GovLoop

Modernizing IT is essential, but agencies can't afford to leave operational technology (OT) behind. As OT environments become more connected through cloud, remote access and AI, the cyber risks continue to grow. In this new resource, you’ll get highlights from a recent virtual event addressing risk reduction and improving resiliency, with expert advice from four government and industry speakers.

As operational technology (OT) connects with IT, agencies can improve efficiency and modernize critical operations. But those connections also expand the attack surface, sometimes with devices security teams can’t see. This report examines the security challenges facing operational technology and cyber-physical systems (CPS). Explore the risks on mission delivery and practical ways to improve visibility and protect connected environments.

A great mentor can help you navigate challenges, grow your skills, and advance your career. This digital worksheet features expert advice from public-sector leaders on how to identify the right mentor, make a strong first connection, and build a relationship that benefits both mentor and mentee. You'll get practical tips, conversation starters, and proven strategies for every stage of the mentorship journey, from setting expectations to expanding your network of trusted advisors.

Play the video to learn how agencies can strengthen security operations, prepare for upcoming requirements and build a more proactive approach to cyber defense.

There are only a few days left before the NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit, and it’s a professional development opportunity you won’t want to miss. If you join us online Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, you’ll have the chance to attend career-focused sessions tailored to supporting federal, state, and local government employees as they grow in their careers.

AI is rapidly transforming government operations and service delivery, but it also introduces new questions about security, access, and trust. As agencies balance innovation with risk management, identity is now a foundational element of successful AI adoption. Register now and access five expert-led sessions, including featured presentations from Okta’s Government Identity Summit.

When government networks became more complex and sprawling, the traditional, firewall-based approach to cybersecurity was a poor fit. The zero-trust model — “never trust, always verify” — that emerged certainly does a better job protecting users, devices and networks. But it’s a mistake to think that zero trust is a one-time project.

Most leadership writing starts with the leader: who you are, what traits you bring, what style you favor. But anyone who has worked inside a struggling public agency knows the problem is rarely one person. It lives in the way the whole place holds together. Information stops moving. Handoffs drop. Morale thins, and the good people leave first. So, it is worth asking a different question. Not what kind of person makes a good leader? but what does an organization need from the person leading it?

Recognizing this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), whose theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent,” I would like to address how government agencies can observe NDEAM. The month highlights the positive effects of employing workers with disabilities.

When budgets tighten and workloads increase, employee development is often among the first activities postponed. The reasoning sounds practical, “We need everyone focused on the mission.” This assumes, of course, that the workforce already possesses every capability the mission will require. Technology will apparently stop changing, experienced employees will postpone retirement, new risks will wait patiently and yesterday’s knowledge will remain perfectly suited to tomorrow’s problems.