Renowned experts highlight cybersecurity symposium in March

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University alumna who is now a high-ranking official with the FBI and several prominent security experts and leaders will highlight a cybersecurity symposium next month.

The March 26-27 symposium, led by Purdue's Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS), also will feature a discussion by two cyberexperts who will present contrasting views on privacy issues related to the National Security Agency's surveillance efforts in the fight on terrorism.

Cybersecurity experts and researchers from around the nation will converge at Purdue for the two-day conference focusing on solutions and emerging technologies in the fight against cybercrime. It marks the 15th straight year for the CERIAS symposium.

Purdue alumna Amy S. Hess, executive assistant director of science and technology for the FBI, and George Kurtz, president, CEO and co-founder of CrowdStrike, will keynote the conference. The event also will feature the "two views" discussion on the NSA, panel discussions, a featured technical presentation, networking opportunities, and a security research and project poster session.

"Stories about issues with computing privacy and security were uncommon when we first started this symposium," said Eugene H. Spafford, the executive director of CERIAS. "Now they are front-page news several times a week. During all that time, CERIAS has been educating students to take on those problems and conducting research into how to prevent them. The symposium has been held annually to share some of our insights with a wider community."

Hess, a 1989 Purdue graduate from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is responsible for executive oversight of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, Laboratory and Operational Technology Divisions. She has held many roles since joining the FBI in 1991.

Kurtz is an internationally recognized security expert, author, entrepreneur and speaker. CrowdStrike, is a global provider of security technologies and services focused on identifying advanced threats and targeted attacks. The company focuses on helping enterprises and governments protect their most sensitive intellectual property and national security information.

The "two views" discussion, titled "Security Plus (not versus) Privacy," will feature David Medine, chair of the Federal Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and Mark Rasch, chief privacy officer of SAIC.

Other symposium highlights include:

* Panel discussions titled "APT, Threat Actors and Trends in Cybercrime," and "Sharing Incident Data While Under Attack";

* A featured technical presentation from Josh Corman, noted industry analyst and chief technology officer for Sonatype;

* A security research and project poster session, with a selection of the 60-plus projects currently in progress by CERIAS faculty and students;

* A "Fireside Chat" with the key speakers and led by Spafford. Audience members will be able to suggest topics; and

* Networking opportunities.

The CERIAS symposium is open to the general public, but registration is required, and there is an admission charge. Students with a Purdue identification will receive discount prices. There are discounts for attendees from government, nonprofit and educational institutions. To register, go to http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/site/symposium2014/ 

Spafford also noted that a research conference, the ninth International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security, will be held at Purdue the two days prior to the CERIAS symposium.

"We have arranged a reduced fee to the ICCWS for people who register for our symposium," he said.

More details about both events are available online at https://www.cerias.purdue.edu/site/blog/post/youre_invited/ 

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu