Accelerating The Healthcare AI Revolution: Reasoning Models and Data

Posted on by Debojyoti (Debo) Dutta

The healthcare industry stands at the precipice of transformation. While artificial intelligence (AI) has been utilized in healthcare for decades, analyzing OMICS and supporting drug discovery, recent advancements in generative AI (GenAI) and reasoning models are redefining what’s possible, especially when connected to private data. This evolution represents not just incremental improvement but a fundamental shift in how technology can augment healthcare delivery.

The Accelerating Pace of AI Evolution

The GenAI movement that emerged around 2017 added a new dimension, enabling AI to create content. However, it was the 2022 release of ChatGPT that democratized access to these capabilities, creating a “Wright Brothers moment,” springboarding the industry of AI. Suddenly, everyone from children to healthcare professionals began experimenting with these systems, often finding productivity gains despite the limitations of early versions of the technology.

Just as organizations were adapting to this new reality, reasoning models emerged in late 2024. These systems do not simply generate content, but think through problems step by step, mirroring human cognitive processes. Within months, more efficient, open-source reasoning models followed, making this technology accessible even for regulated industries like healthcare (e.g. Med-R1 8B).

GenAI Reasoning Models in Healthcare

GenAI enables healthcare professionals to work more efficiently, freeing time to engage with patients. Unlike earlier models, recent GenAI reasoning models provide transparency into their decision-making process. These models can now power advanced AI agents using healthcare-specific models like Google AIM, Med-PaLM 2 or Med-R1. This auditability is crucial in healthcare, where understanding why a recommendation was made is often as important as the recommendation itself.

Before implementing AI agents and reasoning, agencies should define clear outcomes and goals. Here are several factors to consider when integrating GenAI into your agency:

Data Strategy: The effectiveness of AI models depends significantly on the quality and privacy of your data. Organizations need clear protocols for creating evaluation datasets and managing sensitive patient information that can be kept sovereign.
Infrastructure Decisions: Healthcare organizations must decide whether to deploy models in the cloud or on-premises, considering regulatory requirements and data sensitivity. A hybrid approach often provides the flexibility needed to address various use cases.
Model Selection: Open-source models now trail proprietary options by only about six months in capabilities while offering cost advantages and greater control. Many organizations are adopting hybrid strategies, using proprietary models for cutting-edge applications and open-source alternatives for routine tasks.
Scale Considerations: Small, specialized language models can be more efficient for specific healthcare tasks, while larger models may be necessary for complex reasoning about treatment options or research questions.

Agencies should prepare robust data governance frameworks and flexible infrastructure that spans cloud and on-premise environments to enable healthcare personnel to use GenAI effectively. Overall, GenAI enables healthcare professionals to work more efficiently, enabling them to connect more with patients.

Your Journey to an AI Future Starts Now

The future of healthcare will be augmented by reasoning models, making healthcare more affordable and accessible for all.

Some new, AI-driven areas to watch for include:

Data Interaction: LLMs will navigate complex healthcare data ecosystems, from electronic health records to genomic data, answering nuanced clinical questions without requiring complex programming.
Planning and Research: By functioning as collaborative partners in research, the models look to help design clinical trials, analyze research literature and develop treatment protocols.
Actionable Workflows: Reasoning models will help automate clinical and administrative processes while incorporating human feedback in a continuous improvement cycle.

AI agents will begin to help address the acute staffing shortages plaguing healthcare systems worldwide. These digital assistants can handle routine documentation, answer common patient questions, and provide decision support, allowing clinicians to focus on direct patient care. As AI systems become more affordable and consumption increases, we’re likely to see a revolution in healthcare accessibility, particularly for underserved populations, with AI agents augmenting healthcare workers’ efforts.

The journey toward AI-augmented healthcare is accelerating faster than most experts predicted. For healthcare leaders, the question is no longer whether to embrace these technologies, but how to implement them to improve care while maintaining the human connection that defines healthcare.

The content of this blog was pulled from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) panel, “Accelerating Enterprise GenAI.” To learn more about Nutanix GenAI, visit Nutanix’s AI Solution page.

Key Insights from Global Cyber Innovation Forum 2025

Posted on by Alex Whitworth

The 2025 Global Cyber Innovation Forum served as a premier gathering where cybersecurity’s most pressing challenges meet collaborative solutions.

Hosted by Forgepoint Capital, Snowflake, Forescout, Google Cloud and Carahsoft at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., the Forum brought together a curated audience of influential cyber leaders from across the globe, including industry executives, Government officials, policy leaders, venture capitalists and thought leaders from academia and the non-profit sector.

This annual event provided a platform for critical discussions on emerging threats, technological innovation and strategic partnerships essential for securing our digital infrastructure. Five key themes stood out throughout the sessions:

National Security Threats with Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

The Rise and Race to AI Dominance

The Edge of Quantum Transformation

Typhoon of Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

Streamlining Cybersecurity Compliance

National Security Threats with Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

The digital supply chain, specifically software and applications civilians use, have increasingly become a source of critical national security vulnerabilities. Government officials and industry leaders warn that software and digital platforms sourced from foreign adversaries have reshaped the threat landscape by implanting foreign influence in the U.S. technology ecosystem.

Technology serves as a funding mechanism for adversaries and comes with a hidden price of mass data collection, making it easier for threat actors to access sensitive information and transform traditional cyberattacks. The lack of transparency in certain nation-states raises concerns on regulatory consequences, potentially giving adversaries a strategic edge in information warfare and creating a blind spot in the global tech supply chain.

U.S. leaders emphasize the necessity for regulated technology supply chains and accelerated Federal certifications, specifically FedRAMP, to ensure innovation does not come at the cost of national security.

Rise and Race to AI Dominance

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), data has become the modern form of power. Foreign adversaries are striving to build or gain access to data pipelines to fuel their AI models, bypassing privacy in a way that allows them to train AI models much faster than has been possible in America. The U.S. must counter this by accelerating our own AI model training and innovation, while safeguarding privacy and data integrity.

Government and industry experts state that AI is being underutilized across U.S. operations. The current administration has streamlined AI usage through Executive Order 14179: Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence and Executive Order 14277: Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth. Additionally, AI should be deployed when combating advanced cyberattacks and automating routine cybersecurity efforts such as threat detection, incident response and vulnerability identification.

The Edge of Quantum Transformation

Emerging technologies such as quantum computing are rapidly approaching mainstream adoption. The massive amount of encrypted data currently stored in secret could be vulnerable to decryption within the next 5 to 10 years. This hovering threat has made the development and deployment of post-quantum cryptography a top priority for the U.S. Government. The race to post-quantum cryptography and quantum computers has not just been an urgency for the U.S. and its allies, but also for adversarial nation-states.

Typhoon of Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

Advanced persistent threat (APT) groups such as Salt Typhoon, Volt Typhoon and Flax Typhoon have already infiltrated critical infrastructure systems, often using “living off the land” techniques. These public and well documented attacks are considered digital terrorism, disrupting U.S. critical infrastructure operations and stealing intellectual property.

In response, the U.S. Government is prioritizing cyber hygiene, secure-by-design and the development of an integrated and robust defense system. Agencies, technology providers and critical infrastructure operators are heavily encouraged to collaborate through information sharing, adoption of emerging technologies and routine threat assessments. The severity of these cyberattacks have increased substantially, highlighting the urgency for a more proactive and coordinated national response from the U.S. Government.

