Top 10 Autonomy and Robotics Events for Government in 2026

Posted on by Lauren Regiec

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

Sea-Air-Space

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

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

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

GEOINT Symposium

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

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

Sessions to look out for: 

Main Stage Panels: National security executives and industry professionals will discuss advancements redefining GEOINT, providing insights into the latest developments and future direction.

Training Sessions: Participants can engage in hands-on training on topics such as mission planning, precision timing and navigation, enhancing their practical skills and knowledge in GEOINT applications.

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

XPONENTIAL 2026

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

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

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

SOF Week

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

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

Sessions to look out for: 

ISR, GEOINT and Mission Planning Technologies

SOF Interoperability and Multi-Domain Operations

Emerging Technologies Supporting Tactical Decision-Making

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

Commercial UAV Expo

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

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

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

AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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

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

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

FAA Drone and AAM Symposium

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

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

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

More Events

Geo Week

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

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

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

Drone Responders National Public Safety UAS Conference

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

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

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

Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Summit

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

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

Sessions to look out for:

Counter-UASs in Multi-Domain Operations

Defense-Industrial Acceleration in Uncrewed Systems

Emerging Autonomous Platforms for the Modern Warfighter

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

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

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

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

Top 10 Quantum Events for Government in 2026

Posted on by Troy Meraw

Quantum computing is an operational reality that is rapidly reshaping national security, cryptography and mission-critical data processing across the Public Sector. As adversaries accelerate their own quantum cryptography standards and explore quantum networking architectures, Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, is proud to support Government stakeholders at the forefront of this transformation. Together with our network of leading quantum technology partners, Carahsoft is committed to connecting Government agencies with the expertise, solutions and community they need to navigate the quantum landscape with confidence. Below, we highlight the top quantum events of 2026 and how Carahsoft is helping drive the mission forward.

Convening to Act: Accelerating U.S. Post-Quantum Cryptography Adoption

March 17, 2026 | Hyattsville, MD | In-Person Event

Join the National Cryptologic Foundation for an event centered on Quantum-Resistant Cryptography (QRC) adoption where toady’s cyber leaders unite to accelerate the nation’s transition to post-quantum security. This high-impact forum brings together experts from Government, industry and academia to explore best practices for cryptography inventory and modernization, learn how leading organizations are transitioning to QRC standards and experience live demonstrations showcasing advanced migration tools and techniques. Through strategic dialogue and real-world insights, attendees gain clarity and momentum needed to act on emerging standards and mandates.

Carahsoft will have a tabletop presence at Convening to Act. Carahsoft partners in attendance include: Safelogic, SandboxAQ, Qanapi, ISARA, Entrust and QuSecure. Carahsoft’s involvement in this event supports published national security priorities by empowering commercial, defense and Intelligence Community (IC) participants to understand and operationalize newly released Federal guidance on Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) deployment. Our team will be present to help organizations strengthen their future-proofing strategies and contribute to securing the nation’s digital infrastructure.

ATARC Quantum Speaker Series: Accelerating Quantum Innovation Through Standardization

March 24, 2026 | 1:30-2:30pm ET | Virtual Event

Join the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC) for a high-impact session in its Quantum Speaker Series. This focused 30-minute webinar highlights the work of the Advancing Standardization for Critical and Emerging Technologies (ASCET) Center of Excellence, an initiative dedicated to strengthening U.S. leadership in international quantum standards. Attendees will gain insight into how ASCET is broadening participation in quantum standardization, cultivating the next generation of quantum experts and supporting U.S. Private Sector priorities through training, tools and strategic initiatives.

Carahsoft recommends attending this webinar from the ATARC Quantum Speaker Series, reinforcing our dedication to advancing U.S. quantum competitiveness. The webinar format provides a platform that enables quantum experts to share their experiences and insights with a broad Government audience, making PQC knowledge accessible to agencies regardless of their location or resources.

Golden Dome: Quantum Proofing America’s Shield

April 23, 2026 | 3:00-5:00pm ET | Virtual Event

The “Golden Dome” for America has moved from vision to reality, creating a massive, interconnected architecture of space-based sensors, kinetic interceptors and Command and Control (C2) networks. However, this “system of systems” is only as strong as the data paths that connect it. As adversaries accelerate their quantum computing capabilities, the encryption protecting on-orbit capabilities, satellite links, ground-based systems and decision-support chains faces an existential threat.

Quantum-Proofing the Golden Dome is a practical, mission-focused deep dive into hardening the nation’s shield. The architects of the initiative will come together with the builders of the technology to define a clear path for quantum-resilient security in the next 12–24 months.

Sessions to Look Out For:

The Golden Dome Architecture: Security at Every Segment – A high-level view of the interoperability requirements across the Golden Dome segments. Bob Gourley, CTO at OODA LLC, will outline why the single attack surface of missile defense, space and C2 demands quantum-resilient security. From radar feeds to firmware signing, the specific data paths that are most at risk today will be identified.

Carahsoft is proud to host Golden Dome: Quantum Proofing America’s Shield at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston, VA, bringing together the architects and builders of the nation’s most critical missile defense initiative to chart a clear path toward quantum-resilient security. We are excited to provide a platform for experts in the quantum community to share their critical, real-world insights with Government leaders, defense professionals and technology innovators.

Quantum Tech World

June 25-26, 2026 | Boston, MA | In-Person Event

Step into the future at Quantum Tech World 2026, the premier global summit where quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) converge to redefine what is possible. This event unites more than 1,000 innovators, industry leaders, policymakers and researchers from 40+ countries to explore the breakthroughs shaping the next era of technology. Attendees will have the chance to listen to expert speakers, participate in trainings and earn certifications that will provide the insights, tools and connections needed to drive quantum adoption at enterprise scale.

Sessions to Look Out For:

Aerospace & Defense: Mission-Critical Quantum Innovation – Quantum technologies are revolutionizing the mission landscape for aerospace and defense, unlocking capabilities in sensing, navigation and secure communications. This panel gathers global leaders from Government, research and industry to discuss how quantum breakthroughs are enhancing resilience, accelerating innovation and securing critical infrastructure in an increasingly complex world.

Many of Carahsoft’s leading quantum technology partners will be in attendance—including IBM, QuintessenceLabs and ClassIQ—offering attendees direct access to cutting-edge solutions and expertise spanning PQC, quantum networking and quantum sensing. As Carahsoft deepens its engagement with the quantum ecosystem, this event represents a valuable opportunity for Government stakeholders to connect with our partner community and explore solutions best suited to their agency’s mission needs.

2026 Quantum Computing User Forum

July 20-24, 2026 | Oak Ridge, TN | In-Person Event

Get ready to join the global community at the 2026 Quantum Computing User Forum, taking place at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the nation’s premier centers for advanced computing and scientific innovation. The Forum will feature interactive sessions, allowing attendees to explore emerging best practices in quantum application development, software frameworks and simulation techniques. Designed for both current users of the Quantum Computing User Program (QCUP) and the broader research ecosystem, this event offers the opportunity to connect directly with the scientists, developers and technologists shaping the future of quantum computing devices and systems.

Carahsoft’s expanding quantum portfolio includes a number of partners focused specifically on quantum computing hardware, software and integration, making this an ideal environment for agencies to explore the breadth of available solutions. This forum aligns with our commitment to linking Government agencies with the solutions they need to prepare for the quantum era.

