Advancing Maritime and Defense Cyber Resilience at WEST 2026 Breadcrumb Home Advancing Maritime and Defense Cyber Resilience at WEST 2026 January 27, 2026 WEST 2026 remains one of the premier events for the Sea Services, convening senior leaders from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, DoD, and industry to explore the future of maritime operations, warfare, and technology. With its emphasis on operational readiness and mission execution, WEST provides a vital platform for addressing the cyber challenges facing today’s defense organizations. At WEST 2026, Optiv + ClearShark will be sponsoring a dedicated meeting space in partnership with Dragos , creating an environment for focused conversations around securing operational technology, identity, and mission-critical systems. Together, we bring complementary expertise that supports resilient operations across IT, OT, and cyber-physical environments. A key area of discussion will center on SecOps IO, Optiv + ClearShark’s approach to modernizing security operations for mission-driven organizations. Built as a flexible, vendor-agnostic architecture, SecOps IO enables defense organizations to integrate telemetry across environments, automate response actions, and apply machine learning insights to accelerate decision-making. For maritime and operational missions, this translates into faster detection, reduced operational friction, and improved cyber resilience at scale. Identity security is another critical pillar of modern defense operations. As Zero Trust strategies mature, identity has become the definitive control plane for securing access to systems, data, and operational platforms. Optiv + ClearShark helps agencies operationalize identity-centric security strategies that reduce attack surfaces, enforce least privilege, and support mission continuity—whether ashore, afloat, or deployed. Equally important is the role of data for AI. Effective AI-enabled cyber defense depends on high-quality, mission-relevant data. At WEST 2026, we’ll explore how agencies can better collect, normalize, and operationalize security data to fuel advanced analytics and machine learning models. When properly aligned, data becomes a force multiplier—enhancing threat detection, improving SOC efficiency, and enabling predictive defense. We look forward to connecting with leaders at WEST 2026 to discuss how integrated security operations, strong identity foundations, and data-driven AI capabilities can support the evolving demands of maritime and defense missions. By: Brandon Norris Brandon Norris is a seasoned marketing leader, brand builder, and content creator currently serving as Senior Manager of Strategic Marketing at Optiv + ClearShark. In this role, he drives visibility, engagement, and growth across federal cybersecurity and technology solutions, helping to communicate the value of cutting-edge cybersecurity services to government audiences. Prior to joining Optiv + ClearShark, Brandon held leadership roles in technology marketing — including at KTL Solutions, where he led strategic initiatives for a major Microsoft partner. Known for his growth-oriented mindset and passion for impactful storytelling, Brandon combines creativity with data-driven strategy to elevate brands and strengthen audience connections. Follow Optiv + ClearSharkLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/clearsharkYouTube: www.youtube.com/c/OptivInc About Optiv + ClearSharkTM Optiv + ClearShark is a cybersecurity and IT solutions provider focused exclusively on serving the U.S. federal government. From the data center, cloud and to the edge, we have decades of experience securing and modernizing federal agency data and infrastructure. Our world-class advisory and engineering team is comprised of mission-focused, results-driven subject-matter experts with deep technology and agency domain knowledge and security clearances. Part of Optiv, the cyber advisory and solutions leader, Optiv + ClearShark partners with federal agencies to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs.
About Optiv + ClearSharkTM Optiv + ClearShark is a cybersecurity and IT solutions provider focused exclusively on serving the U.S. federal government. From the data center, cloud and to the edge, we have decades of experience securing and modernizing federal agency data and infrastructure. Our world-class advisory and engineering team is comprised of mission-focused, results-driven subject-matter experts with deep technology and agency domain knowledge and security clearances. Part of Optiv, the cyber advisory and solutions leader, Optiv + ClearShark partners with federal agencies to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs.