapping and orbital security dashboards that give Space Operations Center (SOC) teams constellation-wide visibility into STIG compliance, CVE exposure and runtime violations.

One Stack, Every Domain

NKP delivers the hardware-agnostic, cloud-native platform that enables continuous operations across disconnected, multi-domain environments, from carrier strike groups to Army forward units to orbital constellations. AccuKnox ensures that everything running on that platform is secured, monitored and compliant at every layer of the stack. For defense organizations looking to reduce decision latency, accelerate the Authorization to Operate (ATO) lifecycle and ensure security travels with every workload, this joint solution offers a proven, fielded path forward.

To explore these capabilities in greater depth, including live demonstrations of sensor-to-shooter workflows, orbital security posture management and agentic AI in disconnected environments, watch the full webinar presented by Nutanix and Carahsoft.

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, 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 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.

Keep More, Store Less: The Case for Advanced Compression in Federal EDR

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How agencies can retain full-fidelity data without overspending on storage

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) depends on data. The more telemetry you collect, the more context you have to detect threats, investigate incidents and meet Federal compliance requirements.

But data volume is also the problem. Federal agencies generate massive amounts of endpoint telemetry every day. Process activity. File changes. Network connections. User behavior. Multiply that across thousands of devices and storage requirements quickly grow beyond what many teams can sustain.

Security teams often face a difficult tradeoff: retain full-fidelity data and absorb higher storage costs, or limit retention and risk losing critical visibility.

That tradeoff is no longer necessary. Advanced data compression changes the economics of endpoint visibility. Agencies can retain unfiltered telemetry for extended periods without expanding storage budgets or adding operational complexity.

The Visibility–Storage Tradeoff is No Longer Sustainable

Federal cybersecurity requirements continue to raise the bar for telemetry collection and retention. Agencies must support Zero Trust initiatives, continuous monitoring programs and audit readiness. Modernization efforts increase the number of connected endpoints, including cloud workloads, remote systems and contractor-managed devices. Each new endpoint expands the telemetry footprint.

At the same time, budgets remain under scrutiny. Storage infrastructure must compete with other mission priorities and security leaders must justify every dollar. When storage costs climb, teams often respond in predictable ways:

  • Reduce retention windows
  • Sample or filter telemetry
  • Drop lower-priority event types
  • Offload data to external archives that are difficult to query

Each of these approaches creates blind spots. Shorter retention windows limit historical investigations and filtered data weakens threat hunting while fragmented storage slows response times.

In a threat context where adversaries can dwell quietly for months, incomplete data is a liability. Agencies need a way to collect and retain comprehensive telemetry without creating unsustainable storage growth.

Compression-First Architectures Improve Data Retention

Traditional security platforms treat compression as an afterthought. Data is collected at scale, stored in raw or lightly optimized formats and compressed later in the pipeline. By then, infrastructure costs are already locked in.

A compression-first architecture takes a different approach. Advanced compression techniques reduce data size at ingest. Telemetry is optimized as it enters the platform, not after it has consumed storage resources. The result is a significantly smaller storage footprint without sacrificing fidelity. For Federal security operations centers (SOCs), this shift has meaningful impact:

  • Longer retention without higher cost – Agencies can retain 180 days or more of full-fidelity telemetry while remaining within budget constraints.
  • Unfiltered visibility – Teams do not need to decide in advance which data might matter later. They can keep it all.
  • Faster investigations – Optimized storage enables efficient querying across large datasets, supporting threat hunting and incident response.
  • Simplified architecture – Native compression reduces the need for external storage tiers or complex archival systems.

Instead of managing tradeoffs, security teams regain flexibility.

Full-Fidelity Data Supports Compliance and Zero Trust

Federal mandates increasingly require measurable security maturity. Continuous monitoring, device-level visibility and documented audit trails are central to that effort, and retention depth matters.

When agencies can access complete endpoint histories, they strengthen their ability to:

  • Validate Zero Trust controls within the device pillar
  • Reconstruct events during forensic investigations
  • Demonstrate compliance with evolving Federal security requirements
  • Support reporting obligations tied to vulnerability and risk management

Short retention windows make it harder to answer fundamental questions: When did this behavior begin? Was lateral movement attempted? Did similar activity occur on other systems?

With compressed full-fidelity data, those questions become easier to answer and teams can look back months, not days. This level of historical visibility supports stronger analytics, more informed risk decisions and more defensible reporting.

Cost Efficiency Matters Under Federal Scrutiny

Every Federal technology investment must demonstrate operational value. Advanced compression directly addresses cost concerns in several ways:

  • Reduces total storage consumption
  • Delays or eliminates additional infrastructure purchases
  • Lowers operational overhead tied to managing multiple storage systems
  • Minimizes data movement between tiers

At the same time, it strengthens the overall security posture by preserving data that might otherwise be discarded. This combination of efficiency and depth is particularly important for agencies balancing modernization initiatives with budget discipline.

Security cannot become a cost center that expands without limit. It must scale responsibly. Compression-first EDR architecture supports that balance.

The Federal security community no longer needs to accept a compromise between cost and visibility. Advanced data compression enables agencies to:

  • Collect unfiltered endpoint telemetry
  • Retain data for extended periods
  • Support Zero Trust maturity
  • Strengthen investigative capabilities
  • Maintain fiscal discipline

As agencies define the next standard for Federal EDR, data strategy must be part of the conversation. Retention, accessibility and efficiency determine whether telemetry delivers long-term value.

Carbon Black and Carahsoft help Federal agencies adopt a compression-first approach to endpoint detection and response, so teams can keep more data, store less and operate with confidence.

Contact us to learn how your agency can adopt a compression-first approach to endpoint visibility while staying within budget.

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.

