Laks Prabhala
CISO, Alpha Omega
Laks Prabhala’s shift from the private sector to serving as CISO for the Justice Department and the 2020 Census sparked his passion for mission-driven work in federal public service. This experience highlighted the vital role of cybersecurity and privacy in protecting national security and sensitive information, shifting his focus from profit to purpose.
Prabhala expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to workforce development and cybersecurity education, and for the recognition of the collective efforts to protect the nation’s critical systems and data. His dedication to excellence is reinforced by completing Harvard’s Senior Executive Fellowship, receiving SANS’ Top Cybersecurity Award and being honored with the DOJ’s Assistant Attorney General’s Leadership Award — accolades that emphasize the importance of continuous learning and leadership in cybersecurity.
His commitment to developing the cyber workforce also led him to actively participate in university cybersecurity Centers of Excellence and mentorship programs, where he works to inspire and guide the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
“Laks has driven our cybersecurity mission forward by implementing robust, real-time defenses like zero trust and cyber resiliency frameworks,” said Gautam Ijoor, CEO and president at Alpha Omega. “His focus on evolving compliance through the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ensures that our federal clients have the tools they need to safeguard critical operations, not just for today but as threats continue to evolve in the years ahead.”
Why Watch
In 2025, Prabhala and his team will focus on the major shift toward efficacy-based, automated technical compliance, using advanced AI and machine learning to continuously assess and enhance security postures in real-time. Zero trust and cyber resilience initiatives will reach a tipping point, with both federal agencies and private sector organizations adopting this approach to strengthen defenses against increasingly sophisticated threats.
Additionally, the CMMC program will become a cornerstone of the state, local, federal and tribal security ecosystem, driving the widespread adoption of strong cybersecurity practices and creating a more secure environment for managing sensitive government information.