The Security Detail

In this episode of The Security Detail, we explore the complex domain of election cybersecurity with Marci Andino, senior director of the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC). From international interference threats to localized phishing attacks, discover the varied challenges election offices face and the strategies deployed to safeguard the integrity of electoral processes.

Resources:

• EI-ISAC Resources: https://www.cisecurity.org/ei-isac

Cybersecurity is crucial for journalists and newsrooms to safeguard sensitive information, protect sources, and ensure the integrity of their reporting in an increasingly digital and interconnected media landscape. Episode 3 of The Security Detail features an interview with Runa Sandvik, a security researcher and founder of Granitt, a consulting firm that focuses on digital security for journalists and other at-risk people.

Resources: 

• Granitt Website

Water treatment facilities are part of the critical infrastructure that supports essential services. A cyberattack on these facilities could disrupt the supply of clean water, leading to severe consequences for public health, safety, and the economy. In this episode, two representatives from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, share strategies to defend the water sector from cyberattacks. They also provide an update on CISA's investigation into an Iranian-linked campaign targeting Israeli-made Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) at a number of US water utilities.

• CISA Risk and Vulnerability Assessments program

Season 2 of The Security Detail kicks off with an inside look at Cyber Coalition 2023, NATO's flagship cyber defence exercise. Audra Streetman traveled to Tallinn, Estonia to tour the exercise and interview creators and participants about the knowledge and collaboration needed to defend the Alliance from cyber threats. 

Links: 

Cyber Coalition 2023 NATO Blog

Wrapping up Season 1 of The Security Detail, episode 14 features interviews with a number of past guests about the best advice they've received in their career along with the failures they've learned the most from. 

Stay tuned for Season 2 of The Security Detail, which kicks off on January 3, 2024 with an episode about Cyber Coalition 2023, NATO's flagship cyber defense exercise. Audra Streetman traveled to Tallinn, Estonia to tour the exercise and interview creators and participants about the knowledge and collaboration needed to defend the Alliance from cyber threats. 

Cybersecurity in the energy sector is crucial for safeguarding critical infrastructure, preventing potential disruptions to power grids, and mitigating the risk of cyberattacks that could have severe economic, environmental, and societal consequences. In this episode, Joe Slowik, threat intelligence manager at Huntress, discusses the top cyber threats to the energy sector. 

Resources: 

Sandworm Disrupts Power in Ukraine Using a Novel Attack Against Operational Technology (Mandiant)

Attaining Focus: Evaluating Vulnerabilities In The Current Threat Environment

Exorcising the Ghost in the Machine: Debunking Myths Around Supply Chain Intrusions

Assessing The Balance Between Visibility & Confidentiality In ICS Network Traffic

E-ISAC

Cybersecurity Risk Information Sharing Program (CRISP)

Cybersecurity is crucial for the defence industry as it safeguards sensitive information, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure from cyber threats, ensuring the integrity and resilience of military technologies. In this episode, Luke O’Brien, NATO's principal engineer for cyber defence explains NATO’s unique approach to cybersecurity.

Resources: 

NATO Cyber Defence

NATO Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP)

NATO Crisis Management Exercise 2023 (CMX23)

2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius

NATO Rapid Reaction Team

Albania weighed invoking NATO’s Article 5 over Iranian cyberattack (Politico)

Cybersecurity has become a critical element in geopolitics, shaping international relations as nations grapple with the challenges of protecting their digital infrastructures and safeguarding national security in an interconnected world. In this episode, Dmitri Alperovitch, Executive Chairman at Silverado Policy Accelerator, discusses the intersection between cybersecurity and geopolitics and the evolving role of cyber in modern conflict.

Resources:

World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century

Geopolitics Decanted podcast by Silverado

Follow Dmitri on X

Infamous Chisel report

Storm-0558 Report

Volt Typhoon Report

The Alperovitch Institute

Silverado Policy Accelerator

Cybersecurity in aviation is paramount as it safeguards critical systems, ensuring the safety of passengers and the integrity of flight operations. In this episode, Richard Waine, head of SecOps at easyJet, discusses the aviation cyber threat landscape and how easyJet is tackling a range of technical and policy issues. 

Resources: 

easyJet.com

Aviation ISAC

The cyber threat landscape for education has evolved rapidly, with ransomware attacks and data breaches targeting schools and universities, highlighting the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in the sector. In this episode, Brett Callow, threat analyst at Emsisoft, shares his observations about the cybercrime ecosystem and how schools and universities can best defend against these attacks. 

Resources: 

Unpacking the MOVEit Breach: Statistics and Analysis (Emsisoft)

The State of Ransomware in the US: Report and Statistics 2022 (Emsisoft)

Protecting Our Future: Partnering to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity (CISA)