Internal, External Cyber Threats Growing From Use of Ubiquitous AI Tools, Says Alpha Omega CTO

• Growing internal and external cyber threats from widely-available AI tools and their resulting shadow IT are creating major challenges for GovCons.
• These are contributing to security vulnerabilities and new attack surfaces.
• Hear directly from Nitin Vartak, Alpha Omega CTO, during a panel discussion at the 2026 Cyber Summit this Thursday!

Rising internal and external cybersecurity threats from the ubiquitous use of artificial intelligence and the shadow IT it creates are major challenges GovCons will face over the next few years, according to a leading cyber executive.

Nitin Vartak, Alpha Omega chief technology officer, told Potomac Officers Club in an exclusive interview ahead of his appearance at the 2026 Cyber Summit this Thursday that every user, with or without a technical background, can develop and deploy AI capabilities, not just applications.

What Is Shadow IT?

Shadow IT is the use of hardware or software related to IT by an individual or department without the knowledge of the IT or security group within the organization. This can include software, hardware and cloud services. Shadow IT is contributing to security vulnerabilities and new attack surfaces, Vartak said.

How Can GovCon Executives Fight Cybersecurity Threats from Shadow IT?

To better fight cyber threats from shadow IT, Vartak recommended GovCon technology professionals spot, and adopt, emerging tools and techniques for awareness, governance, continuous monitoring and autonomous healing. Vartak said Alpha Omega is investing in a variety of technologies in 2026, including:

• AI and machine learning security framework tools
• Adaptive monitoring and healing techniques
• DevSecOps for AI
• Supply chain risk management

Get actionable business intelligence from Vartak during his panel discussion on AI in Cyber Defense at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit this Thursday! Examine AI-driven threat detection and anomaly identification, and trust, cost and data challenges in AI deployment. Space is extremely limited—secure your seat today!

Alpha Omega’s top priorities for 2026 include safeguarding sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information, internal data and controlled unclassified information, against leaks and breaches. The Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2 effort plays a big role in this, Vartak said.

How Is Alpha Omega Fighting Cyber Threats?

Alpha Omega is fighting cyber threats by adopting a zero trust framework internally with continuous threat detection and vulnerability management. Vartak said Alpha Omega will use AI capabilities to autonomously monitor and resolve incidents and gaps, and provide smart observability for adaptive cyber posture. The company is also prioritizing a well-governed AI productivity tool chain for organizational and customer services delivery.

Vartak said Alpha Omega, as a federal contractor with cybersecurity and AI as its core capabilities, is focusing on both the emerging cyber threats from AI. It is also enabling the company’s workforce to thwart those attacks using well-governed AI tools. Attendees of the 2026 Cyber Summit’s AI in Cyber Defense: From Intelligent Detection to Autonomous Resilience panel discussion, of which Vartak will participate, can expect him to discuss the external and internal threats that Alpha Omega, and its customers, are facing.

These threats are not only emanating from attacks by our adversaries, but also from the ungoverned use of the AI productivity tools by employees.

Who’s Speaking at the 2026 Cyber Summit?

Let’s dive into the backgrounds of the esteemed GovCon technology executives who will speak on the AI in Cyber Defense: From Intelligent Detection to Autonomous Resilience panel at the 2026 Cyber Summit.

Mike Howard

J6 Engineering and Digital Transformation Division Chief, U.S. Transportation Command

Mike Howard is a veteran Pentagon cyber professional with extensive experience in digital transformation and cyberspace operations. As J6 engineering and digital transformation division chief, his areas of expertise include DevSecOps, cloud migration, Tier III engineering support, and business and enterprise architecture.

He previously served as the engineering and digital transformation deputy division chief at TRANSCOM, where he managed and directed operations for the engineering and data architecture division.

Leslie Nettles

Acting Deputy CISO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Leslie Nettles, as acting deputy CISO for the Information Security and Privacy Group at CMS, provides strategic leadership in strengthening CMS’ security and privacy practices. Nettles is also the senior official for privacy and the director for the division of security, privacy policy and oversight within the Office of IT.

Her career includes extensive experience across both defense and civilian government sectors, shaping a well-rounded perspective on complex security and privacy challenges. 

Nitin Vartak

CTO, Alpha Omega

Nitin Vartak has more than 19 years experience in technology solutions, digital strategies and management across federal and commercial sectors. He has designed and implemented technical solutions for healthcare, financial and consumer industries across Asia and the Americas.

Vartak has deep experience in government contracting technology. He’s been the CTO at Alpha Omega since 2023 and previously served as the company’s vice president of technology and in senior director and director positions.

Vartak also spent over 11 years at QSSI, now part of Optum, culminating as director of technology and solutions in 2016.

Mohammed Sohail Chaudhry

Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Precise Software Solutions

Sohail Chaudhry is a strategic leader with a proven record in saving millions of dollars in IT expenses by leveraging secure innovation and business transformation. Before joining Precise Software Solutions, Chaudhry spent his career as a federal cybersecurity professional with stops at the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Department of Treasury and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

As CTO at FDA, Chaudhry was responsible for the implementation, and operations and maintenance, of IT. As the senior technical advisor to the CISO, he helped direct and implement the FDA’s information security risk, compliance and governance process and procedures.