Month: June 2025

How can today’s service members and their families stay mission-ready in the face of evolving demands? This episode of the Fed2Fed podcast by GOVTECH CONNECTS explores how advanced technology, integrated health expertise, and performance-focused strategies are transforming readiness and well-being across every stage of the mission lifecycle.

Leidos leaders Liz Porter, Health & Civil Sector President; Dr. Keita Franklin, Chief Behavioral Health Officer; and Thad Allen, Senior Advisor, share how smarter support systems—powered by real-time data, holistic health models, and innovation—are driving measurable impact for military communities.

Listen now to learn how new approaches to care and performance are helping service members and their families build resilience, sustain readiness, and thrive during and after service.

Listen here.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey here at GoDaddy.

Hey! I’m Gonzalo Romero, and I’ve been leading digital security operations at GoDaddy Registry for the past five years. Alongside an incredible team, I help oversee a major contract between GoDaddy and the Colombian government to manage the country’s ccTLD (“.CO”).

My role is all about ensuring compliance and keeping things secure; I handle the technical and human resources needed to meet every contractual requirement tied to risk and abuse management for the ccTLD. This includes key tech, operational and infosec aspects like contingency planning, business continuity, disaster recovery, incident response, as well as IT/cybersecurity audits.

It’s a dynamic space, and working with such a talented team makes every challenge worth tackling. Keeping the “.CO” internet namespace safe and resilient is the goal, and we’re always looking for ways to strengthen security and innovate.

Can you describe a project or initiative that you are particularly proud of?

Throughout my experience as the Risk and Security Manager for Colombia’s ccTLD (“.CO”), my biggest challenge has been protecting its image and reputation through a zero-tolerance approach to abuse (DNS, content, CSAM) and malicious domain usage. It’s a challenging task that requires constant monitoring, quick action, and strategic enforcement.

Despite the challenges and complexities, I’ve always had strong corporate backing, with full support in terms of people resources and expertise. This commitment makes a significant difference, allowing us to remain focused, proactive, and uphold the integrity of “.CO” as a trusted digital space.

How do you stay updated on the latest security threats and trends?

Digital security is paramount here at GoDaddy. Our Chief Information Security Officer is an exemplary leader, highly skilled in cybersecurity, and continuously motivates us to keep learning, stay ahead of industry trends, and refine our best practices in security and privacy management.

GoDaddy provides a robust set of online learning tools, news, key websites, and resources that allow us as IT and Infosec Engineers to stay informed and up to date. This continuous access to training ensures that we’re always equipped with the latest knowledge to tackle emerging challenges and strengthen security across the organization. Furthermore, sites like Krebs on Security, Security Week, CSO Online, Dark Reading and The Hacker News are very useful as they offer several news and updated information on the digital security field.

Are there any resources that you would recommend to others interested in personal development?

A few of my highly recommended books are: Atomic Habits, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Mindset. Mindshift (from Coursera), Personal Development (from Skillshare) and LinkedIn Learning are extraordinary e-Learning platforms. Ted Talks and the Global Leadership Network are communities I personally follow closely for motivating, inspiring, mentorship and leadership related matters.

What aspects of GoDaddy’s company culture do you appreciate the most?

One of the best things about GoDaddy’s enterprise culture is the “all for one, and one for all” mentality.

There’s a strong sense of teamwork here—people openly and genuinely support each other, share knowledge, and celebrate each other’s successes. 

Our corporate’s Everyday Champions program is a great example of this culture in action. It’s not just about recognition; it’s about fostering growth, encouraging collaboration, and making sure everyone feels valued. When one person excels, the whole team benefits, creating an environment where people are motivated to contribute and push each other to new heights.

Beyond that, GoDaddy places a strong emphasis on investing in its employees as a central aspect of its corporate culture. Through leadership development programs, open feedback channels, and mentorship opportunities, the organization ensures its staff have the resources necessary for success. Growth isn’t merely encouraged—it’s an integral part of the company’s DNA.

At the end of the day, it’s all about inclusion, learning, and collective success; our enterprise culture isn’t just something people talk about—it’s something each of us feel every day: “when you win, we all are winning.”

What activities do you do in your free time?

