Proven Strategies to Defend Your Data

In the fall of 2008, the Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, responsible for the Department of Defense’s Global Information Grid (GIG) realized there was a problem with how its many and diverse users were unwittingly introducing malware into the department’s closed networks.  The scope of the problem was significant, as the GIG comprises more than 15,000 local and regional area networks, engaging approximately seven million computers.  Worms, viruses and other exploitation code was embedded into easily acquired storage devices and the GIG was being infected by their use.  To combat the threat, the DoD banned the use of all removable thumb drives, memory sticks and flash-type drives its computers.

In the aftermath of this sweeping measure, the DoD and its partners have learned a great deal about how efforts to expeditiously move data from one computer or network to another, in the field and at headquarters, was opening the military information infrastructure to attack and providing valuable opportunities to foreign intelligence adversaries.  In February 2010, the DoD began to allow new portable memory devices to connect to its networks—but not on a wholesale basis as before.  Rather, “mission essential applications” may use selected drives that are procured and provided by the government and that meet specific security certifications.  Further, the devices must be managed by system administrators who are responsible for tracking them while in use with DoD networks.

This is your opportunity to hear directly from subject matter experts who will address:

• How We Got to this Point—The Genesis of the Portable Media Threat and Steps to Mitigate
• Understanding How Sophisticated Adversaries Attack with Unsophisticated Tactics
• Using Technology to Support Your Trusted Systems and Security Policies
• Proven Agency Strategies to Deliver Data Security and Flexibility to Government Operations
• How to Know Where Your Data Is and Who Has Access
  

Register today for this focused half-day program and learn how you can leverage the recent DoD experience to defend the data in your organization.  Learn what you must know about practical, actionable strategies that are relevant for civilian and military organizations alike.   In an era when virtually any employee or contractor can obtain and connect a USB thumb drive to a government computer network, it is essential that those charged with managing and protecting public sector information and infrastructures understand the options available now to support their security and operational policies.

Space is limited, so register today and reserve your place to attend this valuable program.  Do not miss your opportunity to update your knowledge of the security challenges and solutions, and how you can implement Proven Strategies to Defend Your Data.

We look forward to seeing you in July at the Willard.