EVENT THEME:
Protecting the Digital Wealth of Australia through Collective Cyber Defense

Hosted By

Date: Tuesday, 23rd March 2021

Time: 10:30am – 11:30am (AEDT)

Location

Australia

Synopsis and overview of the session

Following an engaging roundtable between key Australian Cyber Security Executives and IronNet founder General (Ret.) Keith Alexander in December 2020, we would like to continue the discussion and introduce IronNet co-founder and COO Major General (Ret.) Brett Williams. As the former Director of Operations for U.S. Cyber Command, General Williams was the architect of DoD’s operational approach to cyberspace operations. We intend to facilitate an open conversation on how to operationalise the concept of Collective Defense – moderated by Strategic Cyber Security Advisor David Fairman.

As the internet expands its reach into the far corners of the world, nations are becoming increasingly reliant on it as the basis for their current and future economies. Australia is a wealthy country with high levels of online connectivity and the increase of digital growth can bring benefits for both the public and private sectors, it also expands the threat landscape — and makes securing a nation’s digital infrastructure both more critical and more difficult than ever.

The frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks are on the rise as more adversaries take an all-of-nation approach, while organisations are expected to defend on their own. Based on his experience as NSA director and founding commander of U.S. Cyber Command, General (Ret.) Keith Alexander believes that a Collective Defense approach can provide companies, sectors — even entire nations — a more effective defense against these massive, coordinated cyber attacks. AI and machine learning-based behavioural analytics detect unknown threats that signature-based tools miss. And sharing those threats in a secure ecosystem,  at network speed, creates a new approach to cybersecurity that acts as a force multiplier for everyone involved.

Focus Network, in partnership with IronNet Cybersecurity, will be bringing leading IT Security executives to discuss:

• Global cyber threat landscape with special focus on Australia
• Development of 5G and what threats it pose for cybersecurity in the future
• What does collaboration mean for Australia. Bringing together Government, Business and the Community to share behaviours and insights into cyber attacks across supply chains, and ecosystems.
• The weak links that exists in the supply chain
• What each organisation can do/contribute to keep the whole ecosystem cyber secure

Presenter

Major General (Ret.) Brett Williams, IronNet co-founder and Chief Operating Officer

Major General (Ret) Brett Williams is a co-founder of IronNet and the Chief Operating Officer. In this position he supports strategic planning and oversees business process management and performance metrics. He serves as a thought leader in both cybersecurity and leadership.

A highly experienced combat fighter pilot, General Williams held several significant command positions during his 33-year career with the U.S. Air Force. As Director of Operations for U.S. Cyber Command, General Williams was the architect of DoD’s operational approach to cyberspace operations. He was responsible for the operations and defense of DoD networks, and offensive cyberspace operations in support of U.S. strategic objectives. General Williams also served as Director of Operations (A30) at the Pentagon, leading more than 1,300 Airmen and civilians stationed worldwide, and as Director of Communications, Command and Control for U.S Pacific Command.

As an authority on cyber security, General Williams has appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. In addition, he conducts cyber-risk training seminars for corporate boards as a faculty member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. He earned a BS in Computer Science from Duke University and three additional graduate degrees in management and national security studies.

Moderator

David Fairman, Director, Terkus

David is a highly experienced professional in the Security & Fraud disciplines.

David has worked for, and consulted to, several large financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies, across all regions. David is a passionate leader in Cyber Security and Financial Crime and has been actively involved in founding several industry alliances and expert groups, holding Board positions, with the aim of making it safer to do business and transact in the digital world.

David has been recognised as one of the Top CISOs to know, is a published author and adjunct professor.

A core capability of David is his ability to understand the risks arising from digital commerce, translate these into strategic actions encompassing technological solutions and capability maturity, in order to transform an organisation’s ability to manage all aspects of cyber and digital risk.

David’s current focus is driving collaboration and innovation across the industry to address current and emerging threats prevalent with digital risk and improve the cyber resiliency and literacy in the community.

About IronNet Cybersecurity

IronNet’s mission is to deliver the power of collective cybersecurity to defend companies, sectors, and nations. The team consists of expert offensive and defensive cybersecurity operators with unmatched experience defending commercial and government networks against advanced threats.

Website: www.ironnet.com