Streamlining Cybersecurity Compliance

The current cybersecurity regulatory landscape presents a fragmented maze of overlapping requirements that hinder both innovation and effective security implementation. Government and industry security teams are overwhelmed by conflicting standards across Federal, State and agency-specific frameworks. Organizations must navigate multiple compliance frameworks—FedRAMP, National Institute of Standards and technology (NIST) requirements, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and various state requirements—creating redundant processes that drain resources without enhancing security.

To address this, industry leaders are advocating for regulatory harmonization initiatives. Federal agencies are working to align various compliance frameworks while updating modernization strategies to build interoperability. By aligning around core standards like NIST 800-53 and implementing automated compliance tools, agencies can reduce complexity while maintaining robust cybersecurity postures. Forum participants agreed: harmonized regulations are essential to enabling secure innovation without compromising oversight.

The Global Cyber Innovation Forum demonstrated that securing America’s digital future requires unprecedented coordination between Government agencies, private industry and international allies. As adversaries continue exploit emerging technologies, the U.S. must respond with unified strategies that streamline regulations, accelerate innovation and sustain global cyber leadership. The insights shared offer a critical roadmap for defending against tomorrow’s threats in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Visit Carahsoft’s Resource Hub to dive deeper into the key takeaways, expert perspectives and resources from the 2025 Global Cyber Innovation Forum.

The Top 10 OSINT Events for Government in 2025

Posted on by Michael Shrader and Marty Gryski

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is no longer a niche capability—it is a core component of modern intelligence work. Carahsoft and our partners have spent years attending and supporting the top OSINT events. We have seen firsthand how AI, automation and smarter data strategies are reshaping the way Government teams gather, analyze and act on intelligence.

This list of the top OSINT events for 2025 and beyond highlights the best places to learn, connect and bring new ideas back to your mission.

OSMOSIS: DC

August 6-7 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

OSMOSIS:DC is a two-day conference held by OSMOSIS, an Association for OSINT Professionals. The theme for this year is “Technology, Trends, and Transformations.” The expo-style event offers participants direct access to leading vendors, hands on experience with the latest tools and expert-led workshops. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and build career advancement strategies to help stay ahead of emerging OSINT trends. OSMOSIS:DC is a great opportunity to gain transformative insights from the OSINT industry!

Take a look at some of last year’s top themes in preparation for the 2025 event:

Harnessing Location Intelligence: Advanced OSINT Techniques for Cyber Intelligence Investigations

Linguistic Fingerprints: Using Language to Profile Subjects in OSINT Investigation

Digging for Digital Dirt: Unearthing Bad Actors with Open-Source Intelligence

Carahsoft invites our partners to exhibit at OSMOSIS:DC, hosted at our Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston. Whether you are looking to sponsor, speak, exhibit or just attend, reach out to osintverticalmarketing@carahsoft.com to get involved in this intimate networking event!

Billington Annual Cybersecurity Summit

September 9-12 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event

The Billington Annual Cybersecurity Summit is the leading forum for cybersecurity professionals, Government leaders and industry executives to discuss emerging threats, best practices and the latest trends. With over 200 expert speakers, 100+ cyber-focused vendors and more than 40 sessions, attendees will have the chance to engage with top specialists, explore state-of-the-art technologies and participate in thought-provoking discussions. The Summit’s strong focus on collaboration between the Public and Private Sectors provides insights that address real-world security challenges. Learn about cybersecurity strategies, AI-driven threat detection and the latest advancements in national defense at this crucial event!

Carahsoft is looking forward to sponsoring and exhibiting at this year’s event. We’re excited to engage with attendees throughout the week. We will also be hosting a large partner pavilion and encourage attendees to stop by and learn more about our partners and their technology solutions! Check out the events tab on our website  for more details closer to the event!

Intelligence & National Security Summit

September 18-19 | National Harbor, MD | In-Person Event

The Intelligence and National Security Summit (INSS), held by AFCEA International and the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), gathers thought leaders, policymakers and industry experts dedicated to advancing solutions for shaping the future of intelligence and national security. The two-day event will feature five plenaries, and six breakout sessions focused on AI and emerging technologies, critical infrastructure security, space acquisition and more. Attendees will gain hands on experience with innovative technologies in the Intelligence Community (IC), insights from experts in the field, as well as networking opportunities with Government leaders, technical professionals and leading researchers. Expert-led panels and interactive discussions will cover critical national security challenges and provide actionable strategies for navigating the complex world of intelligence. Join this premier forum to explore the emerging threats, intelligence operations and technological advancements that are redefining the security landscape!

Carahsoft supports INSS by enabling our vendor partners to participate as sponsors and exhibitors, ensuring a strong industry presence at the event.

IACP

October 18-21 | Denver, CO | In-Person Event

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is an annual event that brings together public safety professionals from around the world to explore new techniques, share expertise and prepare their departments for future success. The conference features an exposition hall showcasing products from more than 600 vendors, education workshops and networking opportunities with fellow law enforcement professionals. Spanning four days, attendees will have the chance to engage in policy discussions on the latest challenges in policing, leadership and public safety innovation. As one of the largest law enforcement events, IACP 2025 is an essential gathering for agencies looking to enhance their strategies and stay ahead in an evolving security landscape.

Attendees should expect sessions surrounding how to leverage OSINT for criminal investigations, OSINT for threat assessment and risk mitigation, as well as Dark Web and Deep Web investigations.

Carahsoft will have a booth at IACP where several of our vendor partners will demonstrate their solutions and share educational content. We will also be hosting a networking reception with several of our vendor partners, welcoming conference attendees for food, drinks, networking and more! 

OSINT Foundation Awards

November 7 | VA | In-Person Event

The OSINT Foundation Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the field of OSINT. Attendees will explore the latest OSINT methodologies, data analysis techniques and the critical role of open source information (OSIF) in national security and risk assessment. This prestigious event highlights major achievements, facilitates professional networking and demonstrates OSINT’s impact on intelligence operations. Join industry experts as they honor innovation, dedication and the future of OSINT!

Awards honored at last year’s ceremony included:

Innovation of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

Practitioner of the Year

Unit of the Year

Catalyst of the Year

Product of the Year

View a more in-depth explanation of the selection criteria here.

Carahsoft is a proud partner of the OSINT Foundation, supporting them annually by hosting the OSINT Foundation Tech Expo. We encourage our partners to get involved with this event by nominating individuals who they believe exemplify excellent service to the nation and contribute to the OSINT discipline.

DoDIIS

December 7-10 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | In-Person Event

The 2025 Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) Worldwide Conference, hosted by the DIA, will bring together leaders from the DoD, industry and academia experts, the IC and Five Eyes (FVEY) partners to discuss the future of Information Technology (IT), cybersecurity and intelligence integration. The conference will feature keynote addresses from top defense officials and breakout sessions on AI, data analytics, cloud computing and emerging threats. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with decision-makers and explore innovative technologies in the exhibition hall. DoDIIS 2025’s dynamic speakers and hands on technology demos make it the principal event for advancing national security through innovation.

