In a recent Breaking Defense webinar, leaders from the Department of Defense CIO, USINDOPACOM, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory shared insights on tackling cybersecurity challenges. The discussion was led by Barry Rosenberg, Technology & Special Projects Editor at Breaking Defense, with key contributions from Gurpreet Bhatia, DoD Principal Director for Cybersecurity; Army Brig. Gen. Mark Miles, Director of Command, Control, Communications & Cyber (J-6) at US Indo-Pacific Command; and Sean Manning, Assistant Program Area Manager for Cyber Operations & Intelligence at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
Traditionally, safeguarding defense networks involved setting up firewalls, akin to constructing physical fortifications to secure borders. However, these digital defenses are frequently breached, just as physical defenses have historically been undermined by adversaries aiming to steal data or disrupt operations.
To address these vulnerabilities, additional layers of cybersecurity are crucial. As Bhatia highlighted during the webinar, “Our strength lies in boundary defenses, but our weakness emerges once adversaries penetrate our systems. The objective is to prevent data loss and shield critical information from threats.”
Bhatia emphasized the importance of integrating our evolving cybersecurity framework with industrial partners to tackle the global supply chain risks. “We need to evaluate numerous threat vectors and determine an acceptable risk threshold for our operations.”
The one-hour webinar, now available on-demand, delved into these issues and more. Brig. Gen. Mark Miles discussed the pressing cybersecurity challenges faced in the Indo-Pacific region, underscoring the necessity of stronger partnerships with the commercial sector to safeguard critical infrastructure and better understand cyber risks.
Meanwhile, Sean Manning focused on how Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is addressing advanced persistent threats. He outlined efforts to protect critical systems relied upon for operations, including targeting, nuclear command and control, weapon systems, and strategic communications.
