Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection Symposium

Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos

TTC-CSFI Cyber Security Panel

CSFI’s Chief Cyber Strategist Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos moderated the Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection Symposium www.cybersecurityinfrastructure.net

which featured numerous outstanding speakers representing government agencies, organizations and the military, as well as government contractors and representatives from critical infrastructures.

They discussed the cyber threats that critical infrastructures face, cyber forecasts pertinent to national security and best practices among other issues.

The expert panel on “Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Sector Specific Agencies” included:

– Dr. Mica Endsley, Chief Scientist USAF

– Brigadier General (Ret) Gregory Touhill, USAF

– Colonel (Ret) Robert Morris, USAF

– Mr. Rod Turk, Director/CISO Office of Cyber Security, US Department of Commerce

The panel members engaged in a productive discussion and expressed the need to treat cyber attacks as a crime and they proposed the idea of a Cyber SWAT Team that would respond to attacks in real time. When discussing information sharing they talked about the importance of private-public information sharing, the responsibility of due diligence and the problem of attribution identification.

They closed by stressing that we all bear the responsibility of defending our networks and that a critical infrastructure’s employees are its first line of defense.

Paul de Souza, CSFI Founder President
http://www.csfi.us

 

Filed under: Cybersecurity

Cyberspace and Security…Thinking Like a Warrior!

USAF Harold “Punch” Moulton, Major General (ret.) – Senior Director, Cyberspace
Strategies Integration and Consulting, Stellar Solutions

Stellar Solutions

Harold “Punch” Moulton, Major General (ret.), USAF is a Senior Director,
Cyberspace Strategies, Integration, and Consulting at Stellar Solutions. I first met MG Punch Moulton when he was still in uniform as the Director of Operations at EUCOM. MG Punch Moulton thinks outside the box and every time he presents on cyberspace strategy and the “internet of things” the audience becomes highly involved. I had the pleasure of attending his presentation at the TTC Cyber Security and Infrastructure Protection in
Washington, DC on Sept. 18th-19th, 2013.

Over 20 Leading Experts from: SE/CIR/DHS, DISA, USCYBERCOM, US-CERT/DHS,
USNRC,DOE, DOC, FEMA, AF/ST, USACE/ERDC, NIST, USPS, USTelecom, GSA, NERC, Boeing, Dow, Verizon, Lancope, NAESB, NDU, InfraGard, GlobalSign, CyberUnited, Stellar Solutions & CSFI presented at this prestigious event.

Stellar Solutions http://www.stellarsolutions.com is an engineering services company providing end-to-end technical expertise and problem solving skills to significant national and
international aerospace programs. They distinguish themselves by satisfying their customers’ critical needs on diverse defense-related intelligence projects, international telecommunications satellites, commercial imagery satellites and NASA’s planetary and earth science missions.

Stellar goes beyond space and Intelligence. They also have a strong cyber security strategy consulting portfolio with valuable leadership insight for organizations looking into developing solid cyber security strategies.

I have presented and written on the importance of creating solid cyber security strategies as a way to create cyber situational awareness. I have followed Stellar’s vision regarding the importace of cyber strategies and I am quite impressed with the way Stellar Solutions is spreading the message.

Great presentation at TTC Punch!

Stellar Solutions Inc.
250 Cambridge Avenue, Suite 204,
Palo Alto, CA, 94306

Phone: (650) 473-9866
Fax (650) 473-9867
email info@stellarsolutions.com

Paul de Souza, CSFI Founder President
http://www.csfi.us

 

Filed under: Cybersecurity

The Silent Tiger

Amy Katru, the Chief Communications Officer for CSFI, presented at the Marcus Evans conference last week regarding The Silent Tiger project she has been working on for the past year along with her project members. The Silent Tiger is a project and a report that highlight the challenges and capabilities of India’s emerging cyber security. The first presentation regarding the project, Amy highlighted key points why America should pay attention to India’s progress and their effort in the cyber security domain.