My favorite pastime is spending quality time with my family, whether we’re cooking together at home or dining out at restaurants that serve delicious and healthy food. Along with my wife and three children, I’m passionate about reading and sports. I frequently swim and play squash, and enjoy walking, participating in 5K and 10K races, and scuba diving with my family. I visit the gym once a week for stretching, activation, and strengthening exercises, and I make a point to meditate daily, as well as practice yoga and pilates.

In the evenings, we often gather to watch series and movies, as well as soccer, tennis, motorsport, and basketball games. My wife is an NBA fan, and I love watching games with her.

In recent months, I’ve been dedicating more free time to researching and finding relevant and innovative AI books, platforms and resources to share with my children. I am convinced of the relevance of digital transformation and the beneficial, rational and appropriate usage of technology in the development and evolution of us as leading, thinking and responsible human beings for our future. Furthermore, driven by my deep love for the ocean and a desire to care for what gives us so much, I recently became a certified RAID diving instructor. It’s a very personal achievement — one that speaks to who I am and also connects deeply with the values we live every day at GoDaddy: passion, purpose, and the constant drive to grow and make a difference.

What’s your motto or personal mantra?

“Generosity is the mother of abundance.” Giving—whether love, time, knowledge, or support—creates a ripple effect that leads to fulfillment and shared human success. The more we contribute, the more we build a world of love, empathy, awareness and opportunities.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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The world is changing and so are the markets. US SIF (Sustainable Investment Forum) is exploring new initiatives that will strategically position members with better risk-based analytics to navigate the increasing volatility and offer innovative collaborations with the diverse perspectives, creativity and investment acumen needed to identify new risks and opportunities within the finance markets in this rapidly changing world.

The first US SIF Collaboration for Innovation will be launched during its Annual Forum in Washington, DC on June 25-27. Led by US SIF Board Member and Founder of First Peoples Worldwide, Rebecca Adamson, the collaboration will establish an investors and Indigenous Peoples’ hub that combines investment acumen and academic rigor with a global Indigenous network for innovating Sustainable Indigenous Finance. The purpose of the Sustainable Indigenous Finance Collaboration is to provide practical analytics and evidence-based research (including quantitative and empirical evidence on Indigenous risks) and establish a safe creative space to translate Indigenous priorities (such as land rights, culture shelf determination, and FPIC), specifically through the lens of financial materiality.

Financial Materiality and Indigenous Peoples – A new report by US SIF, First Peoples, and ImpactARC, Sustainable Indigenous Finance: Investors and Indigenous Peoples, found that investors often overlook the potential adverse impacts on Indigenous peoples that can then result in significant business risks — from supply chain disruptions to land tenure disputes — and hence, affect financial performance.

Read more about all of this here – https://greenmoney.com/sustainable-indigenous-finance-collaboration-for-innovation-to-be-launched-at-the-us-sif-annual-forum-2

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The recent energy grid blackouts across Spain, Portugal and parts of France were one of world’s biggest ever power system collapses. Effective modelling of the energy grid would have helped avoid this outcome and is a cautionary tale for any operator who has not already built a digital twin of their grid operation.

Digital twins are virtual replicas of real-world assets that let operators simulate and analyze without risk. A digital twin for power grids is a digital representation of the power network model and real-time measurements that can simulate a variety of scenarios (Haag and Anderl 2018). Rebuilding an entire national grid isn’t practical or affordable but digitally mirroring it? That’s smart. In fact, grid simulation tools have been powering control rooms since the 1970s, now digital twins are taking that capability to the next level.

In the face of growing cybersecurity threats, the power to run fully automated simulations using real-time data and live network topology is a critical defense. Digital twins enable operators to pinpoint system vulnerabilities, test new technologies safely, and assess how cyberattacks or extreme events could impact operations before they strike. With automated, parallel simulations, these virtual replicas can help you stay one step ahead of evolving threats.

In this post, we explore how EXata, Keysight Technologies’ advanced communication emulation platform, helps grid operators assess, harden, and protect critical energy infrastructure.

Example of a power grid digital twin

To see firsthand how a digital twin can be used to understand, and prepare for real-world attacks, we have demonstrated how a real cyber-attack on the Ukraine power grid can be modeled and analyzed using EXata. This was a very sophisticated attack, planned and executed over several months prior to the actual power outage. The attackers probed the system for weaknesses and exploited them to gradually infiltrate the network. They first gained access to the corporate IT network, using emails with infected attachments as the initial entry point. Once they infiltrated the corporate network, the attackers snooped around until they were able to steal credentials that gave them access to the SCADA network and, subsequently, the relays at the substations.

