Rocky MountainCyberspace Symposium 2026:Defending at Machine Speed Breadcrumb Home Optiv + ClearShark at Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium 2026: Defending at Machine Speed January 27, 2026 The Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium (RMCS) 2026 brings together senior leaders from U.S. Cyber Command, the Department of Defense, federal agencies, industry, and academia to address the evolving cyber mission landscape. Known for its deep operational focus, RMCS serves as a critical forum for advancing collaboration, readiness, and innovation across the cyber domain. This year, Optiv + ClearShark is proud to participate as a Diamond-level sponsor, underscoring our continued commitment to supporting federal cyber missions. Attendees can connect with our team at Booth #344, where we’ll be discussing how agencies can modernize cyber defense operations to keep pace with increasingly automated and AI-enabled adversaries. A highlight of our participation is the featured speaking session, “Defensive Cyber Operations at Machine Speed,” taking place Wednesday, February 4 at 2:45 p.m. in Broadmoor Hall F. The session will be led by Michael Saintcross, Senior Vice President of Revenue at Optiv + ClearShark, and will explore how nation-state adversaries are leveraging artificial intelligence and automated attack frameworks to operate faster than traditional cyber defenses can respond. As cyber threats accelerate, static architectures and rigid IT cycles are no longer sufficient. This session will examine how agencies can shift toward defensive agility through adaptive architectures designed to operate at mission speed. Attendees will gain insight into how advanced telemetry collection, automated enrichment, adaptive orchestration, and machine learning-driven analysis can compress decision cycles and improve operational outcomes. Central to the discussion is SecOps IO, Optiv + ClearShark’s modular reference architecture designed to modernize security operations centers for the federal mission. SecOps IO enables agencies to integrate best-of-breed technologies into a cohesive, scalable framework that supports automation, resilience, and rapid response—without increasing operational complexity. By aligning cybersecurity operations with mission requirements, SecOps IO helps agencies move from reactive defense to proactive, intelligence-driven operations. We look forward to engaging with the RMCS community and continuing the conversation on how federal organizations can outpace adversaries through AI-enabled agility and operationally aligned cyber defense. 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.