Cyber Focus: Cybersecurity, National Security, and Critical Infrastructure

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo speaks with John Katko, the former ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee. They discuss Katko's transition from focusing on terrorism to cybersecurity, the establishment and evolution of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the critical legislation Katko championed to strengthen U.S. cybersecurity defenses....

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo sits down with Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cyber Services at Venable, and Harley Geiger, Counsel on Cyber Issues at Venable, to discuss the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Chevron deference. They delve into the implications of this ruling on cybersecurity policy, regulatory practices, and the broader tech landscape. Main Topics:  Unde...

Tim Starks is a senior reporter at CyberScoop with over two decades of experience in cyber reporting. In this episode he dives into the landscape of spyware, highlighting its impact on national security and individual privacy. The discussion with Frank Cilluffo also touches on the actions taken by the U.S. and Poland to address spyware threats, the significance of BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) in...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo explores the evolving landscape of cyber insurance with Matt McCabe. McCabe shares the history, current state, and future challenges of cyber insurance, emphasizing its critical role in national resilience against cyber threats. The discussion covers the fundamental coverage aspects of cyber insurance, the impact of ransomware, and the need for a fede...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo sits down with Sue Gordon, a distinguished figure in the intelligence community. The discussion delves into her vast experiences, particularly focusing on the intersection of intelligence, national security, and cyber threats. Sue shares insights on the importance of public-private partnerships in cybersecurity, the evolving threat landscape, and the...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo sits down with Tanel Sepp, Estonia's Ambassador at Large for Cyber Diplomacy. They explore how Estonia emerged as a cyber superpower despite its small size, the significance of the Tallinn Mechanism in cyber defense, and the evolving role of cyber in warfare. Tanel shares personal insights from his extensive diplomatic career and discusses the le...

In this episode Frank Cilluffo engages with two distinguished former intelligence officials, Teresa Shea and Glenn Gaffney, to dissect the multifaceted world of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of cybersecurity and intelligence gathering. They delve into the definitions, applications, and implications of AI, focusing on its role in enhancing security measures against increasingly sophisti...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo engages with Todd Conklin, the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber at the Department of Treasury. They delve into recent advancements and initiatives the Treasury has been involved in, focusing on the integration of AI and cybersecurity within financial services. The conversation highlights the strategic...

Today Frank Cilluffo sits down with Christopher Porter, former National Intelligence Officer for cyber matters and current executive at Google. They delve into the complexities of cybersecurity during government transitions, the critical role of intelligence briefings, and the impact of emerging technologies on national security. Drawing from his extensive background in both public and private sec...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, Frank Cilluffo hosts Steve Kelly, Chief Trust Officer at the Institute for Security and Technology. With a rich background that includes roles at the National Security Council and the FBI, Steve shares his deep insights into the cybersecurity landscape. The discussion covers the expanding attack surface due to emerging technologies, the convergence of physical and c...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo engages in an insightful discussion with Michael Daniel, President of the Cyber Threat Alliance, former Cybersecurity Coordinator for President Obama, and McCrary Institute Senior Fellow. They delve into the intricacies of cybersecurity policy, the evolution of cybercrime as an industry, and the importance of operational collaboration between the...

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo sits down with Phil Venables, Chief Information Security Officer for Google Cloud. They discuss Venables' work co-leading the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology's report on cyber-physical resilience, and its key recommendations including creating a national critical infrastructure observatory. The conversation also covers G...

In this episode of Cyber Focus Frank Cilluffo and Matt Hayden discuss the intricate challenges posed by cyber threats and the role of organizations like CISA in coordinating defense efforts. They discuss the influence of emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing, the impact of emerging technologies on defenses, and the zero trust security model to enhance resilience. Main Topics Cover...

Flashpoint CEO Josh Lefkowitz joins us for a fascinating talk about how 9/11 changed the trajectory of his career, the impact of Telegram worldwide and how A.I. is making human analysts better.

On location at the RSA Conference 2024, we talk to Alison King and Elisa Costante about the National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, the 2024 Report on Cybersecurity Posture of the United States, and creating opportunities for women in cyber.

In this episode Frank Cilluffo sits down with Anjana Rajan, the Assistant National Cyber Director for technology security at the Office of the National Cyber Director in the White House. Their discussion sheds light on the challenges and complexities of reshaping the cybersecurity landscape with better buildings blocks.  Together, they explore the White House's call for broader use of memory safe...

Gavin Wilde helped create  the formal U.S. assessment of Russia's foreign influence campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Now a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, he's asking whether the drive to thwart those efforts in damaging our democracy. In today's episode, Gavin shares with Frank Cilluffo why he is pushing back on assumptions about those campaigns, and the real dangers o...

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently updated its widely used Cybersecurity Framework. Cheri Pascoe, Director of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE), joins us for this episode to talk about the new 2.0 edition of the framework, and why it's better equipped to respond to the current challenges cybersecurity professionals face. Find the CSF 2.0 here.

As an investigative cyber reporter for Reuters, Chris Bing spends his days uncovering the facts behind the world's biggest cyber stories. In this episode he shares with Frank what it's like to break news on cyber criminal activities, including the ransomware attack on Change Healthcare wrecking havoc on the industry's payment processes. Chris also shares insights into how governments are cracking...

On this week's Cyber focus, Frank Cilluffo interviews Mark Montgomery, the Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. They address the commission's history and role in shaping U.S. cybersecurity policies. They also outline unfinished business in the field, and explore the challenges posed by China and TikTok.

As Director General of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, Yigal Unna oversaw every aspect of Israel's cyber defenses. In this episode he shares with Frank what he thinks of the international threat landscape, the growth of private cyber defense start-ups, and his advice for a restructured approach to U.S. cyber organizations.  

As the former Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) Bill Evanina led the U.S. efforts to block and disrupt foreign espionage from advisories like China. On this week's episode, he shares insights into the shape of those operations, and what should be happening now to stay ahead of the actions China is taking now.   

On this week's episode, Chris Krebs shares insights into the current highs and lows of the cybersecurity world. He looks back on his years of public service, the performance of those that followed him after his departure from CISA in 2020, and gives advice to those managing risks inside the private sector. 

George Barnes worked inside the National Security Agency for 35 years. Before retiring last year, he served as the agency's Deputy Director and most senior civilian leader. In this week's episode, George shares what led the NSA to leave behind the complete secrecy of the past, and embrace a more open posture with the American people. He also lays out his vision for improving the country's cyber se...

Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of CrowdStrike and Silverado Policy Accelerator, and the Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima join Frank Cilluffo for an engaging discussion of how to keep cyber threats in the proper global perspective. They both share insights into the current conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the potential for future conflict over Taiwan.