Top 10 Zero Trust Events for Government in 2026 

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As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and perimeter-based security models become increasingly obsolete, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has emerged as the foundation of modern cybersecurity strategy. From identity-centric access controls to continuous validation and application-level segmentation, Zero Trust principles are transforming how agencies protect sensitive data, secure hybrid environments and defend against advanced persistent threats. Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, supports Federal, State and Local agencies in their journeys through partnerships with leading Zero Trust solution providers. The following events represent opportunities to gain actionable insights, connect with industry experts and explore technologies that accelerate Zero Trust maturity across the Public Sector.  

ATARC’s Cybersecurity Futures: Built on Zero Trust Summit – Part I 

February 26, 2026 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event 

The Advanced Technology Academic Research Center’s (ATARC) Cybersecurity Futures: Built on Zero Trust Summit delivers a comprehensive exploration of Zero Trust operationalization for Federal professionals. This intensive one-day event addresses the practical challenges agencies face when implementing Zero Trust across both legacy and modern systems, featuring expert guidance on artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled threat detection, workforce development and policy evolution. Participants will engage directly with Public Sector decision makers and top industry partners to explore topics such as real-world applications, frameworks and proactive resilience.  

Sessions to look out for: 

  • “Zero Trust Beyond Compliance” – This panel examines how agencies can move past basic compliance approaches to build resilient, adaptive ZTAs that address legacy system modernization and robust data protection strategies.  
  • “Next‑Gen Threats, Next‑Gen Defenses: The Tech‑Cybersecurity Equation” – Experts from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory and the Department of War’s (DoW) Chief Digital and AI Office explore how AI and automation are reshaping advanced threats and defensive capabilities that can reduce incident response timelines by up to 40%. 

Carahsoft is proud to co-host this Summit at our Conference & Collaboration Center, alongside ATARC, NextGov/FCW and Washington Technology, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to advancing Zero Trust adoption across the Federal Government. Throughout the day, our team will be available to connect Government professionals with the resources, expertise and solutions needed to successfully implement ZTAs that protect mission-critical operations. We will showcase Zero Trust innovations in our pavilion and are offering 12 unique sponsorships opportunities for our vendor partners, including panel participation, technology showcases and more! 

CyberSmart 2026 – The Two Edges of AI’s Sword 

April 9, 2026 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event 

FedInsider’s CyberSmart 2026 examines how AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape for Federal and State agencies. This half-day event will feature expert-led discussions on balancing AI’s defensive power with its potential for exploitation and applying Zero Trust principles across software supply chains and critical infrastructure. Designed for cybersecurity leaders, attendees can engage and network with peers, participating in strategic conversations on balancing innovation with security mandates. 

Sessions to look out for: 

  • “The Intersection of AI and Cyber (and Cyber Defense)” – This session analyzes how AI is revolutionizing cyber warfare tactics, examining both its potential to enhance agency defenses and its exploitation by adversaries. 
  • “Zero Trust and Supply Chain Security Belong Together” – Participants will explore strategies for embedding Zero Trust frameworks into software supply chain risk management. 

Hosted at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center, this summit is co-organized by Carahsoft and FedInsider. Recognizing the importance of balancing AI innovation with security frameworks, the event will center around critical discussions on Zero Trust, OT protection and AI-risk mitigation. CyberSmart 2026 reinforces Carahsoft’s dedication to helping Government agencies navigate the dual opportunities and risks presented by AI in cybersecurity by connecting them with proven solutions and strategic guidance. 

GovCIO CyberScape Summit 

April 16, 2026 | Arlington, VA | In-Person Event 

GovCIO’s CyberScape Summit assembles Federal and industry cybersecurity leaders to address top priorities in defending against sophisticated threats. The 2026 program emphasizes emerging solutions in AI, Zero Trust and identity, cloud and supply chain security, critical infrastructure protection, data security and incident response capabilities. Held at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View, this one-day event offers attendees the opportunity to engage with experts on strategies for building cyber resilience across Federal missions. 

Sessions to look out for: 

  • “Advancing Identity Management and Zero Trust” – This dedicated session examines how to strengthen identity management and implement ZTAs that secure access points and reduce organizational risk. 
  • “Securing Critical Infrastructure” – While infrastructure-focused, this session will address Zero Trust principles as agencies work to protect essential systems from increasingly sophisticated threats. 

Carahsoft is partnering with GovCIO for the CyberScape Summit, facilitating conversations to aid Federal agencies as they strengthen their cybersecurity posture through Zero Trust and identity management strategies. As The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, Carahsoft provides agencies with expertise, resources and proven technologies needed to advance Zero Trust maturity and meet Federal compliance requirements. Our team will be present throughout the Summit to offer guidance and insights on how to turn Zero Trust principles into actionable implementation strategies. 

DGI 2026 Virtual Workshop – Zero Trust in Practice: Lessons from Public-Private​ Frontlines 

April 23, 2026 | Virtual Event 

The Digital Government Institute’s (DGI) Zero Trust in Practice workshop convenes Public and Private Sector leaders to share Zero Trust implementation strategies and lessons from real‑world deployments. This focused two-hour virtual session emphasizes operational approaches to securing hybrid environments, protecting sensitive data and reducing attack surfaces through continuous validation and application‑level segmentation. The program highlights recent guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Zero Trust Architecture Implementation Report and provides agencies with maturity benchmarks for assessing their Zero Trust progress. This workshop is part of DGI’s mission to deliver in‑depth education for Government IT. 

Sessions to look out for: 

  • “CISA’s Zero Trust Architecture Implementation Report: What It Means for Your Roadmap” – This session translates the latest CISA guidance into actionable takeaways, helping agencies align their initiatives with established implementation benchmarks and maturity measures. 
  • “Operationalizing Zero Trust Across Hybrid & Application Layers”– Practitioners share proven strategies for continuous validation and application‑level segmentation, drawing from frontline implementation experiences across Government and industry. 

