SPOTLIGHT: Open-source growth across defence and national security, with SUSE CMO Margaret Dawson

Welcome to the world of resilient, mission-ready defence systems – welcome to open source. In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Margaret Dawson, chief marketing officer at SUSE, to explore the evolving role of open source software in modern defence environments. Dougherty and Dawson discuss how the open-source model is being applied across defence, from enterprise systems to tactical edge environments, where software must operate securely in disconnected, high-risk conditions. Benefits include greater transparency, rapid innovation and scalable collaboration internationally. Dawson explains how technologies like Linux and Kubernetes support modular, lightweight architectures, allowing defence organisations to deploy and manage applications across diverse and constrained environments. The conversation also highlights key challenges, including air-gapped systems, security requirements and software supply chain integrity, alongside the role of industry in delivering hardened, compliant solutions. Looking ahead, the pair touch on the growing influence of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and how open-source principles can support faster, more adaptable capability development. This is more than a technology discussion, it's about enabling resilient, mission-ready defence systems through modern software approaches. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team