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Avatara Platform Achieves FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency Under DoD Mandates

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Pre-configured CMMC-aligned enterprise and enclave workspaces can be deployed in as little as 30 days—helping over 220,000 defense contractors meet CMMC requirements faster and remain eligible for federal contracts 

Key Takeaways

Avatara Platform achieves FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency for handling sensitive defense dataPlatform enables defense contractors to inherit 80% of CMMC Level 2 objectives, reducing compliance burdensDefense contractors can deploy fully-managed CMMC-aligned enterprise and enclave workspaces in as little as 30 daysAvatara’s solution targets 220,000+ companies competing for a share of more than $300 billion annually in DoD procurement and R&D spendingAvatara workspaces meet both NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 standards

ST. LOUIS, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Avatara, which provides businesses with compliant IT systems-as-a-service, announced today that Avatara Platform has achieved FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency under Department of Defense (DoD) mandates. 

The Avatara Platform achieved FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency under DoD mandates, strengthening Avatara’s CMMC offering.

This certification validates the company’s platform for handling sensitive defense data and strengthens Avatara’s CMMC offering — fully-managed enterprise and enclave workspaces that can be deployed in as little as 30 days, helping defense contractors meet mandatory Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 requirements without redesigning their existing IT infrastructure. The platform supports all 110 CMMC Level 2 controls, with 80% of required objectives inherited directly from Avatara Platform, significantly reducing the compliance burden on contractors preparing for certification.

“This is a big win for Avatara, and for the hundreds of thousands of defense contractors that need secure environments that protect sensitive data while meeting strict security regulations,” said Rob McCormick, founder and CEO of Avatara. “Our FedRAMP equivalency validates our data-centric security foundation and helps customers achieve compliance faster and with greater confidence.”

FedRAMP (the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is the U.S. government’s standard for evaluating the security of cloud services. Defense contractors that utilize third-parties to store, process or transmit sensitive defense data must use providers that meet FedRAMP Moderate authorized or equivalent standards under DFARS 252.204-7012. 

The Stakes for Defense Contractors

More than 220,000 companies across the Defense Industrial Base are subject to CMMC requirements. These organizations compete for a share of more than $300 billion annually in DoD procurement and R&D spending. Under DFARS 252.204-7012, any contractor storing, processing, or transmitting controlled defense information in the cloud must use a provider that meets FedRAMP Moderate authorized or equivalent security standards. As CMMC enforcement accelerates through 2026 and beyond, companies operating in non-compliant environments risk disqualification from contract awards—making secure, compliant infrastructure not just a technical requirement, but a prerequisite for competing and winning new business.

“Achieving FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency is another strong testament to Avatara Platform’s core ability to deliver simple, secure, and compliant information systems,” added Brandon DiMemmo, VP of Product for Avatara. “At a time when the market is saturated with overly complex, piecemeal solutions and uncertain compliance outcomes, Avatara stands apart by delivering an all-inclusive, fully managed platform that makes compliance more attainable, predictable, and less burdensome for customers.”

FAQs: CMMC & Avatara Platform

How many companies are affected by CMMC Level 2 requirements?

Over 220,000 companies across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) must meet CMMC requirements.

What’s at stake for defense contractors?

These organizations compete for a share of more than $300 billion annually in DoD procurement and R&D spending.

What’s the risk of non-compliance with CMMC Level 2?

Defense contractors face two related requirements: their cloud providers must meet FedRAMP Moderate authorized or equivalent standards under DFARS 252.204-7012, and the contractors themselves must achieve CMMC certification. Failure to meet either requirement can result in disqualification from DoD contract awards. 

When is the deadline for CMMC enforcement?

CMMC enforcement accelerates through 2026 and beyond. Self-assessments are currently required. Additionally, third-party certification requirements will be phased into DoD contracts starting in November 2026, with many prime contractors already imposing flow down requirements for subcontractors. 

How does Avatara Platform Help Defense Contractors Meet CMMC Requirements?

Avatara Platform helps defense contractors meet CMMC Level 2 requirements without redesigning their existing IT infrastructure. The platform supports all 110 CMMC Level 2 controls, with 80% of required objectives inherited directly from Avatara Platform, significantly reducing the compliance burden on contractors preparing for certification.

Pre-configured and fully-managed, Avatara Platform allows defense contractors to store, process and transmit sensitive defense data within isolated, secure enterprise and enclave workspaces that meet both NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 standards. 