Carahsoft actively supports the Federal Zero Trust community and is partnering with DGI for the 2026 Zero Trust in Practice workshop, helping to facilitate meaningful knowledge exchange between Government professionals and industry experts. Our team will provide attendees with insights on aligning Zero Trust strategies to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), DoW and CISA frameworks. By bringing together Public and Private Sector perspectives, Carahsoft is fostering a collaborative environment where Government professionals can gain actionable takeaways to advance their agency’s Zero Trust maturity. 

AFCEA TechNet Cyber 

June 2-4, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | In-Person Event 

TechNet Cyber, held at the Baltimore Convention Center, is AFCEA International’s premier cybersecurity summit and tradeshow. Drawing more than 5,000 defense, military and Federal IT professionals, the event focuses on persistent and advanced cyber threats. This three-day forum brings together leadership from U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), the DoW Chief Information Officer (CIO), industry and academics to explore strategic architectures, cyber operations, policy and joint capabilities essential for national defense. Attendees can engage in expert-led panels, keynote addresses and innovation showcases focused on AI, DevSecOps, network defense and ZTA.  

Attendees can expect: 

  • Zero Trust to be a key focus throughout the event, based on AFCEA’s continued emphasis on secure architectures and identity-driven defense strategies. 

Carahsoft will support the defense and intelligence community at TechNet Cyber 2026 by hosting a Partner Pavilion, providing personalized consultations, sharing implementation success stories and helping attendees identify practical pathways to enhance their agency’s cyber defense capabilities in alignment with the DoW’s Zero Trust strategy. Join Carahsoft and our partners at this year’s event to be a part of the innovative path forward!  

930gov – Mission-Enabled Modern Technology Forum 

July 28, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event 

The Digital Government Institute’s (DGI) flagship 930gov conference brings together Government IT professionals and industry innovators at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for their 14th annual gathering. Strategically scheduled near fiscal year end, the event features over 50 exhibits and programming across five solution tracks: Records Management, EA/Mission Enablement, Artificial Intelligence and Data Management. and Cyber/Zero Trust. This format enables agencies to align mission objectives with technology investments while connecting directly with decision makers, subject matter experts (SMEs) and actionable content developed by an educational advisory committee. As the longest‑running multi‑sponsored technology forum for the D.C. Public Sector, 930gov provides unparalleled access to solutions and expertise. 

Sessions to look out for: 

  • Cyber/Zero Trust Track: “Operationalizing ZT Across Agencies” – Sessions will address implementing Zero Trust aligned with NIST and CISA guidance, integrating identity, data and application‑level segmentation and documenting lessons learned from Government rollouts. 
  • EA/Mission Enablement Track: “Enterprise Architecture for AI & Mission Outcomes” – This track examines how enterprise architecture drives innovation, enables AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities and helps agencies transition from process‑orientation to results‑driven cultures. 

Committed to helping Federal agencies navigate the intersection of cybersecurity, Zero Trust and emerging technologies, Carahsoft actively supports and promotes 930gov. As Government agencies face pressure to modernize while maintaining robust security postures, Carahsoft is aiding them in finding strategic insights, proven frameworks and expert guidance needed to align technology investments with mission objectives. Our team will be facilitating meaningful conversations across all five tracks, with a particular focus on Zero Trust principles and AI strategies. 

Billington CyberSecurity Summit 2026 

September 8-10, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event 

The 17th Annual Billington CyberSecurity Summit is a gathering of Federal, State, Local and industry cybersecurity leaders at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Drawing over 2,500 attendees and featuring 200+ speakers across 40+ sessions and breakout discussions, the summit addresses today’s most critical cyber threats, policy developments and defense innovations. The comprehensive agenda explores AI, secure architectures and emerging cyber trends through plenary keynotes, leadership luncheons and interactive receptions. More than 100 vendor booths will showcase cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. 

Attendees can expect breakout tracks and panel sessions exploring: 

  • ZTA  
  • identity-centric defense  
  • threat intelligence  
  • resilience strategies  

Carahsoft is looking forward to sponsoring this year’s Billington CyberSecurity Summit and will host a booth to engage with attendees in meaningful discussions and share insights from across the Federal landscape. We will also be hosting a large partner pavilion where attendees can explore proven solutions and receive strategic guidance on how to implement ZTAs that protect mission-critical operations. Check back for more details closer to the event! 

GovCIO Federal Cloud & Data Forum 2026 

October 8, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event 

GovCIO’s Federal Cloud & Data Forum addresses the critical intersection of secure cloud adoption, data modernization and Zero Trust integration for Federal IT and cybersecurity professionals. This one-day forum will examine how agencies can leverage cloud technologies while maintaining compliance with Federal mandates such as Executive Order (EO) 14028 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum 22-09. Attendees will explore strategies for securing multicloud architectures, implementing effective data governance and harnessing AI-driven analytics, all essential components for achieving mission success in today’s complex threat landscape. 

Past sessions covered topics such as: 

  • Applying Zero Trust principles in cloud environments to secure hybrid and multicloud architectures. 
  • Leveraging data modernization and AI to enhance decision-making and mission outcomes. 

Carahsoft is proud to partner with GovCIO for the Federal Cloud & Data Forum, supporting Federal agencies as they navigate the complexities of secure cloud adoption Zero Trust implementation. We will showcase leading solutions from our vendors that help agencies accelerate their cloud journey while maintaining compliance with Federal cybersecurity frameworks. By participating in the Forum, Carahsoft positions itself to better serve the Federal community in its efforts to modernize infrastructure while protecting sensitive data and mission goals. 

ATARC’s Public Sector Zero Trust Summit – Part II 

November 19, 2026 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event 

The second installment of ATARC’s Public Sector Zero Trust Summit extends the conversation on implementing Zero Trust frameworks across Federal, State and Local agencies. This event convenes Government and industry leaders to address practical implementation strategies, legacy modernization challenges and the integration of emerging technologies like AI and automation into ZTAs. Attendees will benefit from thought leadership sessions, networking opportunities and actionable insights aligned with Federal mandates and CISA guidance on Zero Trust maturity. 