This combination of deploying different types of cyber-attacks, gradually infiltrating the system through successive layers of security by probing and adapting the attacks, and exploiting human behavior represents real-world cyber-attacks against different types of organizations and can be modeled within EXata.

The attack model can be easily modified to create what-if scenarios, for example by changing the firewall rules or changing the network topology and access control rules to better isolate critical segments of the network.

These scenarios can be simulated and the effects of changes evaluated by visualization, analyzing statistics, and observing the effects on connected systems. Therefore, effectiveness of different mitigation strategies can be studied. The visualization capabilities offer a convenient training platform where operators can interact with the simulation model, launch attacks, and modify firewall rules, then observe their effects on the system’s behavior in real time. Thus, operators can be trained to recognize breaches and learn how to counter them in a timely manner.

Benefits of digital twins in the energy grid

According to the US Department of Energy “Digital twins, or detailed software models of physical systems, will play a key role in this modernization, enabling utilities to understand weaknesses, detect problems quickly, and address them effectively without risking the operational grid. As a result, this investment will help:

• Keep Your Lights On: Improved grid security and reliability means fewer blackouts and outages for consumers.
• Keep You Safe: Fewer power disruptions that affect critical services like hospitals, emergency response systems, and public transportation translate to beneficial impacts to public health and safety.
• Keep Power Affordable: When utilities spend less time and money responding to grid disruptions, customers will benefit from efficiency of operations.”

Extensive work by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US has demonstrated the benefits of Digital Twin + AI to create the Control Room of the Future. In Europe the eFORT project is developing the digital twin as one of its main solutions with the expectation of revolutionizing grid security by enhancing cyber security. It aims to secure the interconnected power grids in Europe and make them resilient to cyber-attacks, maintenance faults, terrorism, natural hazards, or similar related events (at infrastructure, hardware, software, and organizational levels).

In our last blog, Establishing strong roots of grid security, we spoke about the increase of cyberattacks on the energy grid by cyber criminals and hostile states. State-linked cyber groups increasingly target industrial control systems pivotal to energy infrastructure.

In response to growing threats, regulatory bodies and standards organizations have issued new frameworks such as IEEE 2030.5, IEC 62351, and NERC CIP. These standards help, but compliance alone is not enough. Utilities need tools to test, simulate, and validate their systems against evolving attack scenarios.

Keysight digital twin for the grid

Keysight EXata is used in the defense and critical national infrastructure sectors because it allows the user to create a network digital twin for real-time simulation and emulation that replicates the behavior of a network. The emulator provides an exact, high-quality model, indistinguishable from the real system, to digitally represent the entire network, the various protocol layers, antennas, and devices. The system can interoperate, at one or more protocol layers, with real radios and devices to provide hardware-in-the-loop capabilities. It can also be connected to systems with real applications.

EXata for Cyber-Physical (EXata CPS) modelling is integrated with OPAL-RT’s HYPERSIM or RT-LABS simulator on the same hardware to offer a complete real-time solution for the development, testing, and assessment of electrical grids with communication networks.

Proactive cyber security using a digital twin

Grid operators use EXata CPS to simulate, visualize, and strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Integrated with OPAL-RT’s power system simulators, it replicates both the power and communication layers of the grid in real-time.

Key capabilities include:

• High-Fidelity Network Emulation: Model real-world ICS/SCADA communication protocols, delays, bandwidth, and jitter.
• Scenario Testing and Red-Teaming: Simulate attacks such as man-in-the-middle, DDoS, or spoofed control signals across live grid environments.
• Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) Training: Train operators and security teams using real-time simulations of high-impact events.
• Graphical Visualization: Real-time dashboards of traffic flows, device states, intrusion attempts, and cascading effects.

