CFH #17 – Michael Smith
Who won the Super Bowl this year? Everyone did, in the sense that there were no major cyberattacks that disrupted the flow of the "Big Game" -- unlike, for instance the Pyeongchang Olympics, where ticket distribution was affected on the night of the Opening Ceremonies. For contracted cybersecurity services providers, protecting a prestigious one-off event like a sports championship or political convention brings major challenges such as building a secure network infrastructure at a temporary location, identifying the unique risks and relevant threat actors associated with each particular event, and combining physical security with digital security. In this session, the former cybersecurity adviser for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2014 Winter Olympic Games will examine these and other challenges, while citing best cyber practices associated with large-scale gatherings.
It's a tough call for MSSPs: Be really good at a small subset of services, which potentially limits your customer base? Or become a jack of all trades, but potentially stretch your resources thin and risk the possibility that you won't be able to truly master any of your specializations? This session will hopefully help cyber service providers find a happy medium between these two outcomes, by examining when it's best to stay in your comfort zone and when to broaden your horizons.
Full Audio
Segments
1. The Game Within the Game: Securing the Super Bowl & Other Large Gatherings – Michael Smith – CFH #17
Who won the Super Bowl this year? Everyone did, in the sense that there were no major cyberattacks that disrupted the flow of the "Big Game" -- unlike, for instance the Pyeongchang Olympics, where ticket distribution was affected on the night of the Opening Ceremonies. For contracted cybersecurity services providers, protecting a prestigious one-off event like a sports championship or political convention brings major challenges such as building a secure network infrastructure at a temporary location, identifying the unique risks and relevant threat actors associated with each particular event, and combining physical security with digital security. In this session, the former cybersecurity adviser for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2014 Winter Olympic Games will examine these and other challenges, while citing best cyber practices associated with large-scale gatherings.
Guest
Michael Smith is Vercara’s Field Chief Technology Officer. Smith initially started as a Russian translator in the U.S. Army, before serving in information security officer roles at Deloitte and Unisys and leading major government security projects. With over 30 years of experience in cybersecurity, information technology, and intelligence, he has managed high-profile incidents such as the wave of DDoS attacks against major U.S. banks in 2012 and 2013 and attacks by e-commerce account takeover gangs, as well as security monitoring for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and preparations for both the 2018 and 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Hosts
2. Go Broad or Stay Specialized With Your Services? The Quality vs. Quantity Debate – CFH #17
It's a tough call for MSSPs: Be really good at a small subset of services, which potentially limits your customer base? Or become a jack of all trades, but potentially stretch your resources thin and risk the possibility that you won't be able to truly master any of your specializations? This session will hopefully help cyber service providers find a happy medium between these two outcomes, by examining when it's best to stay in your comfort zone and when to broaden your horizons.
Hosts