Past sessions covered topics such as: 

  • Zero Trust Implementation Strategies for Public Sector Environments 
  • Cross-Agency Collaboration and Lessons from Real-World Deployments 

Carahsoft is proud to support ATARC’s Zero Trust initiatives and will sponsor the November summit, continuing our year-round commitment to helping Federal agencies advance their Zero Trust maturity through every stage of implementation. We will showcase leading solutions from our vendor ecosystem, connecting agencies with the resources and expertise needed to accelerate their journey towards comprehensive Zero Trust adoption.  

2026 Cyber Leaders Exchange 

TBD 2026 | Virtual Event 

The Cyber Leaders Exchange serves as a premier forum for Federal cybersecurity executives and industry leaders to collaborate on strategies for defending against evolving threats and implementing Zero Trust across Government networks. The event has historically featured keynote presentations, expert panel discussions and networking opportunities centered on identity management, secure cloud adoption and compliance with Federal cybersecurity mandates. Attendees can expect actionable insights on operationalizing Zero Trust principles and leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen cyber resilience across agency missions. 

Carahsoft is partnering with Cyber Leaders Exchange again this year for the 2026 Cyber Leaders Exchange, supporting discussions on Zero Trust and cybersecurity modernization. We will engage with attendees throughout the event to share proven strategies, discuss lessons learned from real-world implementations and help agencies identify actionable approaches to strengthening their cybersecurity posture. Our team will showcase solutions from our vendors that accelerate Zero Trust adoption and meet Government compliance requirements. Check back for more details on this critical virtual forum! 

  

This lineup of 2026 events reflects the urgency of adopting Zero Trust in order to protect the critical assets, sensitive data and national security interests that exist in Government networks. These events offer professionals opportunities to learn from pioneering implementations, connect with solution providers and accelerate their own Zero Trust journeys. Carahsoft remains committed to supporting agencies at every stage of Zero Trust maturity through our comprehensive portfolio of vendor-leading solutions. Join us at the events above to explore how we can help your organization achieve Zero Trust objectives, strengthen cyber resilience and maintain compliance with Federal mandates. 

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

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry-leading Zero Trust technology partners, visit our Zero Trust solutions portfolio. 

Securing Air-Gapped and Classified Environments: The Importance of Customized Endpoint Protection

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Military and intelligence agencies manage extremely sensitive information, and their missions often require them to operate in high-risk environments where even the slightest breach of security or sensitive data exposure means disastrous results to the mission and to national security. Their most vital networks are air-gapped—disconnected from the internet—so cloud-native security tools cannot secure these sensitive assets.

There is a myriad of reasons organizations choose to air-gap their systems. To effectively secure classified networks, weapons systems, tactical field systems and critical infrastructure, agencies are faced with the challenge of building and maintaining a security strategy involving endpoint, network and data security defenses that can deliver strong cyber command and control without relying on internet connectivity.

No Single Strategy is 100% Attack Proof

Physically or logically isolating networks into air-gapped networks is a sound security strategy that defense, intelligence and civilian agencies employ to prevent access to sensitive or classified systems and operations. Yet their isolation alone is not enough to ensure air-tight security.

While air-gapping does reduce remote risk, it is not exactly immune to cyber risk. Air-gapped environments are designed to block external adversaries by isolating networks from the internet or a broader enterprise. But that isolation inevitably shifts risk toward the people who do have access—admins, operators, contractors, maintenance staff and trusted vendors. By eliminating one problem, there is often an unintended consequence of risk—by blocking outsiders, threat likelihood from insiders becomes concentrated.

In most air-gapped environments, a small set of users has elevated access. Patching and updates are slow, and monitoring is limited or entirely local to the air-gapped network. Due to the isolation of the systems, physical presence is required, increasing insider impact. This makes insiders the most capable attack vector—whether through malicious or simply negligent behavior. 

Air-gapped environments make heavy use of Universal Serial Bus (USB), compact disks (CDs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), portable Solid-State Drives (SSDs) and sneakernet to move data from system to system, and to apply updates and patches. This offers the opportunity for tampering, and these environments often lack the continuous monitoring needed to spot and stop these risks, resulting in threat detection gaps and delays.  A mature data protection strategy is vital in air-gapped environments to thwart insider threats.

Because air gapped systems rely entirely on local security measures, organizations must build layered, robust defenses to secure classified and sensitive assets. Local protection is everything, and for high-risk agencies that means monitoring and securing every single endpoint.

How Endpoint Protection Fills the Gaps

Endpoint protection is a broad term describing technology and strategies used to secure end-user devices, such as laptops, computers and mobile devices. Since these devices get the most direct human interaction while housing vital data, they are exceptionally vulnerable to cyberattacks, even in air-gapped networks. To avoid critical breaches, security operators must be able to detect, prevent and respond to threats on each endpoint device in any given environment, especially when they interact with classified data.

Many organizations are turning to cloud-native endpoint security solutions that depend upon cloud-based machine learning for anomaly detection. While these endpoint security tools may be suitable for some systems and some environments, they depend on the cloud to function so they cannot operate in disconnected or air-gapped environments. This opens security gaps, leaving devices vulnerable to cyberattacks and insider threats. Security teams can solve this problem by investing in endpoint protection approaches that are well-suited to air-gapped environments, enabling the visibility and control necessary to safeguard these critical systems.

The Benefits of Customizable Endpoint Protection

The ability to tailor security for nuanced policy control and security monitoring—including specific configurations for user roles, device types or classification levels—is crucial to ensure a strong security posture. Endpoint security solutions must also be established independently from the cloud, to run behavioral analytics even in fully isolated network enclaves.

