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US State Department to modernise cyber security approach

In support of President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity (EO 14028), the US State Department’s Bureau of Information Resources Management (IRM) concluded a month-long cyber security workshop.

user icon Nastasha Tupas
Mon, 08 Nov 2021
US State Department to modernise cyber security approach
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Keeping with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s goal of the modernisation of American diplomacy in the areas of cyber security and emerging technologies, the IRM broadcast the cyber security workshop to over 100,000 State Department IT users at 270 embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions worldwide.

The month-long workshop highlighting Cybersecurity Awareness Month, was opened by the US State Department’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Keith A. Jones, who emphasised the importance of enabling a secure and innovative technological foundation for US diplomacy to advance US interests abroad and protect American prosperity from all cyber threats.

The workshop brings together State Department experts in cyber security, cloud services and communication technologies to lead timely internal discussions on protecting US foreign affairs networks and sensitive foreign policy data from malicious cyber actors.

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October is recognised annually in the United States as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year’s IRM workshop included key sessions on the unique challenges the United States faces in cyber space. Workshop outcomes included renewed cyber awareness and new directions for enhancing cloud-based technologies, network architecture, and cyber security strategies.

Keynote speakers included:

  • Donna Bennett, Chief Information Security Officer (CIS), US Department of State;
  • Chris DeRusha, Federal CISO, Office of Management and Budget;
  • Mike Duffy, Associate Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency;
  • Chris Inglis, National Cyber Director, Office of the National Cyber Director;
  • Keith Jones, Chief Information Officer, US Department of State;
  • Gharun Lacy, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, US Department of State; and
  • Kevin Mandia, chief executive officer of Mandiant.

This year constitutes the largest annual gathering of US diplomatic technologists. It also represents broader efforts across the US government to advance cyber security and technology modernisation, at the direction of President Biden’s Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity.

[Related: US State Department puts bounty on DarkSide leaders]

Nastasha Tupas

Nastasha Tupas

Nastasha is a Journalist at Momentum Media, she reports extensively across veterans affairs, cyber security and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific. She is a co-author of a book titled The Stories Women Journalists Tell, published by Penguin Random House. Previously, she was a Content Producer at Verizon Media, a Digital Producer for Yahoo! and Channel 7, a Digital Journalist at Sky News Australia, as well as a Website Manager and Digital Producer at SBS Australia. Nastasha started her career in media as a Video Producer and Digital News Presenter at News Corp Australia.

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