Check out our website closer to the event for more information.

Carahsoft will showcase its Partner Pavilion with interactive demo kiosks and exhibitor booths; this will include several vertical alleys for attendees to visit. Carahsoft will also offer several speaking opportunities to its partners, including FedGovToday interviews and executive briefing sessions. Additionally, all DoDIIS attendees are invited to join Carahsoft for a networking reception.

OSINT Foundation Tech Expo

April 30 – May 1, 2026 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

The OSINT Foundation Tech Expo is an annual event that brings together professionals and experts in the field, showcasing the latest advancements in OSINT technologies and related services. Attendees can expect a variety of presentations, workshops and networking opportunities designed to enhance knowledge and skills in gathering and analyzing publicly available information. The event aims to foster collaboration and innovation within the OSINT community, making it a must-attend for anyone involved in intelligence and cybersecurity!

Carahsoft is proud to host the OSINT Foundation Tech Expo at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston, a space dedicated to ensuring collaboration and support across the technology industry and Government. Carahsoft invites our partners to join the 50 OSINT vendors and agencies already lined up to showcase their own tabletop exhibits. Carahsoft has also collaborated with FedGovToday’s Francis Rose to interview our partners for their Innovation in Government and Video Insights!

GEOINT 2026

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

The Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Symposium is the nation’s largest gathering of industry professionals and Government leaders and will be held at the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis. This year’s theme, “Building a Secure Tomorrow Together,” highlights the collaborative efforts and cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of geospatial intelligence. The symposium will feature industry-leading keynote speakers, main stage panels and hands on training sessions on topics such as mission planning, precision timing and navigation. Attendees will be able to engage with geospatial intelligence experts to deepen their understanding, foster connections and stay at the forefront of innovative technologies. Attend GEOINT 2026 to explore the critical role geospatial intelligence will play in building a secure future!

Carahsoft intends to showcase a Partner Pavilion with our vendors again in 2026. We look forward to attending GEOINT 2026 and join our OSINT customers to learn more about the latest in geospatial open source intelligence.

SOF Week 2026

May 3-8, 2026| Tampa, FL | In-Person Event

SOF Week 2026 is the annual gathering for the international Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. Jointly sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation, the event serves as a platform for fostering collaboration, innovation and excellence in modern special operations. SOF Week will feature keynote addresses from senior leaders, professional development workshops, chances to network and sessions focused on non-profit initiatives. Do not miss this key event shaping the future of SOF operations!

Carahsoft and more than 45 partners will attend and showcase solutions in AI, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, cloud technologies and open source intelligence.

TechNet Cyber 2026

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

TechNet Cyber 2026, hosted by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), is a flagship cybersecurity event bringing together U.S. Cyber Command, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense (DoD) Information Network and DoD Chief Information Office (CIO), as well as a mix of military, Government, industry and academic leaders. This conference serves as a platform for collaboration, uniting policy, strategic architecture, operations and command and control to address global security challenges in the digital domain. Attendees can expect a comprehensive program featuring expert panels on cybersecurity advancements, technology demonstrations and networking events aimed at enhancing national cybersecurity efforts. Join us in Baltimore to connect with top decision-makers and help drive solutions for this vital mission!

The event will feature a range of exhibitors, including Carahsoft’s leading cyber technology providers. Carahsoft looks forward to joining our open source intelligence customers at TechNet Cyber in 2026.

Join us at one of our 2025 OSINT events to connect with intelligence leaders and professionals dedicated to advancing OSINT. Do not miss this opportunity to explore innovative OSINT techniques and tools, data analysis, cybersecurity and more!

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events please contact us at OSINTVerticalMarketing@Carahsoft.com. For more information on Carahsoft and our industry leading OSINT technology partners’ events, visit our OSINT solutions portfolio.

The Top 6 Insights from GEOINT 2025

Posted on by Lacey Wean

Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) stands at the forefront of national security innovation, where cutting-edge technologies are rapidly transforming how decision-makers understand and respond to global threats.

At GEOINT Symposium 2025, industry experts, Government officials and thought leaders joined to discuss the latest technology innovations. This year’s conference saw discussion centering around several topics, such as the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), workforce development and new innovations.

Carahsoft and over fifty of our technology partners attended to showcase solutions in AI, cybersecurity and more to support GEOINT mission objectives.

Here are my top six takeaways.

Global Intelligence Coordination and Artificial Intelligence Integration

In the session “Global Intelligence, Local Impact: Source and Analysis at the Speed of Mission,” speakers Gary Dunow, the Executive Vice President at USGIF, Tracy Maloney, the Deputy Director of Source Operations at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Shelby Pierson, the Director of Analysis at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency discussed tools that maximize efficiency to help fulfill mission objectives. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) aims to form efficient partnerships that enhance operational effectiveness across all Combatant Commands (COCOMs), and help with the development of streamlined tools that support current DOD intelligence needs. Change detection capabilities, large language models (LLMs) and other AI models are becoming increasingly valuable, with NGA focusing on building confidence in these technologies while curating essential content. The intelligence community is prioritizing geolocated open-source reporting through two active opportunities: metadata tagging to address imagery gaps regardless of source, and cross-domain solutions enabling seamless integration of varied intelligence sources from both domestic and foreign origins. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), emphasized the importance of proactive information sharing rather than waiting for agency requests, while simultaneously building workforce trust in AI through mechanisms for expressing concerns, understanding risks, acknowledging early adoption already underway and cultivating confidence in these emerging technologies.

Rapid Space-Related Intelligence Sharing

The U.S. Space Force and NGA signed a memorandum of agreement at GEOINT, which was discussed at the keynote hosted by General Chance Saltzman, the Chief of Space Operation at U.S. Space Force, Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, Director at the NGA, and Dan Smoot, the Chief Executive Officer at Maxar Intelligence.

This memorandum comes from the demand for faster access to space-based intelligence for military missions. The agreement enhances intelligence sharing by streamlining coordination between the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)’s collected commercial satellite imagery, the NGA ‘s data analytics that produce comprehensive intelligence products and the Space Force, who then delivers space-related intelligence to military commanders through its Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking (TacSRT) program. Through this memorandum, the military gains rapid situational awareness and heightened synergy across Federal agencies. This collaboration streamlines intelligence sharing, enabling faster and more efficient coordination between

GEOINT Initiatives

In her keynote address, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence of the United States, outlined the Federal approach to GEOINT initiatives, which emphasizes peace maintenance and military readiness. According to Gabbard, to maintain excellence, the Federal Sector must maintain pace with trending technology. Gabbard addressed procurement challenges facing small businesses and stressed the administration’s commitment to technology advancement, geospatial funding priorities and cross-agency partnerships. One such technology, AI, represents both a challenge and opportunity to transform geospatial professional roles without replacing human expertise. The Intelligence Community’s primary focus is conflict prevention rather than winning conflicts, with the GEOINT discipline building crucial trust.