When a threat occurs, detailed information is vital to protecting high-value assets, and robust air-gapped endpoint security systems enable rapid identification and threat mitigation while providing analysts with forensic data for investigation. This critical context also informs refinements to tailor and optimize the security approach for the environment’s unique mission.

Implementing a Zero Trust approach is still vital to reducing threats to air-gapped environments, just as it is in internet-facing networks. Hardening systems by ensuring only trusted software can execute enables the mission but not an attacker.

Safeguarding the data from insider threats is another important element of a mature air-gapped security operation. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) offers an important countermeasure against cybersecurity risk in air-gapped environments and allows security teams the ability to ensure that organizational data is appropriately controlled. 

Two Industry Leaders, One Unbreakable Line of Defense

Defense and intelligence agencies cannot afford to leave gaps from security tooling that is unsuitable to defend disconnected networks and endpoints. They need an endpoint security suite built for their world—one that delivers advanced security capabilities to offline, high-stakes and mission critical IT systems. Symantec and Carbon Black deliver exactly that: proven protection designed for Federal environments.

Both solutions are purpose-built for Government, but each brings its own strengths to the field:

  • Symantec delivers powerful static and dynamic malware analysis, plus built-in USB device management to automatically flag and quarantine malicious media. Symantec also offers an industry-leading DLP solution well-suited to air-gapped environments where ensuring data is properly safeguarded is mission-critical.
  • Carbon Black provides deep behavioral detection and advanced Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), capturing forensic logs, watchlists tuned to the unique environment and analytics to support detailed investigations. Carbon Black also enables organizations to establish a positive security model with policy-based governance to ensure their systems only execute trusted software and use only allowed removable media devices.

Joined together, renowned brands Symantec and Carbon Black offer proven, mature solutions to safeguard air-gapped environments and data by providing visibility to identify threats and streamline investigations and protection policies to neutralize threats. Their combined detection and granular visibility close the gaps left by cloud-reliant platforms—especially necessary in disconnected air-gapped and bandwidth-constrained environments—giving agencies the command and control they need to stop threats before they compromise the mission.

Watch the expert webinar to hear how Department of War guest speakers are addressing their endpoint security gaps.

Can’t get enough? Download NextGov/FCW’s latest article for deeper insights on the fight to secure air-gapped environments.

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.

Securing Federal Access: How Identity Visibility Drives Zero Trust Success

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Federal agencies face mounting pressure to implement Zero Trust frameworks but often struggle with where to begin. The answer lies in understanding identity telemetry, the insights into who has access to what and how threat actors exploit identities to gain privilege and maintain persistence. Because threat actors increasingly steal credentials and pose as legitimate users, Federal agencies can no longer rely solely on detection tools that trigger alarms after attacks succeed. This shift demands a new approach to Zero Trust, one beginning with comprehensive visibility into the identity attack surface before implementing controls.

From Detection to Prevention

Federal agencies have historically relied on detection-based security tools like Endpoint, Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions to detect malicious activity. While still valuable, these reactive tools are inadequate as adversaries are compromising both human and non-human credentials, operating for extended periods. Using legitimate credentials, threat actors gain persistent access and escalate permissions while evading detection.

The missing component is proactive threat hunting that maps potential identity exposure before they are exploited. This requires aggregating identity data across the entire IT environment and analyzing how threat actors could leverage poor identity hygiene such as overprivileged accounts, insecure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), exposed passwords and secrets, blind spots in third-party access and dormant identities to gain access to critical assets and data. Zero Trust relies on knowing exactly how identities function across the environment; without this visibility, agencies are essentially enforcing Zero Trust policies blindly and wasting time and money by not investing in protection capabilities that are resilient against cyberattacks. Identity telemetry should guide agencies in building proactive identity and mature Zero Trust capabilities.

The Fragmented Identity Visibility Problem

Federal environments span on-prem Active Directory (AD), multicloud environments, federated identity providers and numerous Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, causing confusion, overlap and complex interactions across these different environments that are difficult to track, limiting end-to-end visibility of hidden attack paths for lateral movement and escalation.

These “unknown trust relationships” or “paths to privilege” stem from:

  • Identity provider misconfigurations replicating over-permissive access
  • Nested group memberships granting indirect privileges
  • Federation relationships enabling cross-domain escalation
  • Generic “all access” group rights elevating unprivileged users

These exposures exist between siloed systems and provide entry points for threat actors. Addressing this requires aggregating identity data, mapping cross-domain relationships and calculating the human, non-human and AI based identities. This exposes blind spots and transforms an unknowable attack surface into a manageable identity landscape.

True Privilege Calculation

Traditional privilege assessments focus on group membership and cloud role assignments but miss factors like nested groups, cloud application ownership, misconfigured identity providers and federation pathways. These elements often elevate an identity’s privilege far beyond what surface-level audits reveal.

BeyondTrust, Securing Federal Access blog, embedded image, 2025

True privilege calculation measures an identity’s effective and actual privilege across all connected systems and domains, including relationships, configurations and escalation pathways. For example, an identity that appears low-privileged in AD may federate into Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles and elevate its privilege. This visibility supports key Zero Trust decisions, such as:

  • What access should be continuously verified
  • Gaps in least privilege enforcement
  • Which accounts are most likely to be targeted
  • Where to place micro-segmentation boundaries

Given the scale and complexity of modern Federal environments, manual calculation is impossible. Automated solutions must continuously analyze permissions, relationships and identity provider configurations while mapping escalation paths. True privilege calculation transforms Zero Trust from theory into actionable strategy that goes from implementation to Zero Trust maturity.

Critical Attack Vectors

Dormant privileged accounts, often left active after personnel departures or reorganizations, retain elevated permissions long after their use ends. Threat actors frequently identify and reactivate these accounts to move laterally and maintain persistence using legitimate credentials. Effective identity hygiene requires:

  • Continuous monitoring of new dormant accounts
  • Cleanup of existing dormant or misconfigured accounts and standing privilege
  • Behavioral detection to flag unusual privilege escalation attempts or unexpected activity

Identity security cannot be a point-in-time exercise. Without visibility and a proactive approach, configurations drift and dormant accounts accumulate. Agencies must continuously identify dormant privileged accounts and immediately investigate if they suddenly become active, one of the strongest indicators of compromise. Continuous visibility transforms identity hygiene from a reactive alert-based approach to actionable telemetry for proactive threat hunting around current and known attack risk.

The Expanding Identity Attack Surface

The identity attack surface extends far beyond human users to service principals, cloud workloads, Application Programming Interface (API) credentials and automated systems, collectively known as “non-human identities.” These accounts often have elevated privileges but lack safeguards like password rotation, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or behavioral analytics, creating significant security gaps.

Agentic AI introduces new challenges. Unlike traditional service accounts, AI agents act autonomously based on their instructions, tools and knowledge sources. A seemingly low-privilege agent could escalate privileges by interacting with other agents, creating complex escalation chains. Understanding an AI agent’s effective capability, not just its assigned permissions, is essential.

AI and non-human identity risks come from interconnected relationships. An AI agent running as a cloud workload may access secrets, interact with privileged systems or execute commands across domains. True privilege calculation for these entities requires mapping downstream actions they could initiate. Federal agencies need governance designed for non-human identities and AI agents, including:

  • True privilege calculation of escalation paths
  • Comprehensive inventory across all systems
  • Monitoring of potential blast radius as AI adoption accelerates
  • Context and knowledge of AI use and where agents are being deployed
  • Visibility into AI agent instructions, tools and knowledge sources

Investing in identity visibility now prepares agencies for emerging challenges as AI adoption becomes more prevalent.

Federal agencies must secure hybrid environments against adversaries who exploit identities rather than technical vulnerabilities. The path forward requires shifting from reactive detection to proactive threat hunting, eliminating fragmented visibility, measuring true privilege across all domains, maintaining continuous identity hygiene and extending visibility to non-human identities and agentic AI. Identity telemetry provides the data foundation needed for Zero Trust maturity, showing agencies where and how to strengthen their security posture.

Discover how comprehensive identity visibility drives Zero Trust maturity by watching BeyondTrust and Optiv+Clearshark’s webinar, “Securing Federal Access: Identity Security Insights for a Zero Trust Future.”

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 BeyondTrust, 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.

Securing Government AI: Why Federal Agencies Need a Trust Layer for Accountable, Compliant Deployment

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Federal agencies must deploy AI fast – but safely. The White House’s Executive Order, new OMB guidance requiring Chief AI Officers, and citizen expectations are driving rapid adoption. More than 1,700 AI use cases are already live across Government, doubling in just one year.

The challenge? Traditional security can’t keep up with AI systems operating at machine speed and scale. Federal agencies need Zero Trust architecture built specifically for AI agents, not retrofitted legacy systems. The recent addition of Nuggets’ Trust Layer solutions to the GSA Schedule provides exactly that foundation.

The Zero Trust Imperative for Government AI

Here’s the reality: AI agents make thousands of decisions per second across multiple systems. Without Zero Trust verification, agencies can’t prove who authorized what action, when or with which data.

The core challenges are clear:

  • Speed vs oversight: AI operates faster than current security can verify
  • Scale: Thousands of simultaneous agent interactions with no unified oversight
  • Accountability gaps: No audit trails for autonomous decisions in black-box systems
  • Compliance blind spots: NIST IAL2/IAL3 standards weren’t designed for autonomous AI
  • Sophisticated threats: AI-powered spoofing attacks that overwhelm legacy defenses

Federal agencies face intense pressure to adopt AI, but risks around bias, privacy, accountability and public trust threaten safe deployment. The gap between what agencies must deliver–secure, transparent, compliant services—and what legacy systems can support continues to widen.

Why Legacy Solutions Can’t Keep Up

Traditional identity systems were built for humans, not AI agents. While protocols like Agent-to-Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP) enable coordination between agents and tools, they don’t verify trust, intent or authorization, especially when handling sensitive Government data.

Point solutions create security silos and compliance blind spots. Legacy frameworks simply don’t account for autonomous decision-making, leaving agencies without proof of who or what acted, when and with proper authorization. Without this foundation, compliance and accountability are left to chance.

The Trust Layer Solution: Zero Trust for AI

Nuggets provides purpose-built Zero Trust architecture for agentic AI. Recognized by Gartner as a leader in decentralized identity, our trust layer embeds verification into every AI interaction, no matter the agent, system or data involved.

The comprehensive architecture creates compliance by design through three core capabilities:

Verifiable Identity: Cryptographically verified identity for every human, organization and AI agent that works across all platforms, contexts, devices and systems.

Complete Audit Trails: Every AI decision creates tamper-proof records with consent receipts and authorization proofs that meet Federal accountability requirements.

Standards Compliance: Built-in adherence to NIST IAL2/IAL3, AAL2 and UK Digital Identity Trust Framework requirements, ensuring agencies can deploy AI while meeting stringent security standards.

The result: a Zero Trust foundation on which agencies can deploy autonomous AI systems with confidence that every action is verified, compliant and auditable. This will enable both rapid innovation and Government accountability.

Real Impact: Government AI That Works

For Government IT leaders, the practical outcomes are substantial and measurable. Agencies using Nuggets’ trust layer achieve:

Operational Confidence: AI agents operate autonomously while maintaining security standards, delivering efficiency without sacrificing oversight.

Compliance Assurance: Built-in adherence to Federal identity verification requirements eliminates compliance guesswork.

