Overview

May 7

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Human error has long been the preferred weak spot for cybercriminals to attack.  As the threat landscape evolves, attacks increase in sophistication, and the attack surface expands, organizations should shift their focus to empowering and securing workforce identities. This will help in addressing immediate risks and foster a proactive culture of security awareness and resilience. These weak spots may come from an unaware employee falling victim to phishing or a novice developer using code possessing a known vulnerability. Despite advancements in security technologies, attacks that rely on human error are increasingly targeting government organizations.

Join us for a live discussion with Proofpoint’s Ryan Witt that will cover new threat intelligence research that can help public sector agencies better understand today’s advanced attacks.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

We will explore:

  • The prevalent cyberattacks experienced by the public sector
  • New research on where we have observed the threat landscape is the most active in public sector markets and where to prioritize your protection efforts
  • Best practices for a more robust cybersecurity posture

Speakers

Ryan Witt headshot

Ryan Witt

Vice President, Industry Solutions - Proofpoint

Ryan Witt is a recognized Healthcare Cyber Security Executive and a regular speaker at HIMSS, CHIME, AEHIS, etc. Currently, Ryan is Proofpoint's VP, Industry Solutions and responsible for the strategy and solutions for the company's healthcare and public sector business. Ryan is also the Chair of Proofpoint's Healthcare Advisory Board and an appointed member of HIMSS Cybersecurity, Privacy and Security Committee. Previously, Ryan was the healthcare leader for Fortinet and Juniper Networks where he also was the Chair for their respective Healthcare Customer Advisory Boards. Ryan was a contributor to the 2013 WEDI Report, a former Co-Chair of WEDI's Privacy & Security Workgroup and has been elected to the WEDI Board of Directors. Ryan was also elected to the Association for Executives in Health Information Security (AEHIS) Advisory Board. A graduate of San Jose State University, Ryan has spent much of his professional life in Europe, but he and his family now live in Silicon Valley.

Russ Nichols headshot

Russ Nichols

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Russ Nichols’ public service spanned over 32 years and included management and executive positions with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the California State Controller’s Office, and the Employment Development Department. In 2015, Nichols was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Chief Information Officer and Director of Enterprise Information Services. While serving at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Nichols also served as a board member for the Corrections Technology Association and served as CTA President from 2019 to 2021. In February 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Nichols Deputy State CIO and Chief Deputy Director at California Department of Technology. Prior to retirement, Nichols also served as Acting State CIO and CDT Director for several months. During his career, Russ won numerous awards including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s 2014 Administrator of the Year, Government Technology’s 2018 CIO of the year, and Government Technology’s 2023 California Public Sector Hall of Fame Award.

Deb Snyder headshot

Deb Snyder — Moderator

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Deb is an accomplished C-level executive, influencer and educator who has dedicated her career to improving state and local government services through policy and technology innovation. She has a broad range of experience in government programs, policy, cybersecurity, privacy and information technology. She formerly served as 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 strategically strengthen cybersecurity programs, defenses and preparedness, and to create and inspire the next generation of cyber leaders.

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