These features allow grid operators to conduct “what-if” simulations that expose hidden vulnerabilities and guide investment in preventive controls. The key takeaway from energy grid cyber-attacks like the ones we have seen in Ukraine or the active Chinese intrusion in the US grid is that static defenses are no longer enough. Cyberattacks on grid systems are not hypothetical, and absolute prevention is unrealistic. Keysight EXata can help grid operators;

• Anticipate: Assume the grid will be targeted.
• Detect: Identify anomalies before damage occurs.
• Respond: Practice recovery in realistic simulations to minimize downtime and disruption.

With a long history in the energy sector, Keysight is dedicated to safeguarding critical national energy systems. You can read more about how we keep energy grids safe on our Grid Modernization page.

Keysight is your partner for energy cyber security.

Written by Sascha Segan

Qualcomm has pioneered many different breakthroughs over the last four decades, but our mission remains the same: Bringing those innovations to as many people as possible.

From our original foundational work on cellular capabilities with CDMA technology to how we’re positioning your favorite products to take advantage of the AI revolution, Qualcomm has — and continues to have — a major impact on your life.

Our drive to continuously innovate is marked by several critical missions we have embarked on over the last 40 years. A throughline of all those missions was to tap into technology to change the world.

And we’ve changed the world. A lot.

As we celebrate our 40^th anniversary, here are the five big missions we took on and the revolutions they sparked.

First mission: Mobility for all

Qualcomm’s first ambition was to ensure everybody had a cellphone, which in 1985 was an alien concept.

That solution came in the form of CDMA, short for Code Division Multiple Access, a radio technology that allowed more simultaneous calls on the network. This opened the door to everyone potentially getting a phone.

CDMA was a foundational building block for 3G wireless service and has been one of the core concepts in mobile networking ever since, from 4G to our current 5G and the next iteration of cellular technology, 6G.

“We saw early on that we had the ability to create technology, a technology called CDMA, that could make sure that everybody could have a phone with incredible quality and scale… that is how the company started, you know, the name of the company — Qualcomm — is quality communications. That’s our very first mission,” said Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon during his recent keynote appearance at SXSW, where he took a lap on the history and missions the company has executed in the last 40 years.

Second mission: More than phone calls

Modern smartphones are versatile, like Swiss Army Knives, capable of handling everything from shooting Hollywood-caliber films to paying for goods like a credit card or playing immersive mobile games. 

But there was a time when your cellphone was just good for one thing: Making actual phone calls. 

Qualcomm saw the potential for more, starting with the PDQ-800, the first “smartphone” that combined a cellphone with the open, application-friendly OS used by Palm Pilots. 

We continued to push this vision of integrating various consumer devices. The days of carrying a dedicated digital camera for photos and an MP3 player or Walkman for music were becoming numbered. The vision culminated with the introduction of Snapdragon in 2007, which enabled the integration of many more capabilities through apps and services.   

“We take for granted that they’re part of the phone now,” Amon said. 

Third mission: Making your phone a computer

Qualcomm next tackled the challenge of creating a processor that was both fast and small enough to turn a cellphone into a true powerhouse, a smartphone. 

The result was the first CPU with processor speeds of 1 gigahertz — another breakthrough from Qualcomm. The Scorpion CPU debuted in 2006 and would later power our line of Snapdragon processors, which debuted a year later.

In that same year in 2006, Qualcomm also published patents based on the concept of an app store running on our BREW operating system, an example of how we were already looking forward, anticipating where smartphones would eventually go. 

“We’re so proud of having created some of the technologies and having partnered with so many companies to bring the smartphone revolution to life,” Amon said.  

One of the key factors that made smartphones so versatile and indispensable was the Snapdragon processor. Over time, it has become even more powerful and energy-efficient, culminating in our latest flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is found in many of the world’s top-tier smartphones.

Fourth mission: Expanding beyond phones 

It wasn’t enough for Snapdragon to be the brains behind just smartphones. We challenged ourselves to bring its power to a broader range of devices. 

“Can we get this incredible technology that got developed for mobile and can we take this to every other device?” Amon said. 

From laptops to cars, Snapdragon attributes — such as built-in connectivity, powerful processor or an energy-efficient architecture — could enhance a variety of devices. You can see this in action with the new line of Windows Copilot+ PCs utilizing the Snapdragon X Elite platform, or the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite heading into future premium cars. 

This mission to expand our technology to more devices is ongoing, and we are committed to continuing this journey. 

