In defense operations, the communications infrastructure must perform without hesitation. Whether enabling secure video, voice, or data exchange, the systems that support coordination, training, and real-time decision-making are foundational to mission success.

ASSYST continues to support U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) agencies in building modern, resilient communications environments aligned with operational tempo, cyber posture, and evolving multi-domain requirements.

VTC as a Core Operational Asset

Video Teleconferencing (VTC) has become essential to mission execution—not simply a productivity tool. For one DoD installation, ASSYST delivered a complete overhaul of a legacy VTC environment that had become unreliable during critical operations.

The upgraded infrastructure now supports secure, encrypted sessions daily, fully integrated with DoD Global Video Services (GVS), SIP/H.323 protocols, and Microsoft Teams. The system architecture incorporates accessibility, redundancy, and compliance with Section 508 and STIG standards, ensuring operational continuity at all classification levels.

Modernization Without Disruption

Legacy telecommunication systems often present operational risks, particularly when they rely on analog technologies. At a federal agency with thousands of voice endpoints, ASSYST led a full VoIP modernization effort while ensuring uninterrupted mission delivery.

This effort included comprehensive cabling audits, risk-informed migration planning, CAC authentication integration, and close coordination with cybersecurity and network teams to meet all RMF and Authority to Operate (ATO) requirements. The result was a seamless transition to secure, standards-aligned infrastructure capable of supporting future technologies and mission growth.

Built on Standards and Operational Discipline

All modernization efforts are grounded in federal and DoD standards. ASSYST solutions are designed to align with:

• DISA’s Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (APL)
   
• DoDIN and IPv6 transition requirements
   
• NIST SP 800-53 and SP 800-171 control baselines
   
• STIG compliance and documentation
   
• RMF-based lifecycle security frameworks
   

This standards-driven approach ensures that systems are operationally effective, cyber-resilient, and audit-ready—without introducing risk to continuity or collaboration.

C4ISR Depends on Infrastructure That Performs

C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) environments rely on dependable communications platforms. As DoD programs move toward cloud, AI, and edge architectures, these systems require a secure foundation to enable interoperability, rapid decision-making, and information dominance.

ASSYST continues to support this evolution by deploying:

• Lightweight, mobile-ready VTC kits
   
• Automated diagnostics and monitoring
   
• Voice, video, and data systems optimized for disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth scenarios
   
• Tools like ComplySyncATO to streamline ATO processes for telecom assets

These capabilities form the backbone of mission assurance in dynamic, data-driven environments.

Mission Confidence Begins with Communication Readiness

Communication infrastructure remains one of the most critical—and often underestimated—components of defense readiness. Every briefing, every call, every operational update relies on systems designed to meet the mission’s demand in real time.

ASSYST’s work across defense and national security programs reflects a sustained commitment to ensuring these systems are not only functional but dependable under pressure. The focus is not simply on technology, but on trust—ensuring that when a connection is needed, it works the first time, every time.

ASSYST has been honored with a prestigious award at the ACCELERATE 2025 Summit, hosted by GOVTECH CONNECTS, for our groundbreaking ComplySyncATO Solution Offering.

I accepted the award on behalf of all of us, but this recognition belongs to every member of #TeamASSYST.  ASSYST's expertise, innovation, and teamwork have made ComplySyncATO a trusted name in secure AI adoption and federal digital transformation. This win is also shining a spotlight on our Green Accelerator — the very innovation engine that’s powering solutions like ComplySyncATO. 

The Green Accelerator is quickly gaining attention across the federal tech community for how it: Integrates AI, Zero Trust, and security-by-design into mission-critical systems from day one. Accelerates compliance automation and enables agencies to stay ahead of evolving regulations. Transforms digital services by allowing rapid, standards-driven, and interoperable solutions that adapt as fast as challenges emerge. 

Together, we’re not just delivering technology — we’re reshaping how agencies innovate securely, making them more agile, resilient, and ready for the future.

Congratulations to all the winners! Let's work together to make government missions successful.

Joe Anderson, COO, ASSYST, Inc.

In my latest Qk Bits, I met Sneha Belur, a Technical Project Manager at ASSYST, who discusses her approach to modern project management, which she describes as blending agility, AI, and human-centric principles. She explains that the core challenge, whether working in retail or with federal agencies, is to build scalable solutions that people will actually use, without letting process get in the way of progress. Belur notes that AI tools have made planning more nuanced, as they can handle boilerplate tasks while human judgment remains essential for understanding security policies and team dynamics. She advises project managers to "learn fast, lead slow," emphasizing the importance of letting teams explore new technologies while maintaining a strategic perspective and questioning traditional "best practices."

