Emerging Cyber Threats – Spy Museum Event

Secure networks hacked…critical information stolen without a trace….government websites brought down… Cyber espionage looms as a chilling and little understood threat. As we witness the rise of cyber warfare, just how vulnerable are we?

I had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion in Washington DC last week on Emerging Cyber Threats held at the International Spy Musuem.

The panel consisted of Melissa Hathaway, former acting senior director for cyberspace for the National Security and Homeland Security Councils

James Lewis, director and senior fellow, Technology and Public Policy Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Michael Assante, chief security officer for NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation)

Keith Epstein, award-winning writer and investigative journalist at BusinessWeek

And notably present in the audience, John Stewart, Chief Security Officer at Cisco Systems.

I was able to capture a few video clips using my Flip HD Camera from the audience, sorry about the vantage point showing the backs of people’s heads…

Melissa discusses Cyber issues and what keeps her up at night:

What is a Crime? Or act of War? In Cyberspace…

And the subject of Cloud Computing Security came up, this apparently keeps the entire panel “up at night”. Much concern was expressed about this issue.

And finally, a very impressive speech by Michael on the Power Grid.