India’s Chain of Command in terms of their cyber security posture, their main cyber agencies and plans for a cyber-command were discussed. The presentation also covered the Law and Policy of India. Amy discussed the Information Technology Act 2000 and the Information Technology Amendment Act 2008 along with the recent release of India’s National Cyber Security Policy. India’s Cyber Crime was also discussed since India is the leading country in Spam and Bot Infections. Amy highlighted the fact that the Cyber Crime of India is a reflection of the lack of education and awareness in India in the cyber security.

Her main concern was: Why should America care?

Her three arguments were: America’s National Security, Business Globalization and Situational Awareness.

With India’s efforts in improving their cyber security and their recent collaborations with countries like UK, Egypt and Israel, it is imperative for the American’s to be aware and prepared regarding the progress of India’s cyber security efforts.

 

Chief Communications Officer for CSFI – India Cyber Security SME

Filed under: Cybersecurity

Five Ulfberht Sword Leadership Tips for Business Growth

The Viking Ulfberht sword dominated the battlefields of many nations during 732–1066 AD. What made the Ulfberht special was its superior steel, even carbon distribution, and very little slag. The Ulfberht was very strong and yet flexible with the ability to penetrate armor.

“Ulfberht swords are made from crucible steel. Crucible steel is a manufacturing process that gets the steel hot enough to effectively separate slag (impurities) from the molten iron. The iron and carbon combined to produce steel was smelted inside of a crucible (sealed tight container) in an almost 3000 degrees oven.”

The technology used to produce this sword was ahead of its time, which puzzles scientists to this day. How were the Vikings able to create such heat to separate the impurities from the iron? This technology was only practical a thousand years later! The how does not matter much at this point, but the process of crafting the Ulfberht is directly related symbolically to the building of modern leaders. Some important lessons can be drawn from the making and the usability of the Ulfberht!

1- Use Only Superior Steel

The Vikings did not settle with the average European steel of the time; they knew that in order to win the battle, they needed superior steel. As a leader you cannot afford to work with average or inferior resources, whether they be people, processes, or technologies. Good leaders understand that “brittle” steel will break upon contact with the enemy. Good leaders take their time to build and work with superior steel. Take your time to prepare, There are NO shortcuts; work with a superior team.

2- Separate the Slag through Intense Heat.

The only way to separate the slag (impurities) from the molten iron is through super intense heat. As you lead people, you will eventually have to put your team through learning situations where they will be “purified” by heat, and the “impurities” or imperfections will be minimized to acceptable quality levels. Like people say, you will learn through fire! We all fail in life, but what makes us grow is the ability to get up, dust off, and keep on going and “growing” through the intense heat of adversity. A sane leader will have the ability to choose the right time to allow his team to fail and then be there to help them along the way with the proper support.

3- Be Rigid, Yet Flexible

Your team is an extension of you. Just like the Ulfberht sword, your team must be able to hit the target and penetrate what it was previously perceived as impenetrable (newer markets, great leads, more business, etc…). The Ulfberht sword was rigid enough to pierce through armor and flexible enough not to break when striking the shields of the enemies. Balance is key! In the business world, you will never walk away with the ideal deal. There is only room for negotiation, and one can only negotiate if flexible enough to compromise. Once a balanced strategy has been reached, then be rigid. Do not deviate from the target, and strike with all your might, mind, and heart!

4- Create a Crucible-like Work Environment

The quality steel needed to create the Ulfberht sword can only be produced in a sealed tight container called the crucible. Your work environment must be sealed tight. Your team must understand the meaning of “everything gets in, and nothing gets out” before the appropriate time. As an efficient leader, you must instill the virtues of loyalty, honor, and confidentiality within your team. It takes one small opening in the crucible for the entire process to fail. It only takes one team member who’s not committed to loyalty for the entire team to fall apart. “Loose lips sink ships.”

5- Honor and Value Thy Sword

In some occasions, the Vikings used bones of their ancestors along with carbon when making their swords in order to create a special more spiritual Ulfberht sword. A good leader will give of his or her own self (literally sweat and tears) to perfect the team. A real leader will honor and value his sword when in combat much like a family member would be valued and loved at home. Your team is what makes you a winner; without them you cannot and will not be truly successful.

Paul de Souza, CSFI President
http://www.csfi.us

 

Filed under: Cybersecurity