Watch the full interview on LinkedIn

The recent announcement from the Department of Defense (DoD), as shared by the CIO and as reported in the media, to accelerate software acquisition and streamline the Authority to Operate (ATO) process through the SWFT initiative is more than a policy shift. It is a signal that an exciting inflection point for government agencies, industry partners, and the broader cybersecurity community to embrace a new standard of operational speed and strategic foresight.

SWFT reimagines how software systems are assessed, authorized, and delivered across the Department of Defense. Building on earlier “Fast Track ATO” pilots, the initiative introduces a more dynamic, risk-informed framework grounded in automation, real-time telemetry, and continuous compliance. At its core, SWFT shifts the responsibility for risk determination back to the government by enabling faster, mission-aligned decisions without compromising assurance. A key part of this transformation is the enforcement of independently validated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs), which enhance supply chain resilience and provide the foundational data needed to assess vulnerabilities and dependencies throughout the software lifecycle.

Read my take on Advancing Continuous ATO and Rapid Innovation at Scale Aligned with the DoD SWFT Vision

OnPoint Newsletter - LinkedIn

Commercial Solution Openings (CSOs) are expected to reshape federal procurement, helping both Federal Civilian and DoD stakeholders to accelerate modernization, incorporate leading-edge capabilities, and engage a wider vendor base. This change requires a delivery platform that fulfills mission critical needs, adapts to multi-domain operational demands, and upholds top security and compliance standards.

Our teams continually focus on capabilities across deployable solutions that directly meet these changing government mission requirements. The ASSYST Green Accelerator, guided by our CIO/CTO’s strategic vision, combines advanced technology, expert talent, and intelligent automation to assist agencies and partners in significantly reducing discovery time, rapidly prototyping solutions, and confidently implementing them. By leveraging this, customers have achieved measurable improvements, all while maintaining strict security and performance standards.

From Whiteboard to Mission Execution

Designed for both Civilian and DoD environments, the Green Accelerator’s modular, cloud-agnostic, microservices-based architecture integrates human-centered design with automated compliance management. Secure CI/CD pipelines are reinforced with container security, software composition analysis, SBOM verification, and real-time compliance scoring, making continuous authority-to-operate (cATO) readiness possible.

Technical Readiness Enablers

• Cloud-Agnostic Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) – Deploy across AWS, Azure, hybrid, air-gapped, and similar environments.
• SecDevOps Toolchains – End-to-end pipelines combining SAST, DAST, IAST, dependency scanning, and automated OSCAL control mapping.
• Compliance and Interoperability by Design – Pre-certified integration patterns for NIST RMF, HL7, FHIR, and other frameworks.

Operationally Proven Solutions

• ComplySyncATO – Our AI-powered RMF compliance automation tool, integrating OSCAL, NIST 800-53 mappings, and automated POA&M tracking.
• Hephaestus – Six-component, FHIR-native healthcare data platform for ingestion, validation, mapping, exchange, analytics, and GenAI/LLM exploration.
• Agentic AI – Utilizing the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for contextual, multi modal knowledge retrieval across secure enclaves, enforcing access policies while providing role-aware, RAG enabled answers.
• Debt Management System – Microservices-based financial case management with AI-driven prioritization and real-time analytics.
• Test Automation Portal – AI-enhanced framework for intelligent test creation, execution, and reporting, enabling autonomous regression suites, real-time defect analytics, and seamless CI/CD integration.

Why It Delivers

• Accelerated Prototyping – Pre-hardened blueprints shorten MVP creation time.
• Embedded Compliance – FHIR, OSCAL, 508, SoX at every commit.
• Mission-Driven Scaling – Horizontal/vertical scaling for enterprise and tactical deployments.
• Continuous Innovation – Seamless integration with emerging frameworks and AI models.

• Ahead of the Curve – Built to anticipate policy, security, and technology shifts.

   

  

Core Engineering Pillars

• Human-Centered Design (HCD) – Low/no-code, intuitive interfaces with persona driven workflows and accessibility compliance.
• Automation Everywhere – CI/CD, test automation, infrastructure provisioning, and compliance validation.
• Microservices Architecture – Loosely coupled, independently deployable services.
• Containerization – Secure container images with runtime policy enforcement.
• Deployment Flexibility – Multi-cloud, on-prem, hybrid, and classified options.
• Security-by-Design – End-to-end encryption, zero-trust networking, and NIST compliant control inheritance.