Fifth mission: The AI-UI revolution

Our latest mission is to transform how we interact with our devices. The artificial intelligence revolution is here, and we believe generative AI will become the new user interface. This evolution began with the keyboard, progressed to the mouse, and then to touchscreens, with multimodal inputs now allowing you to speak or show objects to your AI digital assistant.

We are driving this transition with powerful processors that enable devices to leverage large language models (LLMs) directly on the device or tap into the cloud for more advanced inferences, maximizing the capabilities of AI assistants to respond to your queries.

“It’s the next big change on the horizon, and we’re only at the beginning of this transformation,” Amon said.

Learn more about our company
 

^{Opinions expressed in the content posted here are the personal opinions of the original authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of Qualcomm Incorporated or its subsidiaries (“Qualcomm”). The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be an endorsement or representation by Qualcomm or any other party. This site may also provide links or references to non-Qualcomm sites and resources. Qualcomm makes no representations, warranties, or other commitments whatsoever about any non-Qualcomm sites or third-party resources that may be referenced, accessible from, or linked to this site.}

^{Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.}

Mastercard Economics Institute

Secondhand, pre-loved, pre-owned, upcycled – no matter the stitch or state, the circular fashion market is gaining popularity, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute. Shoppers are increasingly choosing circular items across price points, driven by savings and environmental benefits. Increasing its relevance, the market may be more immune to policy and global trade impacts since new product creation is not involved, a key element that could further fuel consumer appeal.

In addition to gaining market share, circular fashion has different seasonality trends than the broader retail space and is concentrated in cities. Using aggregated and anonymized Mastercard data, these spending trends and impacts are explored in more detail as a key part of the online apparel sector.

Read the full report from the Mastercard Economics Institute

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Throughout the months of April and May, Southwire’s Project GIFT® partnered with Water Mission to host Walk for Water events across the company. More than 350 participants volunteered their time to be a part of the events this year, collecting more than $38,000 in support of Water Mission.

Walk for Water is a community event that raises awareness and funds for the global water crisis. At the event, participants walk a course that is roughly 2-3 miles, simulating the trek that many people around the world take to get drinking water each day.

According to the Water Mission website, two billion people around the world lack access to safe water. The non-profit was founded in 2001 with the goal of ending this crisis by bringing clean, fresh water to those in less fortunate circumstances.

“Walk for Water is one of my favorite events,” said Stefanie Anderson, senior giving back specialist at Southwire. “Water Mission’s goal is so important. Clean water is often something we all take for granted. I always bring my children so that they can learn about the world and know that they that they can have an impact, even if it is small steps.”

This spring, Southwire facilities in Bremen, Ind., Denton, Texas, Youngsville, N.C., the West Ga. region, Calgary and Toronto, Canada, and Honduras hosted walks in their communities. The Southwire Honduras team was joined at their event by members of Water Mission’s own Honduras-based team. 2025 marks the fourth year that Southwire sites participated in Walk for Water.

“Being a part of this event is something small and doable for our community, but the global impact that it has is tremendous,” said Candice Winters, director of people and culture at Southwire. “We are giving clean water—which is essential yet taken for granted—to communities that would not otherwise be able to have it. It is such a cool event for an amazing purpose and organization.”

Access to clean, safe water transforms lives. Worldwide, millions of people are forced to rely on polluted water sources, exposing them to severe health risks caused by waterborne diseases. Clean water is the first step in paving the way not just for health, but for education and economic growth while helping to break the cycle of poverty.

“It’s truly inspiring to see Southwire employees across so many locations unite with one purpose—to walk, raise awareness and help provide access to safe water,” said Heather Fleming, national walk program specialist for Water Mission. “Their commitment through Walk for Water is making a tangible difference, not just for individuals but for entire communities. Safe water means improved health, the opportunity for children to attend school and the ability for families to thrive. Southwire’s partnership is a powerful reminder that when we walk together, we bring lasting change to those who need it most.”

Project GIFT’s Walk for Water is made possible with the support of many community sponsors including West Georgia Technical College, CDT Construction, University of West Georgia, Medimpact, Heart Wood Products, Cintas, 3:16 Healthcare, RaLin, Tisinger Vance, Phoenix Wood Products and Gradick Communications.

To learn more about Southwire’s Giving Back activities and strategy, click here. For more Southwire news, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom.