GovExec

Today’s public sector cybersecurity landscape is defined by rapid change, rising risk, and mounting resource constraints. The nation's top cyber and IT leaders will share real-world solutions for breaking through complexity, closing security gaps, and enabling mission success—faster at The Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit.

Rooted in the belief that nothing should stand in the way of making government secure, this summit brings together experts in identity, AI, and modern cyber infrastructure to discuss how federal agencies can move beyond compliance to truly operationalize security. Backed by Optiv + ClearShark—the unique combination of the nation’s largest pure-play cybersecurity company and the federal government’s top cybersecurity and IT solutions provider—the solutions we’ll discuss are proven, mission-aligned, and engineered to deploy in the most sensitive of customer environments.

This event will explore practical strategies for integrating identity protection, operationalizing data and AI security, and accelerating security operations infrastructure to operate at machine speed. It will feature keynote addresses, fireside conversations, and expert insights from technology leaders across the government and public sectors.

Join us for clear-eyed discussions and high-impact networking with the country’s top tech innovators.    

Illumio Public Sector Summit is a half-day executive program designed for federal, state, and local cyber and IT leaders tasked with operationalizing Zero Trust in mission-critical environments. As adversaries move faster and mandates increase, agencies must shift from prevention-only strategies to approaches that assume breach and prioritize containment.

The program opens with a keynote from John Kindervag, Illumio Evangelist and the godfather of Zero Trust, who will frame today’s cyber battlefield and what it means to “win the cyber war.” Through fireside chats, panels, and interviews, attendees will hear directly from DoD, federal civilian, and state and local organizations, as well as federal systems integrators, on how they are using visibility and segmentation to limit breach impact, meet Zero Trust and compliance objectives, and maintain operational continuity.

Attendees will leave with practical insight into how Illumio enables Zero Trust outcomes—containing attacks, protecting high-value assets, and keeping the mission moving forward.

In today’s era of rising citizen expectations, expanding cyber threats, and increasingly complex mandates, government agencies must not only modernize — they must do so with purpose, agility, and vision. Welcome to AI-powered public sector transformation, where every agency touchpoint is smarter, every service is faster, and every system is built for resilience. 

At the OpenText Government Summit, we’ll explore how public sector leaders are streamlining digital operations, harnessing AI, and designing future-ready platforms enabled under a single provider. From achieving compliance with executive orders and security mandates to building seamless citizen experiences, discover how a unified cloud and information management strategy can simplify your tech stack and accelerate your mission. 

Join us to examine what’s next for digital government. You’ll gain first-hand insights from the country’s foremost experts on:

• Implementing Zero Trust cybersecurity and securing software supply chains
• Leveraging FedRAMP-authorized platforms to speed cloud migration
• Operationalizing AI and agentic automation for case management, contracts, and analytics
• Eliminating backlogs and enabling total citizen experiences across devices and languages
• Future-proofing legacy systems with low-code tools and modular modernization strategies

This is your opportunity to see how the future of government is being built — and how it’s being led with next-gen workforce and technological capabilities.

Okta's Gov Identity Summit is returning to Washington, DC this year on April 21st, bringing public sector security leaders together to shape the future of identity-driven resilience across defense systems and the digital workforce.

Discover how Okta’s identity security fabric enables high-assurance security, modern service delivery, and AI-ready governance. Learn how to embed phishing-resistant MFA, continuous threat protection, and foundational identity controls directly into your security operations so your agency can move faster, safer, and with confidence.

Attend this one-day event to:

• Explore the technical blueprints for achieving high-assurance operations, supporting policy enforcement across cloud, on-prem, and edge use cases.
• Gain deep, practical insights into modern Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM).
• Learn new approaches designed to bolster our nation’s cyber posture and improve public services.
• Share and learn from your peers building similar apps and policies, at scale, securing the nation's digital workforce, service delivery, and supply chain against evolving threats.

Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of this full day of learning, networking, and collaboration with top professionals in the field.

Attendance is free, but space is limited, so secure your spot today!

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and attack surfaces continue to expand, public sector organizations are being asked to protect critical missions in an environment defined by constant change. Federal leaders are navigating a delicate balance, meeting compliance mandates while managing real-world risk, modernizing legacy systems, expanding cloud and hybrid environments, and advancing Zero Trust, all without slowing the mission. At the same time, agencies are exploring how artificial intelligence and autonomous capabilities can strengthen cyber defense while maintaining governance, public trust, and mission assurance. These decisions are unfolding as the pace of threats accelerates, complexity increases, and operational demands remain relentless.

ROCon: Public Sector brings senior federal and defense leaders together for a practitioner-led forum focused on operationalizing cyber risk management in support of mission success. The discussions center on how agencies are moving beyond static security models and compliance-heavy checklists toward continuous, risk-driven operations that evolve with the threat landscape. Public sector leaders will offer a candid look at how federal organizations are strengthening cyber resilience, aligning technical risk with business and mission outcomes, and building a more adaptable foundation for the future of public sector cyber operations.

Key themes include:

• Modernizing Governance: Rethinking authorization, continuous monitoring, and automated compliance to better align security with mission demands.
• Operationalizing Zero Trust: Advancing identity-centric security across diverse, hybrid mission environments.
• Applying AI with Intent: Using automation and autonomous capabilities to accelerate detection and response while preserving oversight and accountability.
• Simplifying the Attack Surface: Reducing technical debt and complexity to focus resources on protecting what matters most.

In an era where cyber threats evolve at lightning speed, the public sector stands at a crossroads. Traditional security models, once deemed sufficient, now falter against sophisticated attacks targeting dispersed networks and cloud infrastructures. The 2026 Engage Public Sector Summit emerges as a pivotal gathering for visionaries committed to redefining government cybersecurity.

This summit will spotlight the transformative potential of integrated technologies such as Hybrid Mesh Firewalls and AI-driven email security. Participants will delve into strategies that prioritize agility, proactive defense, and unified management, moving beyond outdated frameworks. Join us to explore how these innovations can fortify the digital future of public services.

Stay for the networking reception in the expo area, where we'll host a fun Meet-and-Greet with a Washington Legend. It's the perfect way to wrap up the day, connect, and enjoy the experience.

Governments are redefining their service delivery and the customer experience through precision, performance, and AI-driven innovation. As agencies continue to improve services and optimize internal operations, the focus has shifted from defining CX to operationalizing it across every mission area.

This year’s Carahsoft GovExperience Summit: Advancing Government Service Delivery & CX will explore how artificial intelligence, automation, and data intelligence are transforming government service delivery, from citizen engagement to workforce optimization. Leaders from federal, defense, and state and local agencies will share how they’re using emerging technologies to improve responsiveness, strengthen trust, and accelerate mission outcomes.

Attendees will gain insights into AI integration, personalized digital services, data-informed decision-making, and secure, connected experiences that make government more efficient and human-centered. Join public-sector innovators and technology partners as they define what’s next and how accessibility, speed, and trust converge to deliver measurable impact for every constituent.