Looking Ahead

Our vision for the Green Accelerator is to continually enhance its capabilities, ensuring it remains at the forefront of Civilian and DoD/DoW Technology modernization. We plan to expand its Agentic AI features, deepen its MCP integration for multi-modal, context-aware decision-making environments, and incorporate self-healing infrastructure with real-time resilience scoring. This evolution will enable agencies to respond to mission needs instantly and proactively shape them, establishing high-assurance, rapid-deployment solutions as the operational standard.

With the US Government and federal healthcare agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) calling for a voluntary, patient-centered digital health ecosystem, the federal government is signaling a generational shift: from siloed systems and compliance checklists to platforms that deliver value through secure access, shared insight, and individual empowerment.

For ASSYST, this is not just a policy milestone—it is the continuation of a deeply held belief: that digital health systems must be human-centered, resilient, and designed for real-world outcomes.

Vinay Shirke, Chief Information Officer at ASSYST, stated:

“Technology in healthcare must move beyond transactional efficiency. It should help people feel seen, safe, and supported. This new ecosystem initiative invites us to design for dignity—not just data.”

ASSYST has long invested in this vision. As an early adopter and implementer of HL7®, FHIR®, and NCPDP standards, the company built interoperability solutions long before they became federal mandates. That commitment took shape in Hephaestus, ASSYST’s FHIR-native application Platform-as-a-Service (aPaaS), which enables real-time, standards-aligned data exchange across health systems, agencies, and applications.

Today, ASSYST supports national interoperability initiatives including the ONC Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA), Electronic Prescribing (eRx), and Real-Time Prescription Benefit (RTPB)—making health information more accessible, meaningful, and secure for patients, providers, and programs.

But delivering wellness also means protecting what matters. As a trusted Cybersecurity Provider for CMS, ASSYST secures vital infrastructure and sensitive systems that serve tens of millions of Americans. Through solutions like the Security Data Lake, ASSYST provides real-time risk visibility, governance enforcement, and proactive protection at a national scale.

To further humanize access and reduce complexity, ASSYST is integrating Agentic AI—policy-aware digital agents that assist with secure data discovery, context-based compliance, and intelligent workflow automation. These AI capabilities are part of the company’s broader Green Accelerator initiative, which brings together cybersecurity, interoperability, and AI in a mission-aligned framework for government innovation.

Vijay Narasimhan, Chief Technology Officer at ASSYST, added:

“Wellness starts with access. But trust is what sustains it. The systems we build must not only interoperate—they must anticipate needs, adapt to policy, and center the human experience.”

ASSYST’s work spans CMS, CDC, FDA, HRSA, and several global public health programs—supporting efforts to modernize infrastructure, enable equitable data exchange, and elevate care through secure, standards-based technologies. Across it all, the mission remains the same: to support wellness, not just workflows.

“Digital health is no longer a back-office function,” said Shirke. “It’s a public service—and it must be built with the same care, empathy, and precision we ask of our caregivers.”

Vinay Shirke: https://www.assyst.net/team/vinay-v-shirke 

Vijay Narasimhan: https://www.assyst.net/team/vijay-narasimhan 

www.assyst.net/healthit 

ASSYST CEO Shyama Mandal welcomes the release of America’s AI Action Plan, a comprehensive roadmap outlining strategic priorities for U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. The plan’s emphasis on accelerating innovation, advancing secure AI infrastructure, and leading international collaboration aligns closely with ASSYST’s mission in federal innovation and public service.

Read On LinkedIn

In this edition of OnPoint xChange, we unpack how Agentic AI is transforming public services, not by replacing humans, but by augmenting teams with digital agents that understand mission context, policy boundaries, and how to take smart action.

I had the opportunity to interact with 
 

John Kimberl, a Technical Healthcare Solutions Consultant supporting ASSYST’s Hephaestus FHIR platform, with a focus on health data interoperability and secure cloud solutions

Bhargav Joshi, an AI/ML Engineer leading autonomous systems engineering in ASSYST’s Green Accelerator framework

Erin Slezak, a Proposal Solution Writer, is passionate about user-centered design and accessible public services.

Together, we discussed what Agentic AI Protocols are, how Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables trustworthy agent behavior, and why metadata awareness is essential for services, interoperability, and scalable enterprise adoption.

