Key Takeaways
- The Boston Conference on Cyber Security has entered a new chapter in its nine-year history, with a new partnership with Boston College Law School and the FBI.
- The conference featured panel discussions on emerging technologies, operations, and enforcement, as well as cyber and national security concerns.
- The FBI’s Cyber Division has four key pillars: taking players off the battlefield, pressuring the threat, leveraging domestic authorities, and keeping the work victim-centered.
- Organizations are encouraged to have an existing relationship with the FBI, share information, and have an incident response plan in place to protect themselves from cyber attacks.
- The Boston College Law School’s Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance program is designed to address the increasing need for a holistic approach to cyber security challenges.
Introduction to the Boston Conference on Cyber Security
The Boston Conference on Cyber Security has marked a new chapter in its nine-year history, with a continued partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and a new location at Boston College Law School. The conference has been a significant event in the field of cyber security, bringing together experts from various sectors to discuss the latest trends and challenges. This year’s conference was particularly notable, with a range of panel discussions and keynote speakers, including Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division.
The FBI’s Role in Cyber Security
Brett Leatherman’s keynote address highlighted the importance of the FBI’s role in cyber security, particularly in terms of its impact on local, state, and international levels. He noted that in 2024 alone, Americans reported $1.5 billion in cyber crime losses to the FBI’s internet crime complaint center. The FBI has four key pillars of its cyber mission, which include taking players off the battlefield, pressuring the threat, leveraging domestic authorities, and keeping the work victim-centered. Leatherman emphasized the importance of removing the cloak of anonymity that many cyber actors hide behind, and highlighted recent international FBI operations that have led to the arrest of cyber criminals.
The Importance of Partnerships and Information-Sharing
Leatherman also stressed the importance of organizations having an existing relationship with the FBI, noting that "the best time to meet us is before you need us." He emphasized the need for information-sharing with the FBI, which is key to their efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of having an incident response plan in place that is up to date and rehearsed, as well as reporting any compromises to the FBI. By working together and sharing information, organizations can better protect themselves from cyber attacks and prevent further harm.
The Role of Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School’s Dean Odette Lienau noted that the Law School’s mission reflects the increasing need for a holistic approach to the challenges that cyber security poses. The school’s Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance program is designed to address this need, and is a natural extension of the school’s mission. Lienau emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach to ensuring a secure cyber environment, which is reflected in the conference’s emphasis on different sectors working together. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal and technical aspects of cyber security, and to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to address the complex challenges of the field.
The Future of Cyber Security
The Boston Conference on Cyber Security and the Boston College Law School’s Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance program are just a few examples of the many initiatives and programs that are being developed to address the growing need for cyber security expertise. As the field of cyber security continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more emphasis on collaboration and information-sharing between different sectors. By working together and sharing knowledge and expertise, we can better protect ourselves from cyber attacks and create a more secure cyber environment for everyone. The conference and the program are an important step in this direction, and demonstrate the commitment of Boston College Law School and the FBI to addressing the complex challenges of cyber security.
