Originally published on Government Technology Insider, this article explores this year’s TechNet Cyber conference, where defense and industry leaders made it clear that modernization is about building an integrated, resilient digital foundation for future mission operations. Key takeaways were:
- AI is moving from pilot to production
- Post-quantum cryptography has become an urgent near-term priority
- Integration and resilience are the new benchmarks for success
The federal government’s accelerated push toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is bringing new urgency to defense modernization efforts. Just days after President Trump signed an executive order advancing federal PQC timelines, many of the themes that surfaced earlier in June at AFCEA International TechNet Cyber 2026 appeared especially prescient. While artificial intelligence remained a dominant topic across keynote stages and exhibit halls, discussions repeatedly returned to the broader challenge of how to modernize the networks, security architectures, and digital infrastructure that will support the next generation of mission operations. From post-quantum resistant security and AI adoption to Zero Trust and network transformation, the event highlighted a defense community that is moving from planning to implementation as emerging technologies move closer to operational reality.
DISA’s Modernization Priorities Continue to Shape the Conversation
The direction of many of those conversations was not surprising. Throughout the conference, attendees repeatedly referenced priorities outlined by Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton, Department of War Cyber Defense Command commander and DISA director. During his keynote, Stanton stressed the importance of collaboration between government and industry, telling attendees, “It’s going to take all of us. “I look forward to working with you, to being on the team alongside you, because quite frankly, our nation needs us.”
The message resonated on the show floor, where agencies and technology providers alike were focused on solving increasingly complex modernization challenges. According to Cloudflare’s Anwar Mallory and Ben Hayth, discussions consistently centered on advancing Zero Trust architectures and operationalizing AI.
“One of the themes that kept coming up was how organizations can simplify and modernize their environments without sacrificing security,” said Hayth. “Customers are trying to connect the dots across a very large ecosystem of technologies, partners, and mission requirements.” The focus on integration mirrors Staton’s message that modernization is no longer about deploying individual tools. Instead, agencies are seeking platforms and architectures that improve interoperability and enable faster decision-making across the enterprise.
Artificial Intelligence Moves from Discussion to Deployment
If there was a single topic that matched the attention surrounding PQC, it was artificial intelligence. The conversation has evolved noticeably from previous years. Rather than debating AI’s potential, agencies are now focused on how to deploy it securely, govern it responsibly, and scale it across mission environments.
Stanton captured that sense of urgency when he told attendees that “the speed, scope and scale of frontier AI models will significantly change the way that we approach delivering warfighting capabilities and securing them for our nation.” The challenge now is building the infrastructure necessary to support those capabilities.
According to Mallory, AI surfaced in conversations across nearly every mission area represented at the conference. Whether focused on cyber operations, network management, or mission planning, attendees were exploring how to move beyond pilot programs and integrate AI into production environments.
The discussion also highlighted a growing focus on securing AI itself. Initiatives such as Project Glasswing, which brings together leading AI companies, cybersecurity providers, and government partners to identify vulnerabilities in frontier AI models, reflecting the idea that innovation and security must advance together. Agencies are accelerating AI adoption, and this makes ensuring those systems remain resilient against misuses just as important as deploying them.
Quantum Readiness Becomes a Near-Term Priority
While AI generated significant attention, another topic emerged as one of the most urgent cybersecurity priorities discussed at the event. “Post-quantum cryptography was almost as hot a topic as AI,” Hayth said. “Senior leads are increasingly focused on how they prepare for the transition and what steps they need to take now to protect data and communications.” The timing is especially notable given the administration’s recent executive order accelerating federal migration timelines and increasing pressure on agencies to prepare for a quantum-resistant future.
Hayth reported strong interest from defense organizations seeking practical guidance on protecting communications against future quantum threats. The concern reflects growing awareness of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, in which adversaries collect encrypted information today with the expectation of decrypting it once quantum computing capabilities mature.
Building Operational Resilience
Cyber resilience remained a recurring theme throughout the event. Attendees expressed strong interest in how threat intelligence, internet-scale visibility, and modern connectivity architectures work together to strengthen mission outcomes. “We talked with a number of organizations about the value of combining their existing intelligence with visibility into a significant portion of global internet traffic,” Mallory said. “That additional context can help improve awareness and strengthen decision-making.”
At the same time, defense organizations are rethinking legacy connectivity models in favor of more agile architectures capable of supporting both enterprise and tactical missions. “Organizations are looking for ways to securely move traffic, support distributed operations, and prepare for future requirements without relying on legacy approaches,” Hayth said.
As Nick Andersen, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) shared at the event, “The American people have given special trust and confidence in us as their government to look out for their resilience.” This resilience is defined by more than perimeter defense. It depends on visibility, secure connectivity, and the ability to adapt quickly as threats and mission requirements evolve.
From Modernization Strategy to Mission Execution
Perhaps the clearest takeaway from TechNet Cyber 2026 was that defense modernization has entered its next phase. AI, post-quantum security, Zero Trust, network modernization, and cyber resilience are no longer separate initiatives but interconnected components of a broader effort to build a secure, resilient, and adaptable digital foundation for the future force.
Stanton summarized the challenge succinctly when he told attendees that, “readiness is the foundation.” Judging by the conversations at TechNet Cyber, government and industry are already working together to build a foundation designed to support a more secure and resilient defense enterprise for years to come.