Read More on LinkedIn

Across State and Local governments, there’s growing interest in how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might help agencies serve their communities more effectively. While budgets are tight and priorities are many, one thing is clear: people expect services to be simpler, faster, and easier to navigate—especially online.

Recently, a new type of AI capability has caught my attention—and that of many agencies I collaborate with. It’s called Agentic AI.

Agentic AI refers to intelligent software agents that not only answer questions but also take action, following rules, completing tasks, and collaborating with users and systems. The concept may sound technical, but the benefits are practical and impactful, whether that’s a resident renewing a permit or a staff member managing paperwork behind the scenes.

People Are Changing How They Access Information

Residents are no longer satisfied with clicking through multiple web pages, hoping to find the right form or process. Increasingly, they want to ask a question and receive an answer, just like they do with search engines or voice assistants.

And there’s a real opportunity here. 

Instead of asking:

“Where’s the form for starting a home business?”

 Imagine asking:

 “How do I register a home bakery, and what permits do I need?”

 “How do I apply for housing assistance?”

 “What steps do I need to take to renew my driver’s license?”

And then receiving a clear, step-by-step response tailored to your location, eligibility, and agency rules.

That’s the potential of Agentic AI at the front door of government.

What Middle Offices Should Be Thinking About

Behind that front door is where most of the real work happens—document reviews, eligibility checks, multi-step workflows, and communication across systems and departments.

Agentic AI can support middle offices by:

• Coordinating task flow across teams or departments
• Interpreting policies into actionable decision logic
• Helping staff manage caseloads, reminders, and documentation
• Spotting delays or exceptions in service pipelines

In this role, AI isn’t replacing anyone—it’s enhancing the way staff work, improving visibility, and reducing dropped handoffs.

How the Back Office Will Evolve

In the back office, where compliance is tracked, records are maintained, and reports are generated, Agentic AI can make a meaningful impact.

Key benefits include:

• Pre-filling reports and logs based on real-time system activity
• Helping HR, finance, or legal teams stay ahead of documentation needs
• Connecting data across systems to give leadership a clear, actionable view

This evolution isn’t immediate, but it’s underway. Agencies that begin exploring now will be better positioned to adapt gradually, securely, and responsibly.

A Practical Way to Get Started: The Green Accelerator

We’ve found that starting small—with a single service or workflow—is the best way to explore Agentic AI’s real-world value. That’s why we created the Green Accelerator.

It’s where agencies can:

• Define a specific challenge
• Design and test an AI agent in a safe, controlled environment
• Measure outcomes, make adjustments, and decide when to scale

I’m excited to collaborate with award-winning solution teams, including those recognized at the GSA Federal AI Hackathon, where practical, mission-driven innovation took center stage. That same spirit of responsible experimentation and measurable progress guides everything we do through the Accelerator.

Connecting Agentic AI to Agency Goals

While the efficiency gains of AI are important, it’s equally critical to connect them to your agency’s mission and measurable outcomes. For example, Agentic AI can help:

• Reduce service backlogs
• Advance digital equity goals
• Improve staff productivity and service delivery

These outcomes are crucial for developing a compelling case to executives, budget owners, and policy teams.

Ready to See It in Action?

Want to see Agentic AI in action? 

Visit assyst.net/agenticai or connect with our team to explore how your agency can get started.

Background

The US Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) acts as the DoD center for all matters related to microelectronics, encompassing technology development, acquisition strategies, transformative initiatives, and ongoing support. The core mission of DMEA is to spearhead microelectronics design and research efforts across the DoD. This leadership role is crucial for continuously enhancing the technological capabilities of the US military, ensuring a competitive edge, and effectively modernizing existing legacy weapons systems to meet contemporary defense requirements. By focusing on innovation and strategic implementation in microelectronics, DMEA plays a crucial role in safeguarding national security and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces.

Challenge

Serving as an integral element within the complex framework of U.S. military operations and diverse governmental agencies, DMEA confronted the necessity of establishing a robust and current Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). This plan transcended mere bureaucratic formality, representing a strategic imperative to ensure the uninterrupted execution of critical Mission-Essential Functions (MEFs), even in the face of unforeseen disruptions. The formulation of such a comprehensive COOP presented a multifaceted challenge, necessitating proactive adaptation to the perpetually evolving landscape of IT risk management, as well as meticulous foresight and synchronized collaboration among various stakeholders.

Beyond its initial development, DMEA recognized the sustained commitment required to maintain effective continuity. The new COOP would require continuous support, including ongoing maintenance and periodic revisions to the pre-existing COOP. The dynamic nature of threats and technological advancements necessitated a continually adaptable document, subject to ongoing refinement to maintain its relevance and efficacy.

A foundational principle of this initiative was the steadfast adherence to a stringent array of federal and departmental directives. The COOP was meticulously crafted to achieve full compliance with Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40), a seminal directive that delineates national essential functions and continuity prerequisites. Furthermore, it rigorously conformed to Federal Continuity Directives (FCD) 1 & 2, which furnish detailed guidance on executive branch continuity programs. At the departmental level, DMEA ensured compliance with Department of Defense Directives (DoDD) 3020.26 and Department of Defense Instructions (DoDI) 3020.42, both of which delineate specific mandates for continuity programs within the DoD. This tiered approach to compliance underscored DMEA's commitment to operational resilience and its pivotal role in safeguarding national security.

Solution

ASSYST’s approach to supporting DMEA’s COOP program was comprehensive and deeply rooted in our extensive expertise across vital sectors. Our team, comprising experienced professionals in cybersecurity, national security, and critical infrastructure protection, was strategically positioned to provide comprehensive COOP support and enhancement services. This extensive knowledge enabled us not only to design and implement a resilient COOP, but also to foresee and address potential vulnerabilities.

The core of our methodology involved the careful development and implementation of a process we meticulously engineered to ensure full compliance with a complex array of regulatory and policy frameworks. Specifically, we adhered to Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40), Federal Continuity Directives 1 and 2 (FCD-1 and FCD-2), Department of Defense Directive 3020.26 (DoDD 3020.26), and Department of Defense Instruction 3020.42 (DoDI 3020.42). Additionally, our work incorporated relevant regulatory standards, most notably those established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which form the foundation for robust cybersecurity and information resilience.

Importantly, our process was not a generic solution; it was adapted to meet DMEA’s specific operational requirements and strategic goals. This customization was achieved by integrating all DMEA MEFs directly into COOP design and deployment. By understanding and embedding DMEA's critical operations, we assured that the COOP plan would effectively support the agency's ability to maintain its essential functions even amidst disruptive scenarios. This comprehensive and compliant methodology underscored ASSYST’s dedication to delivering a truly resilient and effective COOP solution for DMEA.

Our technical approach to this initiative involved detailed tasks related to the Risk Management Framework (RMF). We provided Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) highly skilled in offering ISO and RMF support to assist and advise on completing and validating final RMF packages, developing all Authorization to Operate (ATO) documentation, and routing it for appropriate sign-offs. This support encompassed maintaining, tracking, and updating System Security Plans (SSPs), conducting risk management and analysis to ensure adherence to DoD directives, developing effort estimates and planning schedules for budget estimations, and identifying and documenting appropriate protection levels for data, including encryption. To ensure our support yields enduring benefits for DMEA, we consciously developed practical update schedules, a Multi-Year Strategic Plan, and a Program Management Plan to guide ongoing development and maintenance.

Value/Impact

Through this initiative, DMEA established a robust COOP capability, significantly enhancing the agency’s ability to assess, communicate, and restore mission-critical operations in the event of unexpected events. Additionally, streamlined processes and improved documentation enabled DMEA to anticipate potential disruptions more effectively and prepare for them, thereby improving overall program readiness and increasing operational efficiency. Our support also ensured compliance with federal directives, reducing audit risks and consistently fulfilling all mandated requirements. 

ASSYST’s National Security Practice

ASSYST is greatly invested in backing the success of our nation’s most critical security initiatives, having collaborated with numerous DoD agencies over the years. Our accomplished Homeland & National Security Practice team members bring with them extensive backgrounds in the DoD, the Army, and state and local law enforcement and public safety organizations. Our support capabilities for these organizations encompass energy and infrastructure resilience, strategic consulting and advisory services, cyber risk, compliance, regulatory and enforcement data analytics, law enforcement IT and data integration, and all-source intelligence and analytics. 

We offer the use of our Green Accelerator platform (AssystGA) in service of our customers’ missions. This platform accelerates development processes, utilizes innovative AI technologies, and provides our customers with access to a range of integrated tools developed by ASSYST. Among these tools, our ComplySyncATO solution is designed to support our customers' diverse digital security needs, offering services such as automated compliance assessment and verification, identity and access management, and continuous monitoring to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory requirements. 

ASSYST works tirelessly to ensure our support is always aligned with the most current security technology and is suited to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. For further information on our national security support capabilities, please visit this link.