NATO Priorities in Intelligence and Defense

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is actively investing in cutting-edge technologies across the space and sea. During Major General Paul Lynch, the Deputy Assistant Secretary General of Intelligence and NATO International Military Staff’s keynote address, he discussed Federal priorities to integrate AI to stay ahead of emerging threats. In response to these evolving threats, NATO has launched ambitious military exercises, including STEADFAST Defender 2024. One of NATO’s largest military exercises, STEADFAST Defender 2024 is actively pursuing digital transformation and intelligence sharing across while developing closer partnerships with industry experts. NATO’s recent initiatives with the private sector have launched underwater vehicles to aid in mission objectives of remaining at the forefront of defense.

Education and Workforce Development in Geospatial Intelligence

During her keynote address, Tulsi Gabbard emphasized that the geospatial field faces a critical shortage of young talent. Government programs that provide opportunities for new generations are important to inspiring growth. One such program is the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)’s “GEOINT Symposium Young Professionals Golden Ticket”, which provides mentoring sessions with GEOINT professionals and opportunities at USGIF events. Carahsoft’s Geospatial Internship Program is another opportunity for incoming professionals. Pathways for further educational curriculum development were discussed at the session “Keynote: Digital Twins and GEOINT – Transforming Intelligence with 3D Analytics.” This keynote offered encouraging developments that will allow the incoming workforce to get involved. The field is becoming increasingly accessible, with open-source data platforms, such as GitHub, significantly lowering entry barriers for newcomers. New opportunities in low-code and no-code environments have been created. While the speakers acknowledged a current pause in Government hiring, the democratization of geospatial technology allows students with creative mindsets to leverage open-source data to enter geospatial careers.

A Hub for Geospatial Capabilities

St. Louis is establishing itself as the epicenter of GEOINT and geospatial efforts. At his keynote session, Senator Eric Schmidt discussed the coordinated statewide university initiative to train the next generation of professionals and anchored with the T-Rex innovation center. This transformation is further enhanced by the new geospatial employment pilot program headquartered at the NGA West, recognizing GEOINT’s critical role in providing commanders with clearer operational pictures. As military leaders increasingly demand more ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and GEOINT capabilities, strategic investments in people, partnerships and platforms continue to provide the United States with its competitive edge in the intelligence domain.

Through developments for the future workforce, marine technology and defense initiatives, the GEOINT community maintains the nation’s security. As industry, Government and academia come together, these efforts ensure the United States remains prepared to meet global challenges with agility, innovation and intelligence-driven precision.

To learn more about the innovative technologies featured at GEOINT, visit Carahsoft’s Geospatial portfolio.  For additional research into the key takeaways that industry and Government leaders presented at GEOINT, view Carahsoft’s full recap.

SOF Week 2025: Top 5 Insights on Interoperability, Artificial Intelligence and More

Posted on by Michael Shrader

Effective defense often relies on operations that are agile, adaptable and focused. Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025 is an international conference for thought leaders, Government representatives and key military decision-makers involved in the Department of Defense (DoD). Jointly hosted by the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Global SOF, the conference platformed discussions surrounding the improvement of cybersecurity and technology within SOF.

This year, Carahsoft and over fifty of our technology partners attended to showcase solutions in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and much more, supporting SOCOM and DoD mission objectives.

The SOF Week conference featured five key themes for attendees to learn about.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Achieve SOF Objectives

One of SOCOM’s innovation priorities is to onboard products that have AI integrations, uncrewed and autonomous systems, power computing and quantum capabilities. In the session “Keynote Address: U.S. Special Operations Command Team,” speakers General Bryan P. Fenton, Commander of USSOCOM and the Command Sergeant Major Shane Shorter, Senior Enlisted Leader of the USSOCOM, discussed optimizing the computing power of adapted technology to maintain pace with adversaries. By providing the needed tools, SOCOM can help reduce the cognitive load placed on personnel.

In the session “PEO Overview: Tactical Information Systems,” speaker Chad Skiendsiel, the PM for Transport Systems, PEO TiS, requested multiple AI capabilities that would be useful to SOCOM operations. These are:

Automation of data and containerization
Software infrastructure that enables more containerization of data and configuration.
Commercial solutions that can enable classified data computing as well as compute power out to the edge
Embedded computing that can be attached to the warfighter to achieve better situational awareness

In the session “Fireside Chat: AI Innovation and Integration in National Security,” speaker Akash Jain, CTO of Palantir discussed SOF’s efforts to implement AI into SOCOM operations. One key area that requires special attention is AI integration into legacy systems, many of which have existed for years and cannot easily have AI added to enhance the work SOF does. This is why vendors with solutions, such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, can be utilized to integrate AI into existing infrastructure.

Bolstering Cybersecurity in SOCOM Operations

One of the key themes present in SOCOM’s evolving cybersecurity efforts is the adoption of a Zero Trust architecture, particularly within the Enterprise Information Systems directorate. It is referenced across multiple capability areas as essential to aligning with broader DoD cybersecurity mandates. To advance this strategy, SOCOM is actively engaging with industry and conducting assessments to define mission-driven requirements. Technology experts such as Dell Technologies, Red Hat and VMware are constantly working to be at the forefront of Zero Trust efforts.

Following this focus, the Professional Employer Organizations (PEO) is implementing cybersecurity initiatives in its contracting services. All solicitations will include cyber discipline and hygiene requirements, supply chain risk management and cybersecurity risk management requirements. Across the portfolio within SOCOM, post-quantum encryption is being looked at as the future strategy for cyber and will continue to develop as time goes on. The PEO SOF Digital Applications (SDA) also notes that CISA’s Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) will continue to be added to its cybersecurity pipeline to ensure software is open and honest. These initiatives work to fortify existing and future cyber structures to protect the effectiveness of missions and the safety of personnel.

As supply chains, SOF and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) continue to be under threat from adversarial cyber-attacks, PEO Services continue working to fully implement CMMC guidelines in their procedures. For unclassified solicitations, SOCOM will implement CMMC Level One, while any classified solicitations will be level two or higher.

Industry Partnerships to Meet Demand

In the session “Keynote Address: U.S. Special Operations Command Team,” Major General Bryan P. Fenton heavily emphasized that partnerships are key to meeting industry needs. While SOF is maintaining pace with current requirements, to stay ahead in the future, SOCOM must look to industry partners for their specialty and assistance.

One such category of offerings is autonomous, unmanned systems promote efficiency by saving time on menial, repetitive tasks. SOCOM is looking to implement dual-usage, capable autonomous products, such as self-driving cars, drones and robots. Modeled after the Private Sector’s success with unmanned systems, SOCOM agencies aim to evolve at the same speed. To enact this, all onboarded unmanned systems must be interchangeable, adaptable and successful within any region of the world to meet mission requirements.

The Importance of a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)

For the military, multi-domain connectivity is the way forward. Military agencies are focusing on modular open-mission systems that can be interoperable, as they are the key to staying ahead of future conflicts. Depending on industry trends and the latest in cybersecurity, equipment may need to be changed on the fly. Some technologies will need to be found preemptively; in these scenarios, industry experts can provide assistance.

In the session “PEO Overview: SOF Digital Applications session,” Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) was noted by every program manager as a solution. This approach is desired as it allows systems and products to remain agile when new software is added.