DoDIIS

August 9-12, 2026 | Tampa, FL | In-Person Event

The Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) is the premier intelligence and defense technology forum hosted by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), convening quantum scientists, engineers and innovators dedicated to shaping how quantum will secure, empower and transform the U.S. defense ecosystem. This year’s theme, “DIA Next: Intelligence Technologies for Battlespace Lethality,” places groundbreaking quantum capabilities at the center of national defense modernization. As intelligence technologies increasingly rely on quantum-inspired algorithms, advanced sensing, secure communications and next-generation computational architectures, DODIIS 2026 offers the opportunity for quantum leaders to engage directly with the mission owners shaping the future of global security.

Carahsoft is proud to host an expansive partner pavilion at DoDIIS 2026, reinforcing our commitment to connecting Government customers with meaningful connections and a deeper understanding of the solutions available to support their mission. Attendees are encouraged to visit our pavilion, which will feature interactive demo kiosks, exhibitor booths and speaking opportunities, providing access to our broad ecosystem of quantum and intelligence-focused technology partners.

TechNet Augusta

August 17-20, 2026 | Augusta, GA | In-Person Event

TechNet Augusta 2026 is at the center of the nation’s cyber operations dialogue. This principal Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) event, developed with assistance from the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE), brings together military leaders, Government decision makers and industry innovators to explore the evolving challenges and advances shaping the cyber domain. Across four days of mission-focused programming, attendees will dive deep into the technologies, strategies and operational imperatives driving modern cyber electromagnetic activities and unified land operations. Designed to open the lines of communication between defense stakeholders and the commercial sector, TechNet Augusta provides the opportunity to connect and collaborate with leaders and operators at every level as they chart the future of U.S. cyber superiority.

Carahsoft is proud to support the Government and defense community at TechNet Augusta, hosting demo kiosks where attendees can explore our partners’ quantum and cybersecurity solutions. Carahsoft’s involvement reflects our ongoing dedication to ensuring Government customers have direct access to the expertise and solutions needed to advance their mission-critical technology strategies.

Quantum World Congress

September 22-24, 2026 | College Park, MD | In-Person Event

Quantum World Congress (QWC) is the gathering where leaders across science, industry, Government, finance and education are shaping the future of quantum technology. Since 2022, QWC has served as an international platform for unveiling innovations, accelerating commercialization and forging the partnerships that move quantum from the lab into the real world. Attendees will explore advancements in communications, computing, sensing, materials, security and cross-sector applications. With the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) Reauthorization signaling long-term Federal momentum, QWC delivers the insights, strategy and connections organizations need to lead in the era of quantum advantage.

Carahsoft is exploring opportunities to expand our presence for QWC 2026 as we continue to deepen our engagement with the quantum community and expand the resources available to our Government customers and vendor partners. Carahsoft’s growing quantum portfolio spans a broad range of mission-aligned solutions, and the QWC represents an ideal opportunity for attendees to engage directly with tools best suited to their needs.

TechNet Indo-Pacific

October 27-29, 2026 | Honolulu, HI | In-Person Event

AFCEA International and AFCEA Hawaii have re-named their signature event TechNet Indo-Pacific. As the largest strategic defense and technology event in the Indo-Pacific Rim, the conference brings together U.S. and allied military leaders, Government technologists, researchers and industry experts to address the region’s most pressing challenges. For quantum professionals, this is an incredible opportunity to explore quantum-enhanced sensing for maritime and space domain awareness, PQC for resilient communications, secure distributed computing at the tactical edge and hybrid quantum-classical tools for intelligence fusion. With exhibitor showcases, mission-focused technical sessions and direct access to decision makers responsible for shaping regional defense strategy, the event provides a powerful platform to influence the future of secure, high-performance capabilities across the Indo-Pacific.

Carahsoft will have a tabletop presence at TechNet Indo-Pacific, continuing our engagement with military and Government leaders at one of the most strategically important cybersecurity and technology events in the Pacific region. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with our team and explore our partners’ exhibits, which will feature hands-on demonstrations and mission-aligned solutions designed to meet the specific requirements of military and defense agencies operating in the region.

Super Computing 2026

November 15-20, 2026 | Chicago, IL | In-Person Event

Join the global leaders of HPC, networking, storage and advance analytics at Super Computing 2026 (SC26), an annual gathering that will define the next generation of computational innovation. Attendees can immerse themselves in a technical program built to accelerate discovery, featuring groundbreaking research in architectures, algorithms, machine learning at scale, distributed systems, visualization, data analytics and emerging technologies. The expansive exhibit floor will feature major industry innovators, national laboratories, universities and startups showcasing advanced systems, tools and solutions driving the fastest supercomputers and tomorrow’s exascale-to-quantum workflows. Whether shaping compute-intensive science, engineering extreme-scale systems or advancing quantum-ready architecture, SC26 provides unmatched opportunities to learn, collaborate and lead within the global HPC ecosystem.

Carahsoft will be an exhibitor at the SC26, showcasing the latest advancements in quantum computing and HPC solutions from our technology partners, including D-Wave, Quantinuum and IBM. Attendees are encouraged to visit Carahsoft’s exhibit to engage with our quantum-focused partner community, gain hands-on experience and learn how quantum computing technologies are transforming operations and driving breakthroughs across scientific and Public Sector missions.

The quantum era presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant challenges for Government agencies committed to maintaining strategic advantage and protecting sensitive data. The events highlighted above represent the most critical forums for policy dialogue, technical education and cross-sector collaboration as the Public Sector works to operationalize quantum-ready solutions. Whether your agency is just beginning to assess its quantum posture or actively implementing PQC standards, Carahsoft and our trusted partner ecosystem are here to support every stage of that journey.

To learn more or get involved with any of the above events, please contact us at QuantumComputing@carahsoft.com.

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

Top 10 FedRAMP Events for Government in 2026

Posted on by Drew Myklegard

As Federal agencies modernize IT infrastructure through cloud adoption, navigating the FedRAMP authorization process while meeting stringent security standards remains essential. FedRAMP provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring, enabling agencies to adopt cloud technologies with confidence. Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider™, provides expertise and a broad portfolio of FedRAMP-authorized Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), helping both agencies and vendors manage cloud security compliance. Throughout 2026, the FedRAMP community will gather at key events nationwide to discuss evolving requirements, implementation strategies and solutions that accelerate secure cloud modernization. Below are FedRAMP-focused events where Carahsoft and our partners will be present, offering opportunities to connect and explore authorized solutions designed for Federal security needs.

GovRAMP Symposium

March 9, 2026 | Washington, DC | In-Person Event

The GovRAMP Symposium convenes senior Federal, State and Local leaders to explore how secure innovation, policy and procurement intersect to advance trusted modernization across Government agencies. Hosted in partnership with Billington CyberSecurity, the half-day program serves as the opening session of the Billington State and Local Cybersecurity Summit, setting the stage for collaboration and framework harmonization as a national security strategy. Attendees will gain insights from sessions exploring how harmonizing the NIST, FedRAMP and GovRAMP, Department of War (DoW) and other regulatory frameworks can create a secure, interoperable innovation base for artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. The event concludes with a fireside chat held in conjunction with Billington CyberSecurity and a networking reception.

As the Exclusive Government IT Solutions Partner for this event, Carahsoft is committed to supporting agencies navigating the path to FedRAMP and GovRAMP compliance through our extensive portfolio of authorized cloud solutions and trusted technology partners. We are dedicated to connecting Public Sector agencies with the FedRAMP-authorized solution providers and compliance expertise they need to simplify their authorization journey and accelerate secure modernization. Through our deep partner ecosystem and longstanding presence in the FedRAMP marketplace, Carahsoft helps Government leaders identify the right solutions to meet their unique security and operational requirements.

Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit

March 9-11, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event

Billington CyberSecurity is the recognized leader in Federal cybersecurity education events. Following the success of its inaugural State and Local CyberSecurity Summit in 2024, the 3rd Annual Summit will bring together top Federal, State, Local and Tribal Government officials along with industry experts to learn from one another and bolster future defenses. Attendees can expect expert panels examining emerging threats, evolving regulations and best practices for ensuring transparency, trust and resilience across the technology landscape. The event features critical sessions on protecting digital supply chains and navigating cybersecurity for multiple sectors, including healthcare, infrastructure and education.

Carahsoft and NightDragon are proud to co-sponsor the State and Local Billington CyberSecurity Summit, reflecting our ongoing commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity and FedRAMP compliance posture of State and Local agencies across the nation. By co-sponsoring the All-Attendee Reception in the Exhibit Hall on Tuesday, March 10th, we are creating valuable opportunities for Government cybersecurity leaders to connect with Carahsoft’s partner vendors, share compliance challenges and discover solutions designed to meet the rigorous standards of Federal and State security frameworks. Our participation underscores Carahsoft’s dedication to ensuring that State and Local agencies have access to the authorized technologies and trusted partnerships needed to protect critical infrastructure and citizen data against evolving threats.

FedRAMP Community Working Group – Rev5

April 1, 2026 |1:00-2:00pm ET | Virtual Event

Join the FedRAMP Community Working Group (CWG) for updates to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-53, Revision 5 (Rev5) – Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. These public working groups interact primarily through GitHub discussions and are supported by monthly meetings on specific topics. FedRAMP CWG – Rev5 meetings will be held the first Wednesday of every month throughout 2026 and are open to anyone in the community.

Carahsoft supports Federal agencies by leveraging our expertise in Federal cloud security and compliance. Our team helps Federal agencies identify and acquire secure solutions from our portfolio of FedRAMP authorized CSPs. Additionally, Carahsoft provides support for our vendor partners navigating the FedRAMP authorization process, offering guidance on compliance requirements and best practices. These CWG sessions will feature discussions on updates to Rev5, vital information for professionals in the FedRAMP community.

FedRAMP Community Working Group – 20x

April 8, 2026 | 1:00-2:00pm ET | Virtual Event

FedRAMP’s other CWG meeting will focus on the FedRAMP 20x program, a modernization initiative designed to streamline the Federal cloud authorization process through increased automation, reuse and community-driven approaches. The CWG will take place one week after the Phase 2, Cohort 2 FedRAMP 20x application period ends. Participants will learn more about new opportunities and approaches for CSPs when it comes to navigating the authorization process for Government cloud services. These meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month throughout 2026.

As a trusted partner to Government agencies, Carahsoft facilitates access to our extensive network of FedRAMP authorized CSPs while ensuring solutions align with evolving Federal security standards. Utilizing our extensive industry expertise, Carahsoft provides critical insights and resources throughout the authorization journey to streamline the path to FedRAMP compliance. These CWG sessions offer essential updates on program developments, technical requirements and implementation strategies for secure cloud environments.

Cloud Security Summit

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

As Government agencies embrace cloud transformation, the need for secure, compliant and resilient environments has never been greater. The Public Sector Cloud Security Summit brings together Federal leaders and industry experts to share strategies for protecting sensitive data, modernizing cloud architectures and navigating evolving cybersecurity requirements. Attendees will discover practical approaches to FedRAMP modernization, alignment with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, Zero Trust implementation, automated monitoring and managing shared responsibility in multicloud and hybrid environments. Sessions will address strengthening cloud supply chain security through enhanced vendor risk management, software assurance and greater visibility across cloud service providers.

Carahsoft is a tabletop sponsor for the Public Sector Cloud Security Summit and a proud partner of the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC). Our team will be available throughout the event to discuss how our comprehensive portfolio of FedRAMP authorized CSPs can help agencies accelerate secure cloud modernization while maintaining compliance.

DGI Virtual Workshop

May 7, 2026 | 1:00-3:00pm ET | Virtual Event

The Digital Government Institute’s (DGI) virtual workshop, Embracing Private Cloud: A Strategic Shift for Government Agencies, explores how Public Sector IT leaders can leverage private cloud architectures to drive digital transformation and modernize legacy systems. Through expert-led discussions and real-world uses cases, attendees will learn how to enable seamless migration, optimize workloads and build resilient hybrid environments tailored to Government needs. Whether planning a cloud transition or refining an existing deployment, this free workshop provides actionable guidance and best practices for IT leaders, architects and program managers driving innovation in Government.

Carahsoft is partnering with DGI for this event to support Federal cloud security education and compliance initiatives. With an extensive portfolio of FedRAMP authorized solutions, Carahsoft is committed to assisting these educational opportunities that empower Government decision makers to confidently pursue cloud modernization. Our team will be available throughout the event to help connect attendees with the right technology for seamless, secure cloud migration.

Offset Symposium 2026

May 14, 2026 | Washington, DC | In-Person Event

The Offset Symposium, hosted by Second Front, is the premier defense and GovTech event that convenes leaders from Government, the Department of War (DoW) and industry to examine how software-defined capabilities are reshaping national security. Through keynote discussions, expert panels and live technology demonstrations, Offset explores evolving cyber threats, operational challenges and emerging technologies. Sessions emphasize practical lessons learned from real deployments, offering attendees insight into how organizations are overcoming accreditation barriers, integrating commercial technology and delivering capability at scale. The symposium also spotlights FedRAMP and Government cloud compliance, underscoring FedRAMP’s role in enabling secure cloud adoption across the Federal landscape. Offset showcases FedRAMP-compliant solutions, demonstrating how accredited platforms and Development, Security and Operations (DevSecOps) pipelines are being used to deploy resilient, scalable software that supports mission-critical Government operations.

Carahsoft partner Second Front returns with one of the year’s most anticipated events focused on accelerating defense innovation and technology adoption. As a gold sponsor, Carahsoft will showcase our broad portfolio of FedRAMP authorized CSPs and engage with defense decision makers seeking to accelerate cloud modernization while maintaining rigorous security standards. Registration for this event is now open!

GovForward: The ATO and Cloud Security Summit

July 23, 2026 | Washington, DC | In-Person Event

The Authority to Operate (ATO) and Cloud Security Summit is where Government innovation meets cloud security excellence. Our eighth annual forum brings together Federal, State and Local Government leaders, alongside industry experts and solution providers, to address the evolving security, compliance and modernization challenges facing the Public Sector. The Summit offers a collaborative environment for exploring strategies to streamline the ATO process, advance secure cloud adoption and strengthen cybersecurity posture. The program features engaging keynote presentations and interactive panel discussions, designed to provide attendees with actionable insights into the latest policies, technologies and best practices shaping secure cloud adoption across the Public Sector.

Carahsoft is proud to host GovForward: The ATO and Cloud Security Summit for the eighth consecutive year, a testament to our long-standing commitment to advancing secure cloud adoption across the Public Sector. Over the years, this summit has grown into one of the most trusted forms for Federal, State and Local leaders navigating the intersection of cloud modernization and compliance, and 2026 promises to be our most impactful year yet. GovExec is pleased to offer continuing professional education (CPE) credits through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for qualified attendees, providing valuable professional development opportunities. To get a sense of the depth and quality of programming this summit delivers, explore last year’s resources at our resource hub. Vendors interested in sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to contact us at GovForward@Carahsoft.com. Stay tuned for a detailed agenda!

