Overview

June 21

Today’s state and local governments don’t just need a strong cybersecurity posture. They need a truly comprehensive security program, one that’s agile enough to grow and flex as threats evolve.

To understand the importance of a lasting security program – how to build it, how to fund it and how to sustain it – Government Technology has invited two national experts with extensive experience leading cybersecurity programs in the public sector:

Maria Thompson, former Chief Risk and Security Officer, North Carolina
Geoff Brown, former Chief Information Security Officer, New York City

Join us June 21 for a 30-minute webcast featuring these two security leaders. They will discuss the importance of establishing real-time situational awareness, the need for a federated environment to achieve visibility, and how to build a culture of security within your state or local organization.

Speakers

Deborah A. Snyder — Moderator

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Deborah is an accomplished C-level executive, influencer and educator who has dedicated her career to improving state and local government services for the citizens of New York state through policy and technology innovation. She has a broad range of experience in government, policy, cybersecurity, privacy and information technology. She recently retired from the position of New York state’s chief information security officer, where she led the state’s cybersecurity programs and directed the NYS Cyber Command Center. She works with organizations and universities to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and preparedness, and to create and inspire the next generation of cyber leaders.

Geoff Brown — Speaker

VP of Global Intelligence Platforms, Recorded Future

Geoff Brown is the Vice President of Global Intelligence Platforms at Recorded Future. He is charged with driving forward a unified impact from the company’s premier cyber threat intelligence platform for global governments and corporations and gathering together an intelligence council of practitioner advisors collectively interested in a safer digital world. Prior to Recorded Future, Geoff Brown was Chief Information Security Officer for the City of New York between 2016 and 2022, a position focused on cybersecurity and aggregate information risk across all 100+ NYC departments and agencies. In July 2017, Mayor de Blasio established New York City Cyber Command, an agency led by Geoff, reporting to City Hall, and charged with consolidating and leading the City’s enterprise cybersecurity strategy, inclusive of building NYC Cyber Command itself, and through this new agency setting Citywide cybersecurity policies; directing response to cyber incidents; rationalizing the City’s cybersecurity spend and cyber defense technology footprint, and advising City Hall, agencies and departments on the City's overall cyber defense.

Maria S. Thompson — Speaker

State and Local Government Cybersecurity Lead, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Maria S. Thompson is the State and Local Government Cybersecurity Lead for Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this role, she brings over 20 years of experience in information technology, strategic planning, computer network defense and risk management. Prior to her role with AWS, Maria served as North Carolina’s first State Chief Risk and Security Officer. There she was instrumental in establishing the Whole of State Approach to Cyber. This included the development and implementation of the state’s first Cyber Disruption Plan, and the Joint Cyber Task Force (JCTF). Maria also served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and retired as the cybersecurity chief/information assurance chief for the Marine Corps. Other security roles held includes certification and accreditation (C&A) lead for the Multi-National Forces – Iraq and senior security engineer in a joint military organization and Security Operations Center lead for a federal agency.

Webinar

Building a Lasting Security Program