Mission Success: Complete audit trails for all AI interactions and decisions ensure accountability while preventing unauthorized actions that could compromise sensitive operations.

Real-world use cases demonstrate the impact: automated document processing across agencies with complete audit trails, AI-driven eligibility checks and fraud detection that withstand regulatory scrutiny, secure inter-agency data sharing with verified agent identities and AI-powered citizen services that maintain privacy while delivering efficiency.

Each deployment proves that agencies can achieve both AI innovation and Government accountability, systems that are trusted by regulators, citizens and the mission itself.

The GSA Schedule Advantage

Procurement complexity often slows Government adoption of new technologies, but Nuggets eliminates these barriers. The solution is available through multiple pre-vetted contract vehicles, including GSA Schedule No. 47QSWA18D008F, SEWP V contracts, ITES-SW2, NASPO ValuePoint, OMNIA Partners and E&I Contract.

This means agencies can move from evaluation to deployment quickly, leveraging Carahsoft’s established Government relationships and support infrastructure. No lengthy procurement delays, no security gaps, no compliance questions.

Ready for Trusted AI Deployment?

As agencies expand AI capabilities, traditional security cannot keep pace with the speed, scale and complexity of autonomous systems. Purpose-built Zero Trust infrastructure is essential for agencies that must balance innovation mandates with compliance requirements and public accountability.

See how Federal agencies are deploying AI that’s secure, compliant, transparent and trusted. Schedule a personalized demo to explore how Nuggets’ Trust Layer can secure your agency’s AI deployment with the accountability that Government operations require.

Deploy AI that’s trusted by regulators, citizens and your mission. Contact Carahsoft at (844) 214-4790 or Nuggets@carahsoft.com. Learn more at www.carahsoft.com/nuggets.

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 Nuggets, 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.

Cloud Security: Complex Threats, Clear Solutions

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Cloud technology, for many years, enticed agencies looking for savings and efficiencies. Organizations pursued “cloud-first” policies that migrated data and applications away from onsite infrastructure and into the control, at least in part, of cloud service providers. While the cloud offered promising advantages, some agencies encountered unexpected cost challenges along the way. And lately, malicious actors have gotten exceptionally good at exploiting cloud vulnerabilities.

There isn’t one way to secure your cloud platform, unfortunately. You need a holistic, Zero Trust approach that combines security controls with cyber policies and procedures. Strong encryption and access rules, automated updates, clear visibility and detailed incident response plans are all critical. Knowing who’s responsible for what should go without saying. And repatriating data — bringing it back on premises, for example — is often a commonsense answer. 

“Agencies have to comply with stringent regulations … so that means they need a really robust [security] framework, all while managing the complexities of the cloud environment,” said Garrett Lee, Regional Vice President for Public Sector in Broadcom’s Enterprise Security Group. “Cloud, you know, solves some problems, but it also creates some others.”  

In this video interview, Lee explores both the opportunities that cloud computing offers and how to confront its security challenges. Topics include:  

  • What a holistic approach to cloud security entails
  • The cost and security drivers behind data repatriation, and why they matter
  • How to secure four critical domains: endpoints, data, the cloud and networks

Want to learn more cyber resilience strategies? Download Symantec, Carbon Black and Carahsoft’s guide to explore four critical cyber force multipliers that enhance agencies’ security posture amid growing threats and limited budgets.

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.

This post originally appeared on GovLoop.com, and is re-published with permission

Identity is The Backbone of Secure, Agile DoW Missions

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I had the opportunity to present to the DoW community at AFCEA TechNet Cyber where where stakes are high and operational tempo is relentless, embedding security into every layer of the digital environment is no longer optional. Identity governance and administration (IGA) has emerged as a cornerstone of cyber resilience, enabling secure modernization, supporting Zero Trust mandates, and accelerating mission impact.

Identity as a Strategic Force Multiplier

Modern warfare and defense readiness extend far beyond kinetic capabilities. Cyber is now a primary domain of operation, and within that domain, identity is the new perimeter. Identity security is not simply about access control; it is about governing who has access to what, when, and under what conditions—across all users, environments, and applications.

A well-implemented IGA program transforms complexity into control. It provides the visibility and automation needed to reduce risk, enforce policy, and enable agility. From onboarding mission partners to ensuring continuous compliance with audit and risk frameworks, identity governance acts as the connective tissue between policy, people, and mission success.

Governance is the Gateway to Zero Trust

The DoW’s Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is predicated on one central truth: never trust, always verify. At the core of this paradigm is the concept of least privilege—granting users only the access they need, nothing more.

IGA platforms like SailPoint do more than facilitate access. They enforce policy and establish what access should look like, continuously verifying access needs, and tie the identity to activity. Instead of relying on static credentials or infrequent certifications, identity governance brings continuous verification to life—ensuring users, devices, and applications are validated and flagged in the policy information point before access is granted.

This proactive stance aligns IGA with foundational guidance such as the Risk Management Framework (RMF), and the NIST SP 800-53 controls. Governance is not just a checkbox; it is operational security in action.

FIAR, Compliance, and Continuous Audit Readiness

Passing audits like FIAR (Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness) is more than a bureaucratic exercise. It’s a demonstration of operational integrity and mission readiness. Identity governance simplifies this process by embedding compliance into everyday operations.

IGA platforms automate access certifications, enforce separation of duties (SoD), and maintain immutable audit trails. Instead of scrambling for documentation during audit season, organizations can prove—at any time—that they were always in compliance. This shift from reactive to continuous audit readiness is a game-changer for large DoW organizations.

Mission Agility Through Automation

In the DoW, time is not a luxury. Missions shift quickly, mission partners rotate often, and new technologies are deployed at speed. Manual processes simply cannot keep up.

IGA enables automation across the entire identity lifecycle. From onboarding new coalition partners to deprovisioning departing contractors, governance tools streamline access requests, approvals, and revocations. This not only enhances security but also reduces administrative overhead, freeing resources for mission-critical tasks.

Moreover, by integrating with technologies like the DoW Federation Hub, identity governance extends its reach to federated and cross-domain environments—supporting secure joint and coalition operations at scale.

Real ROI: Security that Pays for Itself

The value of IGA goes beyond risk mitigation. It delivers measurable return on investment (ROI) through operational and financial gains. These include:

  • Audit cost reductions through automated evidence collection and fewer control failures
  • License savings by rationalizing unused or redundant entitlements
  • Operational efficiency through faster onboarding/offboarding and reduced manual workloads
  • Risk reduction by limiting the window of exposure for insider threats or privilege misuse

This is ROI by design—security investments that drive cost savings while advancing strategic goals.

A Maturity Model for Sustainable Progress

Identity governance is not a one-time deployment—it’s a journey. I have created a maturity model for the DoW that provides a structured path from basic CAC availability to advanced, AI-driven, risk-adaptive governance. Each step builds capabilities that align with Zero Trust pillars, from policy enforcement to real-time threat response.

As organizations mature, they can integrate IGA with other strategic technologies such as Comply-to-Connect, SASE, and XDR, multiplying both security effectiveness and mission agility.

Conclusion: Govern Everyone, Prove Every Access

To secure the mission, you must govern identity with the same rigor used to defend the network. Identity security is no longer a backend control; it is the control plane for modern defense operations.

Govern everyone. Prove every access. This is the blueprint for a Zero Trust future—one where audit readiness is continuous, access is justified, and the mission moves at the speed of trust.

Learn more about how ICAM solutions empower agencies to manage digital identities with precision.

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 SailPoint 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 Hidden Threat: Why Ignoring Non-Human and Third-Party Identities is a Risk You Cannot Afford

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I had the opportunity to present and discuss the threat of Non-Human and Third-party Identities at AFCEA TechNet Cyber with the Department of Defense (DoD) community. It is obvious that the maturity of Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM) and all identities is top of mind. The Industry, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Homeland Security – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA) and the DoD are all starting to focus on the problem, as it is recognized that identity is no longer just an IT problem—it is the front line of defense. We have been deep in digital transformation and the adoption of Zero Trust frameworks and have discovered an inconvenient truth: most organizations are flying blind when it comes to managing the very identities that power their operations—non-human and third-party users.

And that is a problem.

The New Cyber Perimeter: Identity

The old perimeter—firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs)—is dead. What stands between you and the next breach is your ability to govern who or what has access to your systems. Yet many agencies remain fixated on credentials and authentication, while ignoring vast swaths of non-human actors (bots, robotic process automations (RPAs), service accounts) and external partners (vendors, contractors, mission partners).

This is not just a gap. It is a canyon.

According to Deloitte, 63% of organizations lack visibility into third-party access. Even more troubling, most have no way to list or audit all machine identities operating in the background. These invisible accounts often have persistent, high-level access and no formal governance, making them prime targets for threat actors.

Real-World Breaches, Real-World Consequences

Look no further than the SolarWinds and Okta breaches. In both cases, attackers exploited unmanaged service accounts or contractor credentials to move laterally and escalate privileges. These were not arcane zero-days—they were lapses in identity governance. And they cost credibility, customer trust and in some cases, national security.

The lesson? You cannot protect what you cannot see. And you definitely cannot secure what you do not control.

Why Automation and Governance Are Non-Negotiable

In a Zero Trust architecture, access is no longer assumed—it is continuously verified. But that verification breaks down when service accounts are created ad hoc, with no expiration dates, no ownership and no audit trail. The same goes for third-party users who are onboarded through spreadsheets or informal emails, then forgotten once their project ends—yet their access lives on.

This is how breaches happen.

Governance gaps like these leave organizations exposed to avoidable risks: policy drift, compliance violations, excessive access rights and a lack of accountability. Without automation and lifecycle management, identities multiply faster than security teams can manage them—leading to sprawl, privilege creep and ultimately attack surface expansion.

The Case for Identity-Centric Security

Modern enterprises need identity security platforms that extend beyond the traditional workforce. That means treating machine and third-party identities with the same level of scrutiny, controls and lifecycle management as full-time employees.

SailPoint’s approach offers a compelling blueprint:

  • Non-Employee Risk Management (NERM): Centralized, auditable workflows for third-party access, including onboarding, offboarding and access reviews.
  • Machine Identity Security (MIS): AI-driven discovery, classification, ownership assignment and access certification for bots, RPAs and service accounts.

Together, these capabilities provide visibility and governance across all identities, regardless of origin. They also support Zero Trust mandates like least privilege, just-in-time access and continuous verification.

Business Benefits Beyond Security

This is not just about reducing risk. It is about enabling speed and scale without sacrificing control.

With strong identity governance:

  • Mission partners and contractors get the access they need faster—without creating long-term exposure.
  • Audit preparation becomes easier, with clear logs of who had access to what, when and why.
  • Compliance improves, especially in regulated industries, based on NIST and other frameworks.
  • Security teams can shift from reactive firefighting to proactive risk management.

And perhaps most importantly: organizations become more resilient in the face of evolving threats.

The Bottom Line

Cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting data—it is about protecting trust. And trust starts with visibility and control over every identity that touches your systems.

If your organization is still relying on outdated processes to manage non-human and third-party users, now is the time to act. Inaction is not neutral—it is a strategic liability. As attack surfaces expand and adversaries grow more sophisticated, unmanaged identities will remain the soft underbelly of your defenses.

Zero Trust is not just a framework—it is a mindset. And in that mindset, every identity matters.

It is time to see what has been hiding in plain sight.

Ready to reinforce your identity perimeter? Discover how SailPoint’s ICAM solutions empower organizations to manage digital identities with precision. Explore Now.

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 SailPoint 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.