State Department Official to Attend East Africa Cybersecurity Workshop

Chris Painter, coordinator for cyber issues for the U.S. State Department, announced he is to appear this week as a keynote speaker at the East Africa Workshop on Cyberspace Security in Kenya.

The workshop, which includes discussions led by government, academic and private-sector experts, will address cyber crime and cybersecurity issues and focus on cellphone…

Cybersecurity Contracting and R&D Opportunities Summit to Host Chris Painter and James Langevin

On Tuesday, May 11, the Cybersecurity Contracting and R&D Opportunities Summit will featured Chris Painter, the former acting cybersecurity coordinator and Rep. James Langevin. The Summit will discuss the growing threat landscape and the research and development and contracting opportunities associated with the growing nature of the threat.

“This cutting-edge forum will address public-private partnerships, R&D …

Experts at RSA Conference Call for Greater International Collaboration

During the RSA conference in California this week, international cyber experts have called for increased international cooperation of cybersecurity issues. Information sharing is one of the principle methods that can be used to combat cyber attacks, as was recently demonstrated in the dismantling of the Mariposa botnet.

“It is pure nonsense to attempt to handle cyberscecurity only at…

Acting Cyber Czar Says White House is not Behind in Cyber

The current acting Cyber Security Coordinator at the White House, Chris Painter, recently responded to the growing criticism targeting the White House’s inability to fill the position permanently. At the Federal Chief Information Officers Council’s 2009 Federal Identity Management and Cybersecurity Conference on Tuesday, he said “It’s a mistake to think that without a coordinator we’re not making progress,” according to an article on govinfosecurity.com.

Currently, Painter conducts…

DHS Can Hire 1000 Cyber Professionals

On Thursday, Janet Napolitano announced DHS has been authorized to hire up to 1,000 cybersecurity professionals.

The remarks came at the kick off meeting for National Cyber Security Awareness Month.The new hires will be distributed throughout DHS as Napolitano looks to make the department a premier center for cybersecurity knowledge.

Napolitano told the audience she is looking to bring in the new personnel within a maximum of three years,…

October is Cyber Awareness Month

President Nearing End of Search for Cybersecurity Coordinator

It is estimated that President Obama will announce the appointee to the cybersecurity coordinator position within the next two weeks. A source disclosed that the current front-runner for the position is Frank Kramer who served as assistant defense secretary under the Clinton Administration, although the source wished to remain anonymous at this time.

Aneesh Chopra, U.S. CTO, confirmed to reporters he has been interviewing potential candidates and a decision…