GDIT will fold AppGate tools into its Everest portfolio
The collaboration covers four priority areas, including OT security
GDIT’s Ben Gianni said agencies need flexible, dependable cyber tools

General Dynamics Information Technology and AppGate have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to expand their partnership and help federal agencies adopt zero trust security and bolster their cyber resilience.

What Is the Scope of the GDIT-AppGate Collaboration?

GDIT said Monday the collaboration focuses on four priority areas: secure interagency information sharing; tactical and edge operations; protection for operational technology; and artificial intelligence-enabled zero trust.

The operational technology work aims to reinforce defenses for industrial control systems and infrastructure critical to national security. Under the AI-enabled zero trust area, the companies will apply AI to analyze cyber data, respond to threats more quickly and support faster decision-making during dynamic mission operations.

Under the agreement, GDIT will integrate AppGate’s offerings into its Everest zero trust offerings, which agencies can rapidly deploy to support tactical edge, enterprise and interagency missions.

What Did GDIT & AppGate Officials Say About the Collaboration?

“Federal agencies need cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions that are flexible, dependable and built for the environments where missions happen,” said Ben Gianni, senior vice president and chief technology officer at GDIT. “By teaming with AppGate to accelerate zero trust implementation, we’re giving agencies a stronger way to protect vital information and work more securely with their mission partners.”

AppGate CEO Leo Taddeo said warfighters and federal agencies carry out large-scale operations in some of the world’s toughest environments.

“Our partnership with GDIT reflects a shared commitment to protecting the missions that can’t fail. From enterprise IT and operational technology to the tactical edge, AppGate Zero Trust Network Access delivers the speed and security those missions demand,” he added.

How Has GDIT Been Building Out Its Cyber Portfolio?

The AppGate agreement adds to a series of cybersecurity moves GDIT has made in 2026. In January, the company booked a $120 million Air Force task order to deliver an AI-enabled zero trust platform for the service’s bases worldwide, helping the Air Force meet the Department of War’s zero trust mandate ahead of the September 2027 deadline. GDIT also secured a $1.3 billion contract from the General Services Administration to operate, modernize and defend the Army National Guard’s classified and unclassified networks.

On the partnership front, GDIT has been working with emerging technology companies under its Vision, Innovation and Acceleration strategy. Its collaboration with NightDragon focuses on AI, cybersecurity and autonomous systems and has already generated more than $120 million in contracts, including work with Horizon3.ai to protect critical infrastructure at military installations. The company also partnered with OpenAI to deliver secure AI for federal agencies, pairing its systems integration capabilities with OpenAI’s models to support AI adoption and system modernization.

To unify its cyber expertise, GDIT appointed Ryan Heritage, a retired Marine Corps major general and former U.S. Cyber Command operations director, as vice president of full-spectrum cyber to lead its cyber center of excellence.

The expanded partnership comes weeks after Amy Johnson, a General Dynamics Mission Systems executive, was named president of GDIT.