Black Hat USA

August 1-6, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event

Black Hat USA 2026 is the premier global gathering where cybersecurity professionals, researchers and industry leaders come together to learn, share research and help shape the future of information security. The event features a comprehensive program of hands-on trainings, expert briefings and keynote sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore ground-breaking research covering applied security, exploit development, malware analysis and more. Black Hat USA 2026 encourages collaboration, critical thinking and practical skill building, making it an essential event for professionals committed to staying at the forefront of information security.

Carahsoft will be hosting a networking reception at Black Hat USA 2026, providing a great opportunity to connect with Government cloud security professionals, industry peers and FedRAMP experts. Join us for meaningful conversations about the evolution of FedRAMP and explore Carahsoft’s portfolio of secure, compliant cloud technologies. Stop by and speak with our team about the cutting-edge solutions in our portfolio that ensure sensitive Government information is secure.

Billington CyberSecurity Summit

September 8-10, 2026 | Washington, DC | In-Person Tradeshow

The Billington CyberSecurity Summit 2026 is the 17th annual gathering of Government and industry cyber leaders, serving as a premier forum for Federal, State and Local cybersecurity professionals to discuss critical threats, policy developments and defense strategies. This three-day summit brings together thousands of attendees and hundreds of expert speakers across more than 40 sessions and breakout discussions to explore topics like AI integration in cybersecurity, Zero Trust architecture, threat intelligence, operational resilience and emerging defense capabilities. The event offers extensive networking opportunities, solution showcases and deep-dive sessions that address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing the Public Sector. Sessions have not yet been released for 2026, but previous years have covered topics ranging from AI-driven threat detection to securing critical infrastructure and implementing proactive cyber defense strategies.

Carahsoft is committed to supporting DoW and Federal cybersecurity professionals at the Billington Cybersecurity Summit 2026 with a comprehensive resource presence featuring educational materials, expert consultations and technology demonstrations. Our cybersecurity specialists will be available throughout the three-day event to provide guidance on implementing Zero Trust frameworks, securing defense networks, addressing compliance requirements and exploring innovative solutions to combat evolving cyber threats. Visit our space to access resources tailored to DoW cybersecurity challenges, connect with solutions providers who understand defense mission requirements and engage in discussions about strengthening your organization’s cyber resilience and operational readiness.

GovRAMP Cyber Summit

November 15-17, 2026 | San Antonio, TX | In-Person Event

The GovRAMP Cyber Summit brings national thought leaders, cybersecurity practitioners, policymakers and industry experts to address the most pressing security, compliance and modernization challenges facing Government today. Designed as a collaborative forum, the Summit focuses on aligning and operationalizing cybersecurity frameworks, such as FedRAMP, GovRAMP, Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) and more, to help agencies reduce duplication, strengthen compliance and accelerate the secure adoption of cloud and emerging technologies. Through keynote presentations and in-depth discussions, attendees will gain insight into how Government and industry leaders are working to improve reciprocity, streamline authorization processes and balance risk management with operational efficiency. The Summist also features collaborative learning labs on topics such as AI and machine learning (ML), procurement considerations, authorization timelines and available industry tools. By bringing together voices from across Government and the Private Sector, the GovRAMP Cyber Summit empowers participants to advance secure, scalable technology adoption and strengthen cybersecurity outcomes across State and Local Government environments.

Carahsoft will serve as the presenting sponsor of the GovRAMP Cyber Summit. With Carahsoft’s extensive portfolio of both FedRAMP and GovRAMP authorized solutions, we are uniquely positioned to support agencies navigating multi-level cloud security requirements. We look forward to connecting State and Local Government leaders with the industry-leading solutions needed to secure and strengthen their agencies’ environments.

AWS re:Invent

November 30-December 4, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event

Join AWS for a week of innovation, collaboration and global representation at AWS re:Invent, the company’s flagship annual conference that brings together tens of thousands of cloud professionals from around the world, including developers, architects, security leaders and business decision makers. This event serves as the stage for major AWS announcements, offering attendees early insight into the latest advancements across cloud infrastructure, AI and ML, security, compliance, data and application modernization. A series of in-depth technical sessions allows participants to explore through strategic, hands-on learning. AWS re:Invent features high-impact keynotes, targeted breakout sessions and an expansive expo floor, where attendees can engage directly with AWS partners and solution providers.

Carahsoft partner AWS returns with re:Invent, the most impactful cloud computing event of the year. Carahsoft will be hosting a Public Sector networking reception at re:Invent 2026, providing an exclusive opportunity for Government cloud leaders to connect with peers, AWS experts and our network of FedRAMP authorized CSPs. Our team will be present, offering best practices, expert guidance and more!

RAMPCon: Coalfire

Date TBD | Location TBD | In-Person Event

RAMPCon: Coalfire is a two-day, forward-thinking event filled with keynotes, expert panels and candid conversations. Bringing together leaders from Government and industry, the event will examine the evolution of FedRAMP alongside other frameworks such as CMMC and GovRAMP. Attendees will explore the growing role of automation, continuous monitoring and AI-driven security, gaining practical insight into what the next chapter Federal cloud adoption holds, from policy and authorization strategy to operational scale and resilience.

Coalfire, a Carahsoft partner, returns in 2026 with their impactful FedRAMP event RAMPCon. With our FedRAMP expertise, Carahsoft is here to back this essential gathering of the cloud compliance community. Our team will be at the event, connecting Government agencies with the resources and solutions needed for successful FedRAMP authorization.

As cloud technology reshapes Government operations, staying informed on FedRAMP requirements, best practices and authorized solutions is essential to secure, compliant modernization. These events offer valuable opportunities to engage with FedRAMP experts, connect with peers and discover cutting-edge cloud security solutions from authorized providers. Whether you are beginning your FedRAMP authorization, optimizing existing compliance processes or exploring new cloud capabilities, Carahsoft and our portfolio of FedRAMP-authorized CSPs stand ready to support your mission. Join us at these premier 2026 events to gain actionable insights, explore proven compliance strategies and see how Carahsoft can help you achieve secure, efficient cloud adoption that meets the highest Federal security standards.

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events please contact us at FedRAMPMarketing@carahsoft.com.

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry leading partners’ technology, visit our FedRAMP solutions portfolio and FedRAMP events page.

The Year of Expansion for GenAI in Government

Posted on by Mike Adams

Generative AI (GenAI) is entering a pivotal new phase in 2026, marked by rapid advances in accuracy, reliability and mainstream integration. In 2025, GenAI became embedded into our everyday lives – from AI-generated overviews in search engines to classrooms adapting to powerful, readily accessible large language models. At the Federal level, 2025 White House guidance instructs agencies to push forward with AI infrastructure, building secure data centers to support the compute necessary in implementing innovative, American-built AI into our most vital missions.

GenAI’s unique content generation capabilities can be used to increase efficiency and productivity in our US Government agencies in the form of chatbots, text-to-speech audio generation, AI task managers, coding assistance and other Natural Language Processing (NLP) models. With the rising momentum created by America’s AI Action Plan and increased budgets for AI in areas such as the Department of War (DoW) and Veteran Affairs (VA), 2026 is the year of expansion for GenAI.

Augmenting Agencies in Task Execution

In Government agencies, GenAI commonly removes routing and repetitive workflows, freeing up users to focus on strategic tasks. GenAI works best in mission-support roles, supplementing human roles by improving written communication, increasing the efficiency of accessing information, enabling program status tracking and more. Personalized learning paths and AI assistants can augment current roles.

There are various use cases for GenAI. Program-specific examples include:

Defense
- The DoW has deployed GenAI.mil – a secure, bespoke platform that leverages generative AI to enhance efficiency, speed and operational effectiveness in our most critical defense and national security missions.
FEMA & NOAA
- In inclement situations, GenAI has been used to perform tasks like weather [CA1] and disaster prediction and response. Some GenAI models have even been more accurate than traditional deterministic models, suggesting GenAI has a strong use case in research and science.
GSA
- GSI has launched USAi, a secure GenAI evaluation suite that has helped employees draft emails, generate code and summarize documents.
The Department of Veterans Affairs
- GenAI has been used to automate various medical imaging processes to enhance veterans’ diagnostic services.
Healthcare & Department of Health and Human Services
- Generative AI has enabled healthcare systems to enhance medical images, generate molecular structures for potential drugs and create realistic patient data for AI training.
- To support containment of the poliovirus, the Department of Health and Human Services initiated an effort to use GenAI to extract information from publications and identify outbreaks in areas previously thought to be polio-free.

Procurement of GenAI solutions is being simplified and expedited by the Federal Government, increasing agencies’ ability to use innovative solutions to solve complex problems. GSA’s OneGov strategy delivers generative AI to the government by removing a major barrier to AI adoption: cost. Through the OneGov agreements, popular GenAI solutions are available for $1, and agencies are given the opportunity to experiment with AI and see what works best for their specific use cases. This strategy aligns with America’s broader AI policy framework – allowing agencies to take advantage of the speed, automation and modernization capabilities provided by AI. Carahsoft’s dedicated OneGov page serves as a centralized resource for determining product availability and identifying procurement pathways.

Federal Guidance for AI Usage

GenAI is already being used successfully in the US Government, and recent Federal guidance cements AI’s place in Government operations. 2025 executive orders (EO’s), such as “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence” pave the way for increased usage of the technology. See below for an overview of relevant generative AI-focused memos and EO’s released in the last few months.

Launching the Genesis Mission – November 24, 2025

The Genesis Mission establishes AI at the forefront of scientific and economic growth and calls for an integrated platform to enable AI-automated research and discovery. The next wave of federal AI will prioritize scalable compute orchestration, secure model training environments, hypothesis-testing AI agents, supply-chain rigor, and measurable national return on investment that will be evaluated by acceleration in discovery velocity, compressed innovation cycles, and compounding mission impact – not extended pilots.

Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, December 11, 2025

This EO adds on to previously established framework by ensuring state-by-state regulatory laws do not act as barriers to fast AI adoption, and that ideological bias is not embedded into AI tools used within each state. By creating a unified framework, America will become the winner of the AI race.

M-26-04: Increasing Public Trust in AI Through Unbiased AI Principles, December 11, 2025

In response to Executive Order 14319, OMB released M-26-04 which establishes principles for unbiased AI: that it is truth-seeking, and that it is ideologically neutral. All LLM’s procured by a government agency must abide by the unbiased AI requirements established in this memo.

Transforming the Defense Innovation Ecosystem to Accelerate Warfighting Advantage, January 9, 2026

This DoW memo formalizes AI as a core warfighting capability across DoW operations and streamlines integration and acceleration of adoption.

War Department’s AI Acceleration Strategy to Secure American Military AI Dominance, January 11, 2026

The DoW’s January 2026 memo outlines their AI dominance strategy. It calls for establishing an AI-first warfighting force – echoing earlier EOs and removing barriers that would hinder adopting practical, mission-first AI solutions for DoW. It highlights the previously mentioned GenAI.mil program that provides direct access to leading GenAI solutions for the DoW, enhancing speed and ease of AI adoption.

Department of War’s Arsenal of Freedom Tour, January 2026

A new “AI Swat Team,” led by the CDAO, is charged with removing barriers and increasing data sharing to speed up AI deployment. The DoW’s AI strategy, and the SWAT team enforcing it, shows that their measure of AI success is how fast usable data reaches operational systems. Organizations that improve data access, quality, and interoperability will be able to maintain strategic advantage.

Recent guidance establishes a framework for AI adoption and usage, enabling fast, common-sense deployment to ensure America wins the AI race. While agencies are encouraged to push forward, they must maintain the highest levels of security.

Building the Foundation for Successful Generative AI in Government

As Generative AI moves beyond pilot programs and into operational use, agencies must ensure these systems meet the established requirements for security, reliability and data protection. GenAI is dynamically generating content, so it must be deployed within secure environments where sensitive information remains protected and outputs are grounded in trusted data sources. Federal guidance emphasizes strong governance, secure infrastructure and validation mechanisms to ensure AI-generated outputs remain accurate and mission-relevant. With these controls in place, agencies can scale Generative AI to support mission execution while maintaining full confidence in the integrity of their systems and data.

Current Federal recommendations include utilizing and onboarding:

Risk management solutions
On-prem and cloud data security
Impact Level (IL) 5 and 6 security standards for mission-critical or classified information
Air gapping, which physically isolates computer systems and networks to avoid breaches
Model Context Protocol (MCP), the universal open standard for connecting AI applications to external systems
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), the foremost security strategy that verifies the identity of end users as they access the network
Data governance for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), which enables content filtering and identity validation

Agencies are strongly encouraged to draw on guidance from reputable experts, including the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), whose AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) offers a proven foundation for responsible adoption. In addition to technical protocols, it is helpful to keep a human in the loop to audit and observe GenAI output, minimizing chatbot errors. Cybersecurity considerations, including data poisoning, data leakage and hallucinations, must be actively monitored to ensure models operate safely and consistently across Government missions.

Keeping security at the forefront is vital for GenAI’s success in Government. With thoughtful governance and strong safeguards, GenAI can advance agency missions without compromising security. The stakes are high, but so is the opportunity.

As The Trusted IT Solutions Provider for Government™, Carahsoft offers a comprehensive portfolio of AI and GenAI solutions designed to meet the unique security, compliance and operational requirements of Federal, State and Local Government agencies. From secure on-premises deployments to cloud-based platforms that meet Impact Level 5 and 6 standards, Carahsoft’s technology partners deliver the tools agencies need to implement AI responsibly and effectively.

Visit Carahsoft’s AI Solutions portfolio to explore GenAI platforms, risk management frameworks and Zero Trust security solutions that align with Federal guidance and support mission-critical operations.

Explore OneGov offerings available through Carahsoft.

Contact Carahsoft’s AI team to discuss how GenAI can transform your agency’s workflows while maintaining the highest security standards.

The Top 5 Insights from AFCEA West 2026

Posted on by Mike McCalip

Naval leaders gathered at Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) West Conference delivered a clear message: the sea services are undergoing their most significant transformation in decades to meet an increasingly complex threat environment. Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) emphasis on achieving 80% combat surge readiness to the Marine Corps’ accelerated force design modernization, the discussions revealed the Navy and Marine Corps are fundamentally rethinking how they train, equip and fight as an integrated force.

The conversations that unfolded across multiple panel sessions painted a comprehensive picture of both the challenges facing the sea services and the innovative solutions being implemented to address them, from generating readiness across all domains to resourcing maritime dominance and integrating emerging technologies.

Here are the five key insights that will guide the future of maritime superiority.

1. Achieving 80% Combat Surge Readiness Requires Foundational Investment in People and Platforms

The CNO established “80% combat surge ready” as the target resiliency metric. This threshold is designed to ensure the Navy can execute and provide desired outcomes during relative peace while maintaining capacity to surge when needed. In the panel titled “Generating Readiness Across All Domains,” Commander Naval Surface Forces Vice Admiral Brendan McLean spoke with several naval leaders and emphasized that if the fleet struggles now during peacetime operations, the challenges will become insurmountable when conflict begins.

