Complex challenges require bold solutions.

As we previously discussed, the federal cyber security community must combat a wide-range of cyber threats that continue to evolve and change. Cyber security does not mean just stopping one type of attack, but all of them. That is easier said than done and shows the challenge government agencies face on a daily basis.

At the Symantec Government Symposium on December 5 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington D.C., leaders from government, industry and academia will discuss the bold solutions government must consider to stay ahead of the cyber challenge. This symposium will serve as a forum for stakeholders to discuss the solutions they currently use, learn what other agencies have done and see what innovative solutions industry continues to develop.

Everything-as-a-Service

The second of the event’s four tracks will directly address bold solutions in government.

The first panel of this track brings together leaders to discuss the roll of shared cyber security services. The White House has pushed agencies to consider a significant increase in shared IT services in an effort to reduce cost, improve efficiency and manage overall risk.

This includes shared cyber security services that multiple agencies can leverage. As the government moves toward a service-heavy model there will be lots of questions for these technology leaders to answer. For example, who ultimately owns the service? Who is in charge of running them? Who will fund them? Our panel will answer these questions and more.

Scheduled to speak are:

• Rod Turk, Acting Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Commerce

• Gregory Touhill, President, Cyxtera Federal Group

• Sean Kelley, Senior Director, Defense Health, Leidos

• Rob Walters, Vice President, Engineering Cyber Security Services, Symantec (Moderator)

Making Smart Investments

Justifying cyber security investments can be difficult for agency IT and security professionals. Agency leadership does not always understand the constant investment that cyber security needs to be effective. In the second panel of our bold solutions track, experts will discuss how to make the right investments in cyber security to meet a myriad of mandates and compliance requirements. The goal is to help agencies identify their biggest risks and how they can get smarter about where to apply cyber investments.

Scheduled to speak are:

• Derek Larson, Deputy Director for Cybersecurity Performance, Office of Management and Budget

• George Jakabcin, Chief Information Officer, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

• Vance Hitch, Senior Advisor, Deloitte Consulting

• George Teas, Director, Federal Systems Engineering, Symantec

This is just a snapshot of the high-quality content and education offered at this year’s Symantec Government Symposium. If you are interested in attending the event, please register.