Capabilities

Agency Networks Are at Risk—We Protect with Zero Trust

Thunderdome helps secure critical government systems

When it comes to cybersecurity, “trust but verify” no longer cuts it. In a world of constant cyber threats, the new rule is clear—never trust, always verify.

That mindset forms the backbone of zero trust, a modern approach to cyber defense that assumes a network breach has already occurred and treats every request for access—from users, devices, or applications—as a threat. Verification happens continuously, and access is limited to only what’s necessary for users to do their jobs.

In the wake of recent cyberattacks targeting companies, the federal government, elected officials, and everyday citizens, the urgency of deploying zero trust across the federal government is clear.

In its 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence leaves no doubt that such attacks aren’t going away anytime soon. “[China] remains the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, private-sector, and critical infrastructure networks,” the report concludes.

In short, the stakes for zero trust implementation are unmistakably high.

Rising to the Challenge

Perhaps nowhere is the technology more critical than at the Department of Defense (DOD). The agency’s networks contain some of the nation’s most sensitive military, intelligence, and operational data. A DOD breach would expose classified information and put our troops at risk.

That’s where Booz Allen comes in. Working with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), DOD’s information technology agency, we developed and deployed Thunderdome, the nation’s largest zero-trust program and one of the most advanced cybersecurity efforts in the federal government today.

Understanding the urgency in shoring up security, we moved with speed by enhancing existing tools instead of starting from scratch. We strengthened the tech to meet DOD’s strict security standards and integrated them into a unified system that works across different environments—whether in the cloud, on a base, or in the field.

That adaptability is one of Thunderdome’s greatest strengths. It’s designed with an open architecture, meaning it works with the systems agencies already use—avoiding costly overhauls and accelerating deployment. It’s also built for the long haul. Through advanced AI-infused analytics that can spot new attack patterns and an open design that allows new tools or security features to be added quickly, Thunderdome helps future-proof critical systems. In a world where adversaries constantly evolve their tactics, that kind of flexibility isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Delivering Results—Fast

Thunderdome doesn’t just provide tools—it has delivered results.

Within its first year, Booz Allen helped deploy Thunderdome to more than 60 DISA sites and seven additional agencies. It has since been rolled out to the vast majority of DISA facilities, with even broader adoption planned across DOD, including the Coast Guard, U.S. Southern Command, the DOD Office of the Inspector General, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Defense Research and Engineering Network.

Just as important, the program is saving taxpayer dollars. Thunderdome has already helped the federal government save more than $300 million by reducing licensing fees, eliminating duplicate systems across agencies, and cutting the labor needed to manage outdated infrastructure.

It’s also moving the needle where it matters most: performance and security. Thunderdome cleared 152 out of 152 of DOD’s zero-trust capability benchmarks—meeting the Pentagon’s highest standard for cyber readiness. And it did so well ahead of the department’s 2027 deadline for full zero-trust implementation.

Built for Mission Speed

Thunderdome was built to solve a fundamental challenge: how to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks without slowing down mission-critical work.

It does exactly that. By integrating modern tools into existing systems, Thunderdome speeds up threat detection and response, reduces complexity for users, and helps agencies move faster without compromising security. It’s flexible enough to serve the diverse needs of agencies across the defense landscape—and scalable enough to keep evolving as threats do.

Thunderdome is now operational across most of DISA and growing fast. It’s more than a technology solution—it’s a blueprint for how the government can fight back in a rapidly evolving cyber battlefield.