This combat surge readiness target represents more than a numerical goal; it reflects a fundamental shift in how the Navy approaches fleet generation. The foundry concept places Sailors first, recognizing that the most important weapon system remains the individual Sailor or Marine and their ingenuity, toughness and capabilities. Training must focus on developing mastery and self-sustainment rather than simply checking qualification boxes – we must train like we’re going to fight.

Achieving this readiness level demands addressing critical infrastructure challenges, particularly in maintenance and sustainment. Supply chain effectiveness emerged as another critical factor. Submarine forces, for example, have driven gross effectiveness and net effectiveness metrics up 40% in two years by improving configuration change processes, conducting enhanced audits and working with Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) to overcome bureaucratic barriers.

2. Force Design Modernization Accelerates Lethal Capabilities to the Tactical Edge

Force design represents a fundamental rethinking of Marine formations and employment concepts. The Marine Littoral Regiments (MLR) and Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) are designed as inherently dispersed, mobile units with lower signatures that complicate adversary targeting. These formations create hard-to-hit postures that enable forces to persist in contested environments, strengthening the entire naval force.

Force design remains a journey rather than a destination, characterized by continuous learning and adaptation. Marine Corps leaders described how early force design decisions around infantry battalions have evolved through experimentation and wargaming, building resiliency back into formations while incorporating small unmanned aerial systems and other emerging technologies. The ability to operate from austere locations ashore through Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) supports Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) by creating multiple dilemmas for adversaries unsure of where the next threat will emerge.

3. Information Dominance Powers Decision Advantage in Contested Environments

Information warfare capabilities and the ability to make decisions faster than adversaries define success in contested maritime operations. As information warfare leaders emphasized, the side that wins is the side able to decide and act fastest, and the commander who generates and maintains tempo puts the adversary on the defensive. The Maritime Operations Center (MOC) emerged as a critical node for generating this decision advantage. With responsibility for battlespace awareness, integrated fires and assured Command and Control (C2), MOCs are evolving beyond traditional command centers to become dynamic fusion centers that leverage multiple sensors, shooters and C2 nodes across all domains.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how information flows into operational decisions. Leaders described AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a battle partner that curates vast amounts of data and presents options to decision makers. Technology experts such as Alteryx, CrowdStrike, Quantum and RegScale understand that the most valuable contribution of AI to defense will be to help human beings make better, faster and more precise decisions, especially in combat, where decision makers often face overwhelming volumes of conflicting data.

Building information dominance requires cultural transformation around information sharing. Leaders acknowledged the tension between traditional need-to-know restrictions and the imperative to create truly data-centric environments where information flows seamlessly to support distributed operations. The challenge extends beyond technology to include standards, governance and trust frameworks that enable sharing intelligence and operations synchronization in real time across services, combatant commands and coalition partners.

4. Distributed Maritime Operations Demands Seamless Blue-Green Integration

The integration of Navy and Marine Corps forces for DMOs represents the operational approach designed to counter adversary anti-access and area denial strategies in contested environments. As fleet commanders emphasized, this integration creates exponential expansion in capability rather than simple force multiplication.

One Marine Expeditionary Force’s (MEF) integration with Third Fleet demonstrates how this concept translates to operational reality. The ability to operate small, dispersed and mobile formations from austere locations ashore forces adversaries into complex dilemmas. Additionally, Marine aviation provides critical enabling functions that tie distributed operations together, such as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, aviation ground support and more.

Training infrastructure must evolve to support this level of integration. The Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) now conducts Information Warfare Advanced Team Training integrated with Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWAT) events, bringing Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTI) together with Strike Warfare teams to refine tactics, techniques and procedures based on operational lessons learned.

5. Industry Partnership at Speed Accelerates Innovation to Operational Forces

The Red Sea operations demonstrated how Government, industry and laboratory partnerships operating at unprecedented speed can deliver operational advantage. What previously required a month to analyze engagement data, develop software updates and deploy improvements to ships was compressed to two days.

Naval leaders issued clear guidance to industry on critical capability gaps. Obsolescence management emerged as a priority challenge, and industry partners who must maintain expertise will be critical. Open architecture and intellectual property access would enable faster adaptation to provide products when and where needed without waiting for single suppliers.

The newly established Naval Rapid Capabilities Office (NRCO) demonstrates institutional commitment to accelerating innovation. Within three months of establishment, the office has inducted six to seven systems. The process emphasizes demoing and testing rather than lengthy development cycles and getting capabilities into operator hands for evaluation before scaling production.

Carahsoft, The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider™ excels at achieving rapid delivery through our partner vendors. We connect naval commands with industry partners specializing in open architecture systems, AI-driven analytics, cybersecurity solutions and emerging technologies that address critical capability gaps. Our established contract vehicles streamline procurement timelines, enabling defense organizations to move from requirement identification to deployment at the speed operations demand to support mission-critical modernization efforts.

Charting the Course for Maritime Dominance

AFCEA West 2026 reinforced that sustained maritime dominance requires synchronized progress across people, platforms, concepts and partnerships. The Navy and Marine Corps are not simply acquiring new technologies; they are fundamentally transforming how they organize, train and fight as an integrated naval force prepared for high-end conflict.

The 80% combat surge readiness target, accelerated force design fielding, information warfare integration, distributed maritime operations and industry collaboration at speed represent interconnected elements of a comprehensive modernization strategy. Success depends on maintaining focus on foundational capabilities, such as trained Sailors and Marines, maintained platforms, resilient networks and proven tactics, while rapidly integrating emerging technologies that provide decision advantage.

As Carahsoft, The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider™, continues supporting defense modernization, the insights from AFCEA West 2026 inform how industry can best partner with the sea services to deliver the capabilities required for maritime superiority in an era of great power competition.

Explore Carahsoft’s Defense Technology portfolio of leading solutions that support naval modernization priorities including AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and advanced analytics.

Contact us at (888) 662-2724 or NavyInc@carahsoft.com to discuss how Carahsoft’s technology partners can support your mission requirements.

Top 10 DoW Events for Government in 2026

Posted on by Mike McCalip

As the Department of War (DoW) navigates an increasingly complex threat landscape, staying at the forefront of technological innovation and strategic collaboration is mission critical. In 2026, DoW stakeholders will have several opportunities to engage with senior military leaders, explore defense technologies and strengthen partnerships across the defense and Intelligence Communities (ICs). Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, has deep expertise supporting the DoW through our extensive portfolio of cybersecurity, cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and mission-focused solutions. Below are the top DoW events where Carahsoft and our partners will be advancing defense innovation and operational readiness.

Sea-Air-Space

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

Sea-Air-Space 2026 is the premier global maritime exposition hosted by the Navy League of the United States at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. It brings together senior military leaders, Government officials, defense industry executives and technology innovators to explore the latest advancements in maritime and naval security, operations and technology. The event features extensive exhibit halls, keynote speakers, expert panels, networking opportunities and discussions on integrated approaches to maritime defense and emerging threats.

Sessions to look out for:

Multi-Domain Integration and Naval Expansion in the Space Age

From Concept to Capability: Aligning Autonomy Across our Maritime Forces

Sea Power and National Defense: Naval and Coast Guard Readiness

Throughout the three-day exhibit, Carahsoft is dedicated to supporting maritime and naval professionals with 48 live vendor demonstrations showcasing real-world use cases and defense solutions. Our team of defense technology experts will be on-site to provide personalized consultations, answer questions about procurement pathways and connect you with solutions that address your specific operational requirements. Stop by to explore how our partners’ innovations can enhance mission readiness across the sea services.

Modern Day Marine

April 28-30, 2026 | Washington, DC | In-Person Event

Modern Day Marine 2026 is the largest military equipment, systems, services and technology exposition uniquely focused on supporting the U.S. Marine Corps, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. It brings together Marines, DoW leaders, industry partners and authorized Government representatives to explore warfighting innovations, interactive exhibits and demonstrations. The event features more than 350 exhibitors, expert briefings, live technology showcases and specialized activities like the OBJ1 Wargaming Convention and themed zones highlighting emerging capabilities.

Sessions to look out for:

Logistics Command Artificial Intelligence Symposium

Ground Systems Enterprise Senior Leader Symposium

Carahsoft is proud to support the Marine Corps community at Modern Day Marine 2026 with engaging live demonstrations of mission-critical technologies designed to enhance warfighting capabilities. Our team will provide Marines and DoW leaders with expert guidance on innovative solutions in AI, cybersecurity, logistics automation and battlefield communications. Visit our space to experience firsthand how these technologies can strengthen operational effectiveness and connect with our specialists who understand the unique challenges facing the Marine Corps today.

GEOINT Symposium

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

The Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Symposium 2026 is the nation’s largest gathering of GEOINT professionals, organized by the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado. It brings together Government, military, industry and academic leaders to explore how GEOINT technologies and partnerships are shaping national security, defense and global decision-making. The event features main-stage sessions, panel discussions, an expansive exhibit hall, networking receptions and opportunities to engage with emerging innovations across land, sea, air, cyberspace and space domains. GEOINT Symposium serves as a key forum for collaboration, professional development and advancing the role of GEOINT in addressing complex geopolitical and security challenges.

Carahsoft is committed to advancing GEOINT capabilities for the defense and intelligence communities at GEOINT Symposium 2026. Our live demonstrations will highlight cutting-edge solutions in geospatial analytics, AI-powered intelligence platforms and secure data integration designed specifically for GEOINT professionals. Connect with our team of specialists who bring deep expertise in supporting Government geospatial missions and can provide tailored guidance on implementing technologies that enhance decision-making across all operational domains.

SOF Week

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

Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2026 is the premier annual international conference and exposition for the SOF community in Tampa, Florida. Jointly sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation, it brings together special operators, defense industry leaders, Government officials and global partners to connect, share insights and advance capabilities relevant to modern special operations missions. The event features keynote sessions, professional development panels, extensive exhibition halls, live demonstrations and networking opportunities that foster collaboration.

Carahsoft is honored to support the Special Operations Forces community at SOF Week 2026 through our partner pavilion showcasing innovative, mission-ready solutions tailored to the unique requirements of SOF operations. Our presence provides special operators and defense professionals with direct access to advanced technologies in secure communications, tactical AI applications, cyber capabilities and specialized equipment. Our dedicated SOF solutions team will be available throughout the event to provide consultations, demonstrate how these technologies perform in challenging operational environments and discuss procurement pathways that support rapid capability delivery to warfighters.

TechNet Cyber

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

TechNet Cyber 2026 is a flagship three-day cyber defense conference and exposition hosted by AFCEA International at the Baltimore Convention Center. It brings together U.S. Government and military cyber professionals, industry leaders and academic experts to address pressing cybersecurity challenges, emerging threats, policy, operations and technology integration in the contested cyberspace domain. The event features keynote addresses, panel discussions and an extensive exhibit hall where participants can explore innovative solutions and tools designed to strengthen secure, resilient cyber operations across defense and national security missions.

Carahsoft is dedicated to supporting military and Government cyber professionals at TechNet Cyber 2026 through our partner pavilion featuring innovative cyber defense solutions addressing the most pressing threats facing DoW networks. Our cybersecurity specialists will provide personalized consultations on Zero Trust Architecture, AI-powered threat detection, secure cloud operations and compliance frameworks essential to defending critical information systems. Visit our pavilion to explore technologies proven in Government environments, engage with experts who understand DoW cybersecurity requirements and discover resources that can strengthen your organization’s cyber resilience.

TechNet Augusta

August 17-20, 2026 | Augusta, GA | In-Person Event

TechNet Augusta 2026 is a regional defense and cybersecurity conference and expo hosted by AFCEA International in Augusta, Georgia. It brings together military, Government and industry professionals, especially those involved with Army cyber operations and unified land operations, to share insights, collaborate on cyber electromagnetic activities and discuss emerging challenges in the cyber domain. The event features educational sessions, networking opportunities and exhibits aimed at fostering communication, problem solving and innovation between the military and the commercial sector.

Carahsoft is committed to supporting Army cyber operations and unified land operations professionals at TechNet Augusta 2026. Our booth will feature live demonstrations of cyber and IT solutions specifically designed to address the challenges of cyber electromagnetic activities and defensive cyber operations. Connect with our team of Army-focused technology specialists who can provide expert guidance on implementing solutions that enhance tactical network security, improve cyber situational awareness and accelerate digital transformation initiatives across Army installations and mission systems.

TechNet Indo-Pacific

October 27-29, 2026 | Honolulu, HI | In-Person Event

TechNet Indo-Pacific 2026 is a major strategic defense conference and exposition in Honolulu, Hawaii, co-sponsored by AFCEA International and AFCEA Hawaii. It is the largest event of its kind in the Indo-Pacific Rim, bringing together military, Government, industry and academic leaders to address evolving regional security challenges, defense policy and operational readiness specific to the Indo-Pacific theater. The symposium features keynote speakers, panel discussions, professional sessions and an expansive exhibit hall where organizations showcase technologies and solutions to support secure, resilient communications and multi-domain capabilities.

Carahsoft is dedicated to supporting defense and Government professionals addressing Indo-Pacific security challenges at TechNet Indo-Pacific 2026. Our booth will serve as a resource hub featuring vendor collateral, expert consultation and technology resources tailored to the unique operational requirements of the Indo-Pacific theater. Our regional specialists understand the specific communications, cybersecurity and multi-domain integration needs facing military and Government leaders in this critical area of operations and will be available to discuss solutions that enhance interoperability, strengthen partnerships and support strategic readiness across the region.

Alamo Cybersecurity Exposition (ACE)

December 7-10, 2026 | San Antonio, TX | In-Person Event

ACE 2026 is the annual conference and exposition hosted by the Alamo Chapter of AFCEA at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. It draws military, Government and defense industry professionals together to discuss cybersecurity, Information Technology (IT) and multi-domain operations, featuring expert panels, keynote speakers, acquisition updates and an expanded cybersecurity expo. The event also includes professional development opportunities, networking and events supporting charitable causes like golf tournaments benefiting military families.

Carahsoft is committed to supporting defense IT and cybersecurity professionals at Alamo ACE 2026. Our booth will provide attendees with access to expert consultations, educational resources and technology demonstrations addressing critical challenges in enterprise IT resilience, secure software delivery and multi-domain operations. Our team brings extensive experience supporting defense acquisition programs and can provide guidance on procurement strategies, contract vehicles and solution implementation tailored to your organization’s specific mission requirements and security objectives.

DoDIIS Worldwide Conference

August 9-12, 2026 | Tampa, FL | In-Person Event

The Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) Worldwide Conference 2026 is the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) premier information technology and intelligence systems event, bringing together senior decision makers, technical experts and stakeholders from the DoW, the IC, industry, academia and allied partners to collaborate on mission-critical technology solutions. It serves as a forum to share insights on data integration, IT modernization, secure information systems and innovations that support intelligence and warfighter missions. The immersive in-person conference features distinguished speakers, expert panels, networking opportunities and showcases of technical solutions designed to enhance decision-making and operational effectiveness. DoDIIS plays a key role in fostering partnerships and advancing capabilities across the defense and intelligence ecosystems.

