McLean, Virginia - Allen Hudson, Director of Commercial at Sahouri Insurance moderated the Cyber & Defense panel at the TiE DC Capital GovCon 2021 Conference.
Panel: Cyber & Defense
Allen moderated the panel discussion between Carlos Sanchez, Chief Information Technology Security Officer for the Executive Office and Office of Director at the National Institutes of Health, Molly Breen, CEO of Perygee, and Srinivas Mukkamala, Senior Vice President Security Products of Ivanti.
The panel addressed cyber security in the public and private sectors.
What Tools to Utilize
When asked what cyber security tools companies should utilize, Breen suggested that first, companies should understand the scope of their threat. How large is the company? What industry? What resources does your company have?
Breen said, “it goes back to, what is the why and what are you solving for.” Once this is determined, companies can then decide which cyber tools fit their specific needs. She also stated that two-factor authentication and strong passwords are basic tools that every company should employ.
Software Security
Mukkamala addressed issues behind software security. He stated that software companies self-certify their software. Meaning, that companies must take the software company’s word that their code is secure.
However, he also said that the United States government is heading down a path to hold software companies accountable for creating secure code. In the meantime, he suggests taking extra time and care to read software user agreements.
Government Requirements
Allen Hudson asked the panelists how Government Contractors should prepare for upcoming cyber security requirements and legislation. Sanchez suggests that employees should be trained on secure coding practices and companies should create checks and balances for coding creation.
This way, programmers are looking for weaknesses throughout the entire code creation process. Breen added on to say that the government’s definition of critical infrastructure will grow to include digital technology in the coming years.
What should you do if your business is hacked?
“Breaches are going to happen, but for me, the question is how fast can your business recover?” asked Sanchez. Mukkamala agreed by saying that “every response should have recovery as a priority.” He also suggests using the breach as an opportunity to advance your cyber security strategy.
In fact, Mukkamala believes a breach can be a positive experience. Stakeholders and clients will likely respond positively if companies are transparent by discussing the lessons learned and the steps they took to improve security.
What is the government’s approach to cyber tools?
While he can not speak for the entire government, Sanchez stated that the National Institute of Health evaluates their programs every three years.
About the TiE DC Capital GovCon Conference
The annual TiE DC Capital GovCon Conference brings together government and industry leaders to foster knowledge and establish connections for Government Contractors. The multi-day event featured panels and round tables focused on innovation and upcoming trends and changes in the industry Panelists included Government leaders from the DOD, DOS, NIS, SBA, NHS, DHS as well as a number of multi-national private organizations specializing in technology and federal contracts.
About the The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)
The Indus Entrepreneurs is a non-profit that supports start-up companies through networking and fundraising. According to its website, " TiE connects the entire entrepreneurship ecosystem from early-stage entrepreneurs, serial entrepreneurs, professionals at leading corporations, venture capital, angel investors, thought leaders among others."
The organization was founded by businessman and MIT professor, Kanwal Rekhi. TiE's reach is worldwide with 60 chapters located in 17 different countries.
Sahouri's Federal Advocacy
Our specialized GovCon Insurance Advocates have a deep understanding of Prime-Sub Contractor dynamics and the insurance challenges faced by both; from rapidly scaling operations and fulfilling wage requirements to satisfying ever-evolving federal coverage and compliance mandates, we have solutions for every obstacle.
Whether they do business at home or aboard, we integrate peer-level Casualty and Benefits insurance consulting to deliver an integrated risk, health, and wealth solution for Government Contractors, driving Growth through Protection and Savings (GPS).
