AI is already impacting the way offensive and defensive cyber operations are being conducted. AI capabilities have increased the speed of offensive cyber operations and helped increase the believability to social engineering attacks. Defenders are struggling to keep pace while also exploring how best to leverage AI for active and passive defense measures. What was once science fiction of machine-on-machine cyber warfare is quickly becoming a reality.

In this breakout session, government and academic leaders discuss observations from the field and the latest academic research. The panel will discuss ideas on how the government can best position itself for the rapidly changing world of AI and cybersecurity.

The Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC) means DoD now has a multi-cloud/multi-vendor strategy. Initiatives like JADC2 and Artificial Intelligence and Data Acceleration (ADA), the evolution of the cloud ecosystem within DoD, and changes in user requirements to leverage multiple cloud environments to execute mission have driven the DoD to this juncture. By using different cloud providers defense agencies can match the right workload with the right cloud platform based on their unique requirements for performance, data location, scalability, and compliance.  However, multicloud environments add more complexity to defense networks, expanding the attack surface hackers can target and exploit.  Visibility across all infrastructures, whether on -premises or in cloud environments, is critical for cyber defenses to be effective.
In this breakout session, defense information technology and security experts will examine the policies, processes and technology that defense agencies need to protect information in a multi-cloud environment.

As the Federal Government’s primary provider of acquisition services, GSA awards more than $87 billion in contracts Government-wide and is committed to delivering innovation, value, and an exceptional customer experience.  The significant reorganization of GSA’s Assisted Acquisition Service (AAS) within GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is in progress, resulting in impacts to both GSA customers and the Industry Partners community.  Given the remarkable growth of AAS business it is critical for stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the Service Delivery models, how AAS will interact and support its government customers, and how industry can best engage across the enterprise.  We will hear directly from a representative from each of the five business units on the status of the reorganization, changes industry and customers might expect to their acquisition processes, and how this new model better services their client centric portfolios.

Beginning with Secretary Carter in 2015 and continuing today, DoD has embraced emerging technology like never before, including commercial capabilities and venture-backed start-ups.

This panel will assess DoD’s progress in diversifying its technology strategy through collaboration with emerging tech, including perspectives from both government and industry.

DoD and the broader community face a persistent risk due to the emergence of quantum technology capable of circumventing conventional cryptographic standards. Panelists will examine all facets of this risk, including to historic information accessed by our adversaries, its impact on initiatives like JADC2 and strategies for mitigating it, both technical and organizational.

The SolarWinds breach put the spotlight on supply chain risks and security. Although the DoD was not breached, 37 defense industrial base companies were hit by the sweeping SolarWinds supply chain hack attributed to the Russian government. The DoD has been aware of counterfeit equipment and supply risks for decades. However, security requirements and controls are so vast, they span across many areas in the IT and cybersecurity world. Traditionally, rear echelon supply chains were assumed to be a safe operation space. However, this is rapidly changing and rear supply chains are being contested, lengthened, and placed under threat. DoD is working strategies to operate in contested logistical spaces and will need to partner with supplies and industry to overcome these new challenges.

In this breakout session, defense and government security experts will provide insights into best practices, solutions and technology that will strengthen supply chain defenses.