Tom Guarente, VP of External & Government Affairs at Armis

August 25, 2024

Presented by Armis

Navigating the Expanding Cyber Threat Landscape

Tom Guarente, VP of External & Government Affairs at Armis, delves into the complexities of managing the ever-expanding cyber attack surface faced by federal agencies. Guarente highlights the dynamic nature of this challenge, which now encompasses a wide range of technologies, including IoT devices, operational technology, and medical IoT devices, compounded by the integration of cloud environments. He emphasizes the necessity for a robust framework that enables agencies to continuously identify and manage vulnerabilities and dependencies within their systems. According to Guarente, situational awareness is crucial for understanding the current state of assets and how their interactions contribute to mitigating risks effectively. He argues that while shrinking the attack surface might be challenging due to rapid technological advancements and increasing attack vectors, having a structured framework and leveraging AI for real-time threat analysis can significantly improve an agency's defense. Guarente also advocates for a whole-of-nation approach, where collaboration between federal agencies, the private sector, and local governments enhances the collective capability to anticipate and counter cyber threats. Measuring success in this domain involves evaluating the effectiveness of new technologies and approaches against legacy systems and ensuring that cybersecurity is integrated early in program development rather than being an afterthought.

Key Takeaways:

1. The attack surface is continuously evolving with new technologies and must be actively managed using a structured framework.
   
   
2. Effective cybersecurity requires understanding and tracking the interactions and vulnerabilities of all assets within an environment.
   
   
3. A whole-of-nation strategy, involving collaboration between various sectors and leveraging AI, is essential for staying ahead of cyber adversaries.