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State of Cybersecurity in the DIB [Webinar]

On this week's special episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Chris speaks with Tony Bai, CSO at RISCPoint; Christopher Leslie, CIO at Red6; Vince Petrecca, VP of Sales & Business Development at PreVeil; and Peter Romness, VP of Partnerships at IsI Enterprises. They talk about the challenges that this segment faces in terms of addressing cybersecurity and the threats that are coming after them, which were highlighted in a recent survey RADICL conducted to understand how the DIB is viewing cybersecurity. 

The topics of the survey touched on questions such as what this segment’s  challenges are, their concerns, the incidents they've experienced, how they view CMMC, how they outsource service providers, and more as it pertains to protecting their data and operations and ultimately withstanding the advances of nation-state-level threat adversaries.

The panel also explores the transformative role of AI in enhancing cybersecurity protocols by making systems more resilient, offers practical advice on safeguarding businesses against emerging cyber threats, and tips for developing robust security measures.

Topics discussed:

  • The necessity of robust compliance measures for businesses to effectively tackle cybersecurity threats in the defense sector.
  • The need for comprehensive security plans to stay ahead of potential cyber threats and ensure organizational resilience.
  • How AI can enhance cybersecurity protocols by making systems more adaptive and resilient to emerging threats.
  • Practical steps for businesses to develop and implement effective security measures to protect against cyber attacks.
  • Tips for evaluating MSSPs and MDRs, focusing on their differences and how to choose the right provider for cybersecurity needs.
  • Predictions on upcoming trends and challenges in the cybersecurity landscape, offering insights into what businesses should prepare for.
  • The significant challenges businesses face in maintaining accurate and thorough documentation for compliance purposes.
  • The importance of integrating comprehensive policies and processes as part of a holistic cybersecurity strategy.
  • How cybersecurity is a team sport, requiring collaboration across various departments to effectively manage and mitigate risks.
  • Advice and wisdom on what businesses should focus on to enhance their cybersecurity posture. 

Guest Quotes:   

“Before cybersecurity, compliance was always a lip service and more seen as a kingdom of “no,” of “why get in our way of how to do things,” right? Where I think the DOD and the DIB are starting to realize that cyber security is a necessary part.”  Tony Bai

“So when CMMC and FARS and NIST came out, for me it was the perfect opportunity to get basically a cheat sheet into how to set up a secure framework for the entire company. And luckily, because we have a lot of Air Force or ex-Air Force pilots at the top, it was an easy decision to make in terms of compliance and allocating spend in order to get where we needed to be.”  Christopher Leslie

“It lays out that you should do these things. And so it kind of gives a roadmap to everybody, and it levels the playing field amongst all of the folks that, you know, once you say you're, and you're audited, that you are CMMC compliant, then if you're one of the first ones there, it becomes something that you can use as a differentiator for yourself.” Peter Romness

“In regards to budget, Chris, I'll just mention that what we're seeing is that if you want to save on your budget, for instance, for NIST, CMMC compliance, start earlier. The later you start, the bigger your budget is going to need to be, you're going to have less time, you're going to have fewer options, you're going to have to outsource more of it.”  Vince Petrecca

Get in touch with Tony Bai:  

LinkedIn 

Website

Get in touch with Christopher Leslie:  

LinkedIn 

Website

Get in touch with Vince Petrecca:  

LinkedIn 

Website

Get in touch with Peter Romness:  

LinkedIn 

Website 

Get in touch with your host, Chris Petersen: 

LinkedIn 

Listen to more episodes: 

Apple 

Spotify