State, Local, Federal Cybersecurity Executives Confer on 2022 Threats, Attack Landscape

Inaugural Cybersecurity in Government Virtual Summit to include CISO Public Sector Discussion Forums this week


WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Connectors, representing the largest cybersecurity community in North America, has announced a first-of-its-kind online event. Over 50,000 professionals focused on information security, risk, and governance have been invited for a Virtual Summit that will debate key issues.

The 2021 Cybersecurity in Government Virtual Summit will fuel a discussion among attendees and invited executive guests that have been wrangling with a continued deluge of cyber-attacks over the past 18 months (SolarWinds, Kaseya, Colonial Pipeline, etc.), alongside increased focus related to the most recent Executive Order on Cybersecurity.

Keynote presentations include John Felker, Former Assistant Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cyber Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), as well as Mark McIntyre, Chief Security Advisor from Microsoft Federal.

“The reality for cybersecurity leaders in the public sector can be more challenging than it is for their commercial business counterparts,” said Dawn Morrissey, CEO and Founder at Data Connectors. “The Summit this week will focus on important collaboration to help them overcome the issues they face with regard to ransomware, cyber skills and staffing concerns, as well as the changing threat landscape,” she concluded.

The summit will feature four expert panel discussions with well-known Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from state, federal, local government organizations as well as higher education. Community members in attendance are also executives at those same concerns, from across the US and Canada.

Some of the invited panelists include:

  • Shane Barney, CISO at USCIS-Department of Homeland Security
  • Dr. Brian Gardner, CISO, City of Dallas
  • James Wolff, Associate Administrator, CIO at U.S. Department of Energy
  • Nathan Shiflet - Former CISO, State of Florida
  • Aaron Verdell Call, CISO, WPS Health Solutions & Former CISO at State of Minnesota
  • Jeffrey Brown, CISO of State of Connecticut
  • Lester Godsey, CISO, Maricopa County, Arizona
  • Scott St. Pierre, Deputy Director, Cybersecurity Division at U.S. Navy
  • Shannon Lawson - ACIO/CISO, City of Phoenix

Attendees will ask questions and interact with the experts, as well as each other and the organizations who will feature their solutions at the event. Featured solutions providers at this summit include Attivo Networks, Ivanti, Axio, Cisco and many more.

Registration is FREE for qualified professionals, who can also obtain Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for participation. More information for the Summit can be found at dataconnectors.com/cyberingov.

About Data Connectors
Since 1999, Data Connectors (dataconnectors.com) has facilitated collaboration between senior cybersecurity professionals, government/law enforcement agencies, industry luminaries, and solution providers. Today, the community comprises over 650,000 members and 250 Community Partners across North America. Members enjoy informative education, networking and support via award-winning Virtual Summits, live conferences, Web Briefings, and regular communications.

Note to reporters: If you wish to attend these sessions at no charge, please contact Michael Hiskey, Chief Strategy Officer, at +1.636.778.9495, or info@dataconnectors.com.