As we move further into 2026, I find myself reflecting on a phrase I used recently to describe our current era: we have officially “crossed the AI Rubicon.” In my recent annual roundup of cybersecurity predictions, I noted that we are witnessing a great acceleration in the speed and scale of change. From agentic AI to deepfake scams, the threats facing our public institutions are no longer static; they are dynamic, evolving in real-time to evade even our best-laid defenses.
For those of us in the State, Local, and Education (SLED) space, this isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a mission-critical emergency. This is why I am so proud of the recent recognition in the IDC MarketScape: U.S. State and Local Government Professional Security Services 2025–2026 Vendor Assessment which named Presidio a Leader in U.S. State and Local Government Professional Security Services for 2025–2026.
But beyond the “Leader” badge, I want to talk about why this matters for the people sitting in the CISO chair today.
A Peer-to-Peer Partnership
In my years as the first Chief Security Officer for the State of Michigan, I learned a hard lesson: technology alone never saves the day. It’s the people and the processes behind the tech that determine whether you recover from a “Cyber Mayday” or succumb to it.
IDC highlighted Presidio’s “Field CISO” model as a primary differentiator. Why? Because our team is comprised of former state government CISOs and public-sector veterans. We aren’t just vendors; we are peers. We understand the sleepless nights that come after a ransomware notification and the “death by a thousand cuts” that comes from navigating complex procurement cycles and non-appropriation clauses. When we sit down with a city manager or a university CIO, we’re not speaking in abstract marketing terms—we’re speaking the language of public service.
The “Company Within a Company” Advantage
One of the most striking parts of the IDC assessment is how they described Presidio’s SLED cybersecurity practice as a “company within a company.” In the public sector, “one size fits all” is a recipe for failure. A rural school district has vastly different needs—and budgets—than a major state agency.
Presidio has verticalized its security practice to ensure that security isn’t just an “add-on” to an infrastructure project; it is the foundation. Whether we are helping an agency modernize their cloud footprint or implementing a Zero Trust architecture, we do it with a “security-by-default” philosophy. We’ve built a delivery engine that has served over 1,000 SLED clients, supported by pre-established contract vehicles in all 50 states. We make the “how” of buying security as seamless as the “what.”
Flexibility in an Era of “Oh My God-Level” Breaches
In a previous blog post, I discussed the rise of “self-inflicted, ‘oh my god-level’ breaches”—incidents that happen not because of a lack of tools, but because of preventable vulnerabilities or a lack of staff to manage them.
The IDC report specifically called out Presidio’s Flex Service Credits as a game-changer for government. We know that state and local budgets are often rigid, yet the threat landscape is anything but. Our subscription-based model allows agencies to commit to an annual allocation and then pivot as needed. If you planned for advisory services but suddenly need implementation for an emergency fix or managed services to fill a sudden talent gap, you have the flexibility to shift.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
As I look at the road ahead, the challenges are daunting. We are seeing nation-state actors targeting critical infrastructure like never before, and the “agentic code tipping point” means attackers are now using autonomous systems to find our weaknesses.
But there is a reason for hope. As IDC’s analysis confirms, Presidio isn’t just keeping pace; we are setting the standard. By combining deep local presence with world-class technical expertise and the Presidio Human AI platform, we are helping SLED organizations build the resilience they need to protect the citizens they serve.
In the world of government technology, trust is the ultimate currency. At Presidio, we don’t just want to be your security provider—we want to be the partner you trust to help you navigate the brave new world on the other side of the Rubicon.
Final Thoughts
Presidio is honored to work with state and local governments, the education community and industry partners in technology and cybersecurity as well as groups like the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO), GovRAMP and NASTD. Our mission is to deliver world-class technology and security protections to this vital SLED community.
Check out this video to see how Presidio’s cybersecurity experts discuss the evolving role of the CISO and building trust in the public sector. This video features a deep dive into the leadership strategies that Presidio’s government cyber experts use to help organizations navigate today’s complex threat landscape.