Avatara Platform Explained:

Avatara Platform is a fully managed, compliant information system pre-designed to host and operate a customer’s complete IT environment. The platform delivers standardized, CMMC-aligned enterprise and enclave workspaces that are built, secured, and operated by Avatara on behalf of each customer. 

Avatara provisions isolated, dedicated environments produced from the same system architecture, much like identical products coming off an assembly line. Offered as a simple per-user, per-month subscription, workspaces include everything required to support the customer’s handling of sensitive defense data. And, unlike traditional offerings, Avatara provides and manages the entire IT stack. 

Deployed in as little as 30 days, customers simply access Avatara Platform from anywhere with a secure login.

About Avatara

Headquartered in St. Louis, Avatara is the developer of Avatara Platform, a fully-managed, all-inclusive, IT systems-as-a-service platform that allows businesses to significantly cut their annual IT spend, while meeting the rising tide of security and compliance standards impacting industries throughout the world. Avatara solves the problem of increasing cost, complexity, and compliance – The Three C’s of IT. We eliminate the endless cycle of acquiring, building, and maintaining an ever-evolving technology foundation to run your business.

Since its founding over 20 years ago, Avatara has worked with hundreds of businesses spanning a range of industries, including defense contractors, manufacturing, architecture, engineering, construction, healthcare, legal, finance, and retail sectors, among many others. Visit avataraplatform.com to learn more. 

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SOURCE Avatara

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HKAGE Showcases Gifted Students’ Learning Journeys at InnoCarnival 2026

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Promoting “Technology for Good” Through Innovation and Creativity 

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has been invited to participate in InnoCarnival 2026, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Under the theme “Technology for Good, Innovation for All”, HKAGE will showcase the learning journeys of gifted students who have completed programmes on AI robotic arms, underwater archaeology, etc., demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to address societal needs.

Having proactively aligned its work with the education development strategies of the Education Bureau (EDB), HKAGE fully supports the EDB’s Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, which seeks to advance the digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong. Building on its Talent Development Model, HKAGE systematically develops programmes, provides diversified learning experiences and engages in cross-sector collaborations to nurture gifted talents equipped with innovative capabilities, technological literacy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. At the exhibition this year, HKAGE will present how students applied knowledge gained through gifted education programmes and learning experiences in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, environmental science, underwater archaeology and sustainable development to design socially conscious solutions. These experiences reflect the students’ ability to serve society with knowledge and respond creatively to diverse challenges.

Among the highlights is the learning journey of students in the “Artificial Intelligence Course: Creative AI Robotic Arm for Inclusion”. After acquiring foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor applications, students designed, tested and refined intelligent robotic arm prototypes through real-time data analysis and algorithms. With the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, students explored various application scenarios for intelligent robotic arms. Another showcase features the “Environmental Science Course: Bat Echoes – Voices of the Night”. Through acoustic monitoring, the exhibition demonstrates how students recorded bat voices and analysed related activity data and characteristics. The programme enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of local biodiversity and explore practical approaches to ecological conservation.

The HKAGE exhibition booth also features an interactive photo-taking device, allowing visitors to take photos with different gifted programme themes and share the joy of learning.

On the first day of the exhibition, a “Build Your Own Glider Parent-Child Workshop” is specially organised by HKAGE for the visitors. Under the guidance of instructors and assisted by HKAGE students, participants will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics, including lift, gravity, thrust and drag. They will also learn to design, assemble and decorate their own gliders by using lightweight and durable materials, experiencing the joy of science and engineering.

Mr WONG Chung Po, Acting Executive Director of HKAGE, said: “The Academy is committed to providing gifted students with diversified learning platforms and encouraging them to transform knowledge into innovative practices that generate positive social impact. Participation in this exhibition not only provides students with a valuable learning experience that helps consolidate the knowledge acquired in gifted programmes, but also enables the public to better understand how gifted education nurtures a new generation of creative and socially responsible talents to jointly advance the philosophy of ‘Technology for Good’.”

InnoCarnival 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

Date:

24 Oct – 1 Nov

Venue:

The Hong Kong Science Park

Booth:

C08-09

Time:

10:00 – 17:00 (Mon to Fri)

10:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

 

About the HKAGE

Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hkage-showcases-gifted-students-learning-journeys-at-innocarnival-2026-302918606.html

SOURCE Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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