Quad Cities FIRST Lego League Challenge

There was a FIRST Lego League regional meet at the Putnam Museum on Saturday. Quite a good turnout, with a couple hundred kids (aged 9-14), parents and teachers from the region. The event was co-sposored by the Quad Cities Engineering and Science Council and Iowa State University. To learn more about FIRST programs, like this, visit http://www.usfirst.org.

[ Article from QC Times ]

The Evolving Role of the Security Manager

Dan Kaplan, a senior editor at SC Magazine, wrote an excellent piece on the evolving role of the security manager and the value of security certification and training, in this month's "20th Anniversary" issue of SC Magazine. Dan included some of my comments, as well as those of other security leaders and innovators. Worth a read.

[Read the SC Magazine Article here.] [2nd Link]

New Quad City Cybersecurity Group Formed

I've created a new group for the Quad City area, focused on cybersecurity issues. We also discuss infrastructure protection, physical security and related computer topics. At this time, the group is vetting new members, and we intend on meeting monthly. We met this last week for coffee, at Starbucks in Bettendorf, IA.

If you are a security expert, computer professional or interested community member, join us on Facebook or LinkedIn.

LANL Fails Again on Cybersecurity Efforts

New security weaknesses have been idenfied in a recent GAO audit of Los Alamos computer systems. Having been a network and security manager, briefly in the 1990s, this comes as no real surprise. But, I would have thought after a spate of incidents in the past 13 years since I left to form my own company, they would have figured out a better way to protect their classified networks.

Los Alamos National Laboratory has spent $45 million to secure its classified computer network between fiscal years 2001 and 2008, according to a report issued Friday by the Government Accountability Office, yet significant weaknesses remain in safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information stored on and transmitted over its classified computer network.

The audit, requested by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, cites Los Alamos' management as saying funding for its core classified cybersecurity program has been inadequate for implementing an effective program during fiscal years 2007 and 2008.

[Read More]

U.S. Cyberwar Planning

Progress on a plan for not only cyberdefence, but also cyber-warfare has been made. Meanwhile, Obama still has not chosen a "US Cyber Czar"... [more]

In addition to being more and more involved in the Illinois FBI Infragard chapter, I've been a part of the Cyber Security Forum Initiative (you need to get vetted to join on LinkedIn). I've noticed their website has been down, recently. I wonder if the work this private group has accomplished on the Cyberwar front has garnered the attention of Big Brother??

Photos from Black Hat and Def Con 17

• Photos from Black Hat 2009


• Photos from Def Con 17

Preparing for Black Hat 2009

The Black Hat USA 2009 conference begins in less than two weeks. I'm excited, but have a lot of preparation to do! I will be on a panel on Tuesday, and the executive briefings and then I am on a panel Wednesday morning.

I'm planning on a long week, and since I'm staying the weekend, I'll have time to relax and enjoy myself. There are lots of interesting topics for Black Hat and DEFCON. If you're going to be there, drop me a line!