MOSA consists of three main components:

Infrastructure and Deployment: Hybrid deployment of cloud, multi-vendor capabilities, Open-source technologies and COTS integration
Data Centricity & Interoperability: Messaging & EDA, Black Box interfaces, Ontology Support, preferences on containerization and VMs
AI Implementation & Sustainment: Low-cost and remotely maintainable solutions, lifecycle management and updates, AI support for LLMs and at the edge and adaptability on mission needs

By enabling agencies within SOCOM to implement software updates, MOSA promotes interoperability and the speedy onboarding of key technologies.

Humans Over Hardware

While technology is vital to SOCOM Operations, humans are the backbone of the agency. In the session “Keynote Address: US Secretary of Defense,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke on the three pillars for success within the DoD and how SOCOM can reiterate and emphasize them. Among these three, the warrior ethos is targeted with the slogan, “humans are more important than hardware.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, USSOCOM Commander General Fenton, and the Chairman of the JCOS Dan Caine all echoed this point that warfighters are the most important aspect within SOF. Any person that meets warfighter standards can serve, and all purchases and developments should center the safety and wellbeing of the warfighter in mind.

Through the collaboration between people and technology, SOF is able to work securely, quickly and smoothly. With top cybersecurity, automation integrations and industry partnerships, SOCOM continues to fulfill DoD mission objectives and keep personnel safe.

To learn more about technologies featured at SOF Week, visit Carahsoft’s defense portfolio.

SOC of the Future: Advanced Strategies for Modern Cybersecurity Challenges

Posted on by John McCann

Carahsoft-Innovative Care for Shadow Warriors-blog-embedded image-2025

In today’s fast-paced digital world, security teams are under immense pressure to defend against a surge in sophisticated cyber threats. Expanding attack surfaces, driven by new technologies, cloud adoption, remote work and interconnected devices, create countless entry points for attackers. Security Operations Centers (SOCs) must evolve by leveraging automation, AI and machine learning (ML) to stay ahead—cutting through the noise, accelerating threat detection and streamlining responses to provide scalable, real-time defense against ever-evolving risks.

Modern SOC Challenges

As cyber threats continue to rise in both frequency and sophistication, SOCs are coping with an overwhelming volume of security incidents. Check Point Software’s 2025 Security Report reveals a staggering 44% year-over-year increase in cyberattacks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger, more scalable defenses.

Organizations are no longer operating within clearly defined perimeters. Today’s digital environments are sprawling and dynamic, spanning on-premises infrastructure, multi-cloud deployments, software as a service (SaaS) platforms, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and a remote workforce. Each layer adds complexity—and with it, new vulnerabilities. The expanding attack surface increases not only the number of potential entry points but also the volume of activity that must be monitored.

This leads to another major challenge: organizations are now generating unprecedented volumes of security data. SOCs are tasked with analyzing vast, continuous streams of telemetry to detect threats in real time but extracting meaningful insights from this flood of data has become increasingly difficult.

While traditional Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems remain a core component of enterprise security, they are struggling to keep up. Many SIEM platforms are constrained by schema designs, database capacity and a limit on the number of detection rules that can be ingested.

As a result, SOCs are often forced to make difficult trade-offs, choosing which data to collect and analyze based on storage and processing limitations. This selective approach creates blind spots, potentially allowing critical threats to go undetected. In fact, 56% of organizations report coverage gaps directly linked to the limitations of legacy SIEM systems, underscoring the need for modernization.

Alert fatigue is compounding the issue. Even well-configured SOCs can generate thousands of alerts daily, overwhelming analysts and increasing the risk of real threats being missed. According to a 2023 RSA survey by Gurucul, 61.37% of security teams report receiving more than 1,000 alerts per day, while 4.29% deal with over 100,000. Alarmingly, 19.74% say the volume is so high they cannot even quantify it.

SOC Prime-SOC of the Future-blog-embedded image-2025

Beyond the operational strain, cost is another major barrier. A medium-sized organization can produce terabytes of log data every day, and storing and processing this information—especially at the scale required for comprehensive threat detection—can cost hundreds of thousands annually. SOC leaders are under constant pressure to strike a balance between broad visibility and tight budget constraints.

In this high-volume, high-velocity environment, traditional manual analysis simply cannot keep up. To close visibility gaps, reduce alert overload and operate efficiently at scale, organizations must adopt intelligent automation. Advanced analytics, ML and AI-driven detection can dramatically reduce noise, prioritize critical alerts and help SOC teams focus on what matters most—responding to real threats in real time.

The Role of Automation in SOC

Automation is a key force multiplier for SOC teams, enhancing threat response speed and accuracy. Over the past decade, security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) solutions have had mixed success. While these solutions streamline workflows and incident response, they require significant maintenance, including scripting, playbook development and continuous security stack integration. The high total cost of ownership often outweighs initial investments, making long-term sustainability a challenge.

To address these limitations, SOCs are adopting telemetry pipelines, which intercept and filter traffic before SIEM processing, ensuring only relevant security data is analyzed. Advanced enrichment reduces redundant data, improving efficiency while lowering cloud storage costs.

Extended detection and response (XDR) solutions are also gaining traction. XDR integrates multiple security layers, correlates alerts locally and reduces reliance on centralized SIEMs. Vendor-specific XDR stacks work best within their own ecosystems but streamline threat detection and response.

Data lakes are becoming essential for long-term threat hunting, enabling analysts to detect subtle, prolonged attacks by retaining historical data for extended periods. This allows analysts to uncover patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.

As SOC automation evolves toward autonomous SOC models and “SOCless” SIEM architectures, ML-driven algorithms will handle much of the processing and correlation, facilitating faster threat detection and response. By automating repetitive tasks like log analysis and low-level alert triage, SOC analysts can focus on complex investigations, enhancing security while addressing the skills gap.

Still, Gartner predicts that by 2030, 75% of SOC teams will see a decline in core security analysis skills as they grow too reliant on automation and AI. Therefore, deployments aimed at both augmenting human tasks and adding precision and speed to human investigations will be more effective than single-technique AI analytics. Striking the right balance between machine-driven speed and human insight seems like a feasible solution that keeps security teams agile, informed and in control of threats.

Evolving Technologies and Solutions

AI and ML capabilities enhance predictive analytics and threat-hunting capabilities, keeping SOC teams ahead of attackers. According to Gartner, by 2026, advancements like “action transformers” and the continued evolution of Generative AI (GenAI) will power semi-autonomous platforms that can greatly enhance and support the day-to-day operations of cybersecurity teams.

As cybersecurity AI assistants evolve, they will be used as more sophisticated tools for interactive support and investigation, covering tasks like incident response, risk assessment and code reviews. These tools are expected to boost efficiency and reduce response times, whether in organizations just building their security programs or in mature teams with established processes. These innovations improve threat detection and SOC readiness to withstand modern cyber risks.

Future SOC Operations

Progressive organizations understand the real value of AI/ML-powered SOC technologies that can be reasonably used and shift their focus from single-technique tools to building integrated systems that fuse software, AI and human expertise. Achieving scalable impact means having a clear strategy that targets the most meaningful opportunities.

Additionally, investment in workforce development and upskilling will be essential to bridging the cybersecurity talent gap. Organizations that invest in these areas will elevate their SOC effectiveness, better safeguard critical assets and build a resilient, future-ready cybersecurity posture.

