IIG - Connecting Partners to Cyber Success

Original broadcast 6/4/25

Presented by Carahsoft

In today’s rapidly evolving cyber landscape, federal agencies are under immense pressure to accelerate their adoption of modern technologies while complying with increasingly complex mandates like Zero Trust. Alex Whitworth, Director of Sales at Carahsoft, underscores how essential it is to streamline the procurement and integration process to help agencies respond faster and smarter. Carahsoft’s unique position as a technology aggregator gives it a pivotal role in connecting government buyers with cutting-edge solutions and proven platforms, creating a bridge between mission needs and commercial innovation.

Whitworth explains that while the federal government is committed to driving Zero Trust principles across its vast IT infrastructure, one of the persistent challenges is procurement speed. Agencies often face lengthy and complex acquisition cycles that can hinder their ability to keep pace with threat actors. Carahsoft helps alleviate this friction by serving as a central hub for a vast ecosystem of vendors, pre-vetted contract vehicles, and turnkey procurement paths that reduce the barriers to access.

The advantage of this model is scale and speed. Carahsoft enables agencies to work with industry leaders across cybersecurity, cloud, AI, and more—without having to start from scratch each time. This accelerates the evaluation and deployment process and allows agencies to quickly move from identifying a need to putting solutions in place. Moreover, by acting as a trusted partner rather than just a distributor, Carahsoft ensures agencies are guided through the technology landscape in a way that aligns with their mission priorities.

Whitworth points out that the shift toward Zero Trust has only increased the demand for interoperable, integrated solutions. Agencies don’t just need one tool—they need suites of tools that work together across identity, access, endpoint, and data layers. Carahsoft helps identify these synergies and provides guidance on which combinations are already in use and compliant across other agencies, further reducing risk and procurement delays.

The company’s relationships with both small, innovative startups and established tech giants position it to help agencies find solutions that are both cutting-edge and proven at scale. By vetting these technologies and ensuring they are available on widely-used contract vehicles like SEWP, GSA, and NASA solutions for enterprise-wide procurement, Carahsoft eliminates many of the bureaucratic obstacles that have historically slowed down IT modernization in government.

Another key component Whitworth emphasizes is education. Carahsoft frequently brings together federal stakeholders and industry experts through webinars, white papers, and in-person events to share insights and best practices. These educational resources play a critical role in helping procurement teams and mission owners stay up to date on what’s available, what’s compliant, and what’s possible.

Ultimately, Whitworth believes the role of an aggregator like Carahsoft goes far beyond logistics. It’s about building trusted relationships that accelerate digital transformation and national security outcomes. By connecting agencies to technologies that help them implement strategic frameworks like Zero Trust, Carahsoft is helping the federal government stay ahead in an era of dynamic threats and evolving missions.

Key Takeaways:

• Carahsoft streamlines procurement and integration across a vast vendor ecosystem, helping agencies act faster and more strategically.

• Integrated vendor relationships and turnkey contract access reduce procurement friction and accelerate Zero Trust adoption.

• Education and engagement efforts help federal buyers stay aligned with evolving mandates and technology trends.

This interview was recorded on location at TechNet Cyber 2025 and included as part of the TV show Innovation in Government from TechNet Cyber.