Carahsoft is honored to support the defense and intelligence communities at DoDIIS 2026 through our dynamic partner pavilion featuring cutting-edge technologies designed to advance mission success across the DoW and IC. Our team of intelligence solutions specialists will be available to provide personalized consultations on data integration platforms, IT modernization strategies, secure information sharing capabilities and analytics tools essential to supporting intelligence and warfighter missions. Visit our pavilion to explore proven solutions, engage in meaningful discussions about your organization’s technology challenges and connect with resources that can enhance decision-making, operational effectiveness and mission outcomes across the defense and intelligence ecosystems. Check out the agenda here.

Billington CyberSecurity Summit

September 8-10, 2026 | Washington, DC | In-Person Tradeshow

From maritime operations and SOF to cyber defense and GEOINT, these 2026 events provide essential opportunities for DoW stakeholders to explore innovative solutions, connect with industry leaders and strengthen partnerships across the defense ecosystem. Each gathering addresses the most pressing challenges facing the DoW, offering hands-on demonstrations, expert insights and valuable discussions that drive operational readiness and mission success. Carahsoft is proud to support these critical initiatives through our presence at each event and our extensive portfolio of defense-focused partners and solutions.

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

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry-leading DoW technology partners’ events, visit our DoW Solutions Portfolio.

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

Posted on by Garrett Lee

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.

From Compliance to Capability: Key Insights from CS5 CMMC Global Conference 2025

Posted on by Alex Whitworth

The CS5 CMMC Global Conference 2025, the official conference of The Cyber AB, brought together more than 1,000 senior leaders from the Department of War (DOW), the Cyber AB, Federal agencies and the broader Defense Industrial Base (DIB) in Washington, D.C. The conference served as the essential gathering for defense contractors and DIB suppliers to chart the next phase of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) implementation, cyber resilience and supply chain security. Speakers explored key themes, including:

CMMC’s Next Phase: Turning Compliance into Capability and Defending the Digital Nation
AI-Driven Compliance
Driving Operational Excellence through Documentation
Combat Readiness: Scaling Across the Defense Ecosystem
Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience

CMMC’s Next Phase

Turning Compliance into Capability

CMMC’s next phase represents precision in action and marks a national shift from policy compliance to operational defense. The United States now views information security as a foundational element of national defense. Safeguarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), whether technical information, operational intelligence or logistical data, is inseparable from mission readiness and warfighter support. The DIB now operates as the digital frontline of national security, where compliance is no longer optional but an essential layer of protection.

Defending the Digital Nation

Contractors demonstrate that they not only meet Federal requirements but also actively share the responsibility of defending the nation’s digital infrastructure. CMMC represents both a compliance framework and a patriotic commitment to protecting critical information, ensuring that data remains secure in an era where proximity to the battlefield no longer determines risk.

AI-Driven Compliance

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the CMMC landscape by acting as a force multiplier for speed, accuracy and operational efficiency. Across the Defense Industrial Base, AI-enabled tools are drafting policies, tagging evidence, detecting anomalies and summarizing documentation that once required extensive manual effort. Large language models (LLMs) can rapidly produce preliminary content that validates cybersecurity readiness and synthesizes complex data, enabling DIB contractors to prepare security readiness at scale. Speakers emphasized the need for human oversight to ensure that AI-generated output is validated and aligned with compliance integrity, as automation without governance creates new vulnerabilities. In practice, organizations should leverage AI to enhance efficiency and maintain traceable audit trails, while reserving decision-making, evidence validation and risk assessment for qualified staff.

When implemented responsibly, AI enables a balanced model of collaboration between human expertise and machine efficiency, accelerating readiness without compromising accountability or security.

Driving Operational Excellence through Documentation

Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) platforms serve as key accelerators by automating version controls, maintaining audit trails, centralizing repositories and linking policies directly to evidence. Updating documentation frequently ensures team alignment and simplifies compliance upkeep as levels role out and evaluations are conducted. Embedding documentation into corporate culture ensures long-term sustainability and empowers teams to focus on meaningful security efforts rather than reactive updates.

Best Practices:

Automate version controls and standardizes templates to ensure consistency
Use GRC systems to consolidate documentation and eliminate silos
Treat documentation as continuous validation: write it, organize it and prove it
Integrate compliance reviews into routine workflows to sustain readiness and confidence

Combat Readiness: Scaling Across the Defense Ecosystem

The official enforcement of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations on November 10, 2025, will operationalize CMMC as a mandatory requirement for Federal contracts, transforming cybersecurity from a best practice into an enforceable procurement standard across the DIB.

As CMMC Phase 1 begins, compliance must be achievable and affordable, particularly for small and mid-sized contractors that anchor the defense supply chain. Organizations should use this time to budget to train and develop strategies for compliance, leveraging hyperscalers and automation to accelerate readiness. Speakers emphasized that scalable readiness, supported by harmonized frameworks and the reduction of overlapping requirements, is critical to sustaining momentum toward full certification.

Early preparation is essential, as a limited number of assessors may create scheduling delays once enforcement expands. Companies that act now by documenting, training and aligning their operations with Federal standards will not only meet compliance expectations but also reinforce their resilience, competitiveness and commitment to securing the nation’s defense ecosystem.

Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience

High-profile cyber intrusions reaffirmed a simple truth: supply chain security is the foundation of national security. Every organization must know what it protects, how it protects it and how that protection is verified through certification. Compliance is no longer just a cost of doing business; it is both a competitive advantage and a national defense imperative. Contractors should prepare their teams to understand eligibility requirements, strengthen internal controls and treat certification as an investment in long-term success. By embedding compliance into corporate culture and operational workflows, companies not only safeguard data but also enhance brand credibility, reduce systemic risk and ensure continuity of operations across the DIB.

Each contractor that fortifies its cyber posture strengthens the resilience of the entire supply chain because securing the DIB is securing the nation.

How Carahsoft Can Help

Whether your organization is preparing for its first CMMC assessment or advancing its cybersecurity maturity, there are continuous opportunities to strengthen readiness and collaboration across the Defense Industrial Base.

Explore CMMC Resources

Visit Carahsoft’s CMMC page to access compliance guides, vendor solutions and educational content designed to support Defense Industrial Base organizations at every maturity level. From understanding capability domains to preparing for assessments, our resources help organizations make informed decisions throughout their CMMC journey.

Download our comprehensive Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Framework Guide to understand the requirements, assessment processes and best practices for achieving CMMC compliance across all maturity levels.

Connect with CMMC Experts

Gaining CMMC compliance can be a complex and time-consuming process, but Carahsoft can guide your organization through every stage. Partnered with more than 200 cybersecurity vendors, Carahsoft connects DIB organizations with the right technologies, service providers and experts to address every maturity level and capability domain.

Contact the Carahsoft Team at (888) 662-2724 or CMMC@carahsoft.com to discuss your organization’s specific compliance needs and discover tailored solutions from our network of cybersecurity partners.

Attend Upcoming CMMC Events

Stay informed on the latest CMMC developments through Carahsoft-hosted workshops, webinars and training sessions. Through our network of partners, policy insights and educational events, Carahsoft helps organizations advance their cybersecurity maturity and meet evolving compliance requirements. Register to receive updates on upcoming CMMC-focused events and training opportunities.

Identity is The Backbone of Secure, Agile DoW Missions

Posted on by Frank Briguglio

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.