To gain deeper insights into these strategies and hear directly from industry experts, watch SOC Prime’s webinar, 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 Importance of Data, AI and More Within Law Enforcement at IACP Technology Conference 2025

Posted on by George Vit

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Technology Conference 2025 is an annual law enforcement conference that hosts public safety professionals and technology thought leaders to discuss new solutions, techniques and trainings to equip the industry for success. With a strong law enforcement portfolio and deep industry ties, Carahsoft offers unmatched insight into the challenges agencies face today.

By bridging the gap between top software providers and law enforcement agencies, Carahsoft’s Law Enforcement Technology Team helps both sworn and civilian personnel streamline operations, enhance decision-making and drive greater efficiency across all aspects of public safety.

Carahsoft and over 20 of our vendors, including Cellebrite, Zebra, Saferwatch, Blackberry and Magnet Forensics, attended and ran demos of their solutions across data management and analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), emerging technology, forensics, and device security.

Here are the 5 most relevant themes featured at the IACP Technology Conference 2025.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Law Enforcement

At IACP Tech, discussions centered around integrating AI into law enforcement to increase efficiency while balancing transparency and accountability to real-time threats. In the panel “Transforming Policing with AI: Efficiency, Accuracy and Ethical Considerations for Report Writing,” panelists underscored how AI can streamline administrative tasks, reduce the time officers spend on documentation and improve the overall accuracy and quality of police reports. Speakers also highlighted that the integration of AI must be accompanied by transparency and accountability. They stressed the importance of clearly disclosing when reports are generated or supported by AI to maintain public trust and uphold ethical standards. In the panel “Curb Your AI Through Privacy Impact Assessments,” speaker Nora Kurzova, the State Auditor of the State of Utah Office, explored the ethical implications that come with predictive AI in law enforcement. Kurzova drew attention to bias present in predictive tools, stressing the importance of human oversight to correct potential biases. With rigorous evaluations of the decisions that automated systems enact, law enforcement can ensure fairness and a positive impact on communities.

Carahsoft, IACP 2025, blog, embedded image, 2025

Emerging Technologies in Law Enforcement

For modern criminal investigations, law enforcement faces growing complexity in managing and analyzing mass volumes of digital data. As the volume of data generated by connected devices continues to surge, investigators must adapt software that enables timely and efficient data recovery. Critical evidence can come from a variety of sources, such as Nest cameras, smart rings, thermostats and even gaming consoles. Human augmentation technologies, including smart glasses, brain-computer interfaces and mixed reality devices, were all identified as new frontiers that officers could utilize during investigations. By utilizing unconventional data points as corroborative tools and avenues for new leads, law enforcement can increase its investigative awareness.

Breakthroughs in Digital Forensics

At the panel “Advancements in Criminal Investigations: Increasing Solve Rates with Technology,” speaker Ed O’Carroll, a retired Major of the Crimes Bureau from the Fairfax County Police Department, emphasized the transformative impact of advanced investigative technologies in resolving challenging criminal cases. Advancements in digital forensics, genetic genealogy and rapid DNA testing have all transcended the abilities of law enforcement, enabling the solving of difficult cases. As IT continues to evolve, law enforcement can utilize strategic partnerships with technology organizations to improve its digital forensics capabilities and reduce backlogs. With recent technological breakthroughs, skilled crime analysts and forensic professionals can maximize their potential through these revolutionary tools.

The Importance of Interoperable Data in Public Safety

Law enforcement depends on thorough and accurate analytics to improve and maintain capabilities. In the panel “Breaking the Data Chains: Advocating Open and Interoperable Solutions in Public Safety,” speakers explored the evolving role of data in public safety, with a strong emphasis on the importance of interoperability and open standards. Adopting open data standards enables seamless data exchange across systems and jurisdictions. Panelists called for greater vendor transparency and urged public safety agencies to include open data access provisions in their contracts to avoid vendor lock-in. Ultimately, by strengthening data sharing practices, public safety agencies can enhance operational effectiveness and fulfill mission objectives.

Tailored, Interactive Training with Artificial Intelligence

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly utilizing AI and virtual reality technologies to address resource constraints during training. In the panel “How Your Records Management Process Can Work for You—Leveraging RMS Functional Standards,” speaker Jeff Smythe discussed a statewide effort to revise curriculum by embedding AI tools into courses. By synthesizing practical data and automation, law enforcement can improve training and service quality.

Examples of this include:

Utilizing real-world body camera footage to create simulated scenarios for training

Collecting best practices to develop AI-powered virtual reality scenarios that feature immediate feedback and debriefing capabilities

Implementing automated virtual reality scenarios to train soft skills, such as employee counseling and community engagement

By simulating realistic, frequent tech-enhanced training, employers can significantly improve officer readiness and skill retention. AI and virtual tools offer scalable solutions to deliver consistent, high-quality training in an evolving public safety environment.

As law enforcement professionals handle sensitive and vital information, the protection of that information and data is essential to carrying out fair and accurate investigations and procedures. Through tailored training, data analytics and AI, law enforcement can improve capabilities and focus resources on protecting civilians.

To learn more about public safety related technology, visit Carahsoft’s law enforcement portfolio to explore solutions showcased at IACP Technology Conference. For additional research into the key takeaways that industry and Government leaders presented at IACP Technology Conference, view Carahsoft’s full synopsis of key sessions from the tradeshow. 

National Laboratories Information Technology(NLIT) Summit 2025:Top 5 Insights on Automation, Cybersecurity and More

Posted on by Mike Adams

Technology enables Government agencies to strengthen security, increase efficiency and collaborate across departments. This year at the National Laboratories Information Technology (NLIT) Summit, representatives from the National Laboratories, Government IT decision-makers and industry and vendor partners gathered to discuss recent advancements in IT across the Department of Energy (DOE) labs, featuring panels, interactive sessions and demonstrations focused on emerging, mission-driven technologies. Carahsoft stood alongside its partners, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Snowflake and GitLab to support the DOE’s mission objectives. Together, we deliver secure, compliant solutions that drive innovation—from MultiCloud strategies and generative AI to streamlined IT procurement.

Here are the top themes discussed at this year’s summit.

Artificial Intelligence Exploration

The National Laboratories are at the forefront of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and High Performance Computing (HPC) to meet critical mission objectives. Several DOE labs are showcasing this commitment through transformative initiatives. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, the establishment of the National Security AI Office and the deployment of the Venado AI supercomputer reflect a strategic focus on embedding AI into national security operations. Sandia National Laboratories is leading innovation with “vibe coding,” an AI-assisted development methodology that allows developers to generate code based on described functionality, streamlining the software development process.

To further accelerate AI and HPC capabilities, the National Laboratories are leveraging NVIDIA technologies, including GPU-powered infrastructure and AI toolkits, to support high-throughput data analysis, simulation and machine learning applications. This partnership enables scalable performance and energy-efficient computing tailored to complex scientific workloads.

In response to growing cybersecurity threats, labs are also deploying AI-driven automated response systems to detect and neutralize risks in real time. These combined efforts enhance the DOE’s cybersecurity posture while reinforcing the National Laboratories’ leadership in next-generation computing and AI innovation.

Argo: A New Generative AI Platform

As part of its development, Argo incorporates technologies from OpenAI to support advanced natural language processing and generative tasks. By integrating OpenAI models with internal controls and security protocols, Argonne can deliver high-performing language tools tailored to research and mission needs, without compromising data integrity.

Future enhancements to Argo will include:

Document upload for summarization and analysis
Adjustable response styles that range from creative and exploratory to focused and deterministic
Integration of Argonne-specific knowledge and internal documents for contextualized outputs
Onsite deployment of GPU resources to host fine-tuned and open-source LLMs, enabling operational applications such as translation, code generation and scientific research

Through Argo, Argonne is setting a benchmark for secure, mission-aligned AI deployment across the DOE ecosystem.

An Automated Approach to Cybersecurity

Sandia National Laboratories emphasized the critical need to embed security at every stage of the software development lifecycle through a DevSecOps approach. In the session “From DevOps to DevSecOps: ASC DSO at Sandia’s Journey toward Secure Software” Stuart Baxley, a Senior Research & Development Computer Scientist shared how Sandia integrates automated tools and continuous monitoring to enable early threat detection and fast remediation—reducing both risk and cost compared to reactive approaches. Agencies with automation tools, such as GitLab, enable the National Laboratories to manage their unique software development environments.

To enhance cybersecurity posture, Sandia recommends the adoption of key security practices and tools, including. Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and container scanning. Leveraging these capabilities is essential to maintaining resilience in an increasingly complex and dynamic threat environment.

Efficiency Through the Cloud

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has advanced its cloud adoption efforts through the Materials Project initiative, leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) to significantly improve the availability, accessibility and scalability of its data products. This successful deployment offers a strong blueprint for other national laboratories exploring cloud migration.

By transitioning to cloud infrastructure, the lab has unlocked a range of strategic benefits including enhanced collaboration, improved high-performance computing capabilities, robust encryption and data security and accelerated AI-driven research. These advantages position cloud adoption not just as a technical upgrade, but as a critical enabler of research efficiency, data innovation and scientific discovery in today’s increasingly data-intensive environment.

Managing Diverse Data

As datasets across the National Laboratories continue to grow in size and complexity, effective data management becomes increasingly challenging. Oak Ridge National Laboratory advocates for a holistic approach, recognizing that no single tool can address every need. Instead, the focus should be on strengthening data transfer capabilities and adopting integrated strategies to improve overall data mobility and accessibility.

In alignment with federal mandates, laboratories and agencies managing research data must prioritize the following:

Transparency – ensuring data is accessible to the public to support open research
Up-to-date data management practices – implementing current tools and processes
Comprehensive audit trails and metadata documentation – maintaining accountability and traceability

By improving data transfer methods and aligning with these core principles, National Laboratories can enhance collaboration, uphold security standards and maximize the impact of their research.

Through a combination of strong data governance, cloud adoption, AI integration and cybersecurity automation, the National Laboratories remain committed to advancing innovation and IT excellence across the DOE ecosystem.

Through data management, cloud application, AI and cybersecurity automation, the National Laboratories maintain a comprehensive strategy to continually fulfill their mission of advancing IT knowledge and collaboration across the DOE.

To learn more about technologies featured at NLIT, visit Carahsoft’s artificial intelligence portfolio.

Top 3 Trends Enhancing Digital Learning Experience in 2025

Posted on by Alistair Lee, Scott Biegel and Umesh Kanade

The advent of innovative technology and modern learning techniques has opened an array of possibilities for adult and student learning. L&D leaders and educators can customize their training and teaching instruction for employees and students to deliver the best learning experience possible.

With technological advancement, digital learning is no longer confined to static online courses. It has become an interactive and technology-driven space that adapts to the needs of modern learners. With the increasing reliance on digital platforms, it is vital to explore ways to optimize course delivery and improve learner engagement. The focus is no longer just on delivering content but also on making learning more intuitive, practical, and aligned with resolving real-world challenges.

Carahsoft recently conducted a webinar in partnership in with Harbinger Group, titled ‘The Digital Learning Experience: Top 3 Trends for 2025’ featuring industry experts, Alistair Lee, Principal Evangelist at Adobe, Scott Biegel, Principal Solution Consultant at Adobe, and Umesh Kanade, Vice President – Capability Development at Harbinger Group. Hosted by Shannon Teel, Partner Sales Leader at Adobe, this webinar discussed the top three trends in the digital learning space for L&D and education leaders to consider.

Adobe Top 3 Trends Enhancing Digital Learning Experience Webinar Blog embedded image 2025

Trend 1: AI and Generative AI

AI simulates human intelligence in machines, while GenAI uses algorithms to autonomously create new content. It is reshaping digital learning by delivering learning experiences tailored to individual needs. This ensures learners receive targeted recommendations that align with their goals and preferred learning styles.

GenAI can provide L&D teams and educators as well as adult learners and students with learning recommendations based on previous course work, content consumed by peers, and the delivery modality from previous content selections. By observing the learning patterns and learner behaviors, GenAI can aid trainers and educators in populating forms from a variety of different mediums. For learners, it can help improve learning results and stay engaged with relevant content.

Beyond personalization, AI-based automated custom content development is accelerating course development, reducing both time and costs while ensuring high-quality, customized learning experiences at scale. AI-based tools can generate course content, including quizzes, assessments, interactive simulations, and multimedia elements.

Some examples include:

Text

Session outlines
Slide structure or speaker notes
Abstracts or introductions
Quiz questions
Polls or group exercises

Images

Backgrounds for virtual rooms or camera
Whiteboard exercises
Slide imagery

Audio

Lobby music
Sound effects
Announcements
Translations

Video

Localized video
Stringer or lobby content

AI can analyze existing graphics and media assets to maintain a consistent style, ensuring newly generated course content aligns seamlessly. This helps prevent generic outputs and avoids copyright issues while enhancing the overall quality of the learning materials.

Tips to Effectively Generate Content Using AI

Apart from learning content, AI can be leveraged to generate teaching instruction plans and L&D workflows. For example, AI tools can be used to create automated leadership coaching plans and analysis, add clarity to session notes, improve lecture structure, or develop targeted employee training framework.

However, L&D leaders, educators, and instructional designers need to implement the right prompt writing techniques to best use AI for generating digital learning content.

“Use AI to help you with AI. A chatbot can help you create a more effective prompt. You can prompt a chatbot to ask you questions to get a better result. So, instead of just producing a result, tell the chatbot to ask you questions related to the topic you’re looking for, and it will do so before producing the result. I think you’ll get much better qualitative content out of that,” shared Alistair.

It’s highly recommended to consider using the ‘CISCO’ prompt structure when interacting with AI chatbots for generating digital learning content.

Context: Explain your role and goal

Intent: Describe the intent of your prompt and what you want to achieve

Style: Consider what tone you want to employ

Commands: List out detailed instructions and rules to follow

Outcome: Outline the specific format you want to receive the results in

Educators with special considerations, such as privacy concerns, should consider retrieval augmented generation (RAG) models or retrieval augmented language models (REALM). These models are trained specifically on your content. This way, rather than asking public AI generators, agencies or organizations can utilize RAG and REALM to ensure accuracy and internally guided content.

Agentic AI is another hot trend in digital learning. It improves learning success and drives business outcomes with next-gen learning environments, intelligent tutoring systems, faster content development, custom learning pathways, automated assessment, and AI-driven gamification. To know how to effectively leverage Agentic AI in eLearning, download this comprehensive practical guide.

Trend 2: Advanced Learning Analytics

Learning is driven by engagement, and therefore, it is vital to ensure learners are listening and are engaged. Advanced learning analytics can help L&D leaders and educators drive engagement and tailor their training and lesson plans.

Traditionally, standard reports only featured data on how much time learners spent in the learning space. Contrastingly, modern digital learning analytics can not only inform L&D teams and educators how long learners were present in the learning space but also how connected they were.

Some key learner engagement indicators include:

Asking questions
Responding to polls
Utilizing chat features
Downloading learning materials
Enabling their microphone
Interacting with emotes

Digital reports can feature data on whether the window was in focus or if the learner was taking notes, chatting, or responding to polls. Each L&D leader or educator should consider how they want to measure engagement to determine the effectiveness of sessions. Indicators of elements that drive interactions can help them optimize and perfect the digital learning experience.

A more engaged learning environment not only enhances knowledge retention but also fosters a stronger connection between learners and instructors, making the experience more interactive and valuable. Engagement is also influenced by the relevance and adaptability of content. When learning materials are updated, personalized, and aligned with learners’ goals, engagement improves. If the content is outdated or disconnected from real-world applications, engagement levels may decline, signaling the need for modifications.

L&D teams and educators should consider continuously monitoring and refining digital learning and engagement strategies through advanced learning analytics. This will help them create a learning experience that feels dynamic, relevant, and impactful.

Apart from advanced analytics, adaptive assessment and predictive analytics are the two other key aspects of digital learning data analytics. Here’s a snapshot of the three types of digital learning data analytics discussed in the webinar:

Trend 3: Hybrid Learning Models

Traditionally, L&D leaders and educators had to consider whether their sessions should be conducted in a synchronous or asynchronous form. With the advent of digital learning, they must now determine whether their learning and training sessions should be conducted in person or virtually, or in hybrid form.

They also need to decide if the sessions must incorporate features such as:

Microlearning
Compliance learning
Collaborative breakouts
Simulations
On-the-job learning

When coming to a decision, it is important to consider the learning objective, and the advantages and weaknesses of each, so learners get the most out of the session. L&D teams and educators should not be afraid to experiment with new modalities, as it may bring out the strength of a session, enhancing the learning experience.

Expanded Modalities in Hybrid Learning

Expanded modalities in hybrid learning are the range of ways in which content is delivered, and learning is experienced, going beyond traditional in-person and online formats. The idea is to enhance flexibility, engagement, and personalization by offering multiple paths for learners to interact with the material, instructors, and peers.

Expanded modalities aim to meet diverse learner needs and preferences while maximizing the strengths of both digital and physical environments. In modern hybrid learning models, this flexibility is key to increasing accessibility, equity, and learner success.

Here are some expanded modalities in hybrid learning:

Parting Thought

With AI, advanced learning analytics, and hybrid learning, the digital learning experience is better than ever. These technologies and models allow L&D leaders and educators to refine their approach, making learning more interactive, responsive, and accessible. They can not only optimize the learning experience but also increase course completion rates, while ensuring learners are well-equipped for the future.

For today’s workforce, learning isn’t just about acquiring new knowledge, it’s about career advancement, staying relevant in their industry, or transitioning to new roles. With smarter learning systems that adapt to individual progress, digital learning helps them build practical skills that directly impact their professional growth.

To learn more about digital learning trends for 2025, watch the webinar, “The Digital Learning Experience: Top 3 Trends for 2025.” To take a deeper dive into Adobe’s eLearning products, contact us to schedule a complimentary one-on-one demonstration today!

Smarter Spending: How State and Local Governments Are Using AI-Powered Procurement Tools to Maximize Cost Savings

Posted on by Briana Crabtree

State and Local Governments are under growing pressure to make every dollar count. From rising costs to increased demand for services, public procurement teams are being called on to do more — and to do it faster, more transparently and with measurable results. The good news? Technology is making that easier than ever.

Today, modern procurement platforms equipped with AI-powered insights are helping agencies move beyond manual processes and limited visibility. These tools are transforming procurement into a strategic driver of fiscal stewardship, surfacing new opportunities for cost savings and improving how governments source, evaluate and manage supplier relationships.

This is the future of smarter public sector spending — and it’s already here.

Procurement as a Strategic Function

Procurement has long played a vital role in public sector operations, but it’s increasingly viewed as a strategic lever for achieving broader goals — from cost savings and compliance to supplier diversity and sustainability. However, traditional methods — including siloed data, spreadsheet tracking and paper-based bid evaluations — can limit visibility and slow down decision-making.

AI-powered procurement platforms change that dynamic. They offer real-time insights into spending trends, identify duplicate vendors or off-contract purchases and help procurement professionals proactively guide smarter buying decisions — all within a secure, cloud-based environment.

Euna, Smarter Spending, Blog, Embedded Image, 2025

How AI-Powered Procurement Tools Drive Smarter Spending

AI isn’t replacing public procurement professionals — it’s augmenting their expertise with data they can act on. Here’s how:

Discover the Best Value, Fast

Procurement platforms allow staff to shop across all approved contracts in one place — making it easy to compare items, vendors, prices and delivery timelines in seconds. This transparency empowers end users to identify the best value quickly, while staying within approved purchasing channels.

Use AI to Maximize Every Cart

AI-powered savings advisors enhance purchasing by automatically surfacing lower-cost alternatives and identifying cost-saving substitutions based on availability and shipping. Real-time recommendations help ensure that every cart is optimized — not just for savings, but for delivery speed, quality and compliance.

Compliance Built In, Not Bolted On

From requisition to checkout, compliance is embedded into every step. Platforms can tailor guardrails based on your agency’s policies, automatically flag off-contract items, enforce justification fields and trigger approval workflows when needed. By reducing friction while maintaining full control, agencies minimize risk without slowing down operations.

Turn Data into Strategy

Interactive dashboards provide procurement teams with visibility into spending patterns, supplier usage and contract performance. Drillable reports help identify high-volume categories, underused contracts or vendor performance issues — enabling strategic decisions grounded in real-time data. The result: more informed planning, more efficient purchasing and greater accountability.

A Positive Path Forward for Procurement Teams

In today’s fiscal environment, smart spending isn’t just about spending less — it’s about spending better. AI-powered procurement platforms support that goal by delivering the right data at the right time, helping procurement teams stay focused on value, compliance and mission outcomes.

By adopting these tools — many of which are available to State and Local Governments through trusted partners like Carahsoft — agencies can reduce cycle times, increase visibility and unlock real savings that benefit their communities.

Conclusion: Empowering Public Procurement Through Insight

Procurement professionals are some of the most resourceful problem-solvers in the Public Sector. With the right technology in place, they’re better equipped than ever to lead their agencies toward smarter, more strategic spending.

AI-powered platforms aren’t just a trend — they’re a practical, proven way to improve decision-making, increase efficiency and ensure every public dollar is working as hard as possible.

To explore how procurement solutions from Euna Solutions, available through Carahsoft, can help your agency maximize value and streamline operations, visit the Euna Procurement page.

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 Euna Solutions 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.