ICCS 2009: Notes from the Floor

News and Media Relations staff covering the International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS 2009) are filing conference updates in addition to their regular stories:

Tuesday’s keynote session of Fordham’s International Conference on Cyber Security featured a brief appearance by Michael Balboni, deputy secretary for public safety for the State of New York. While other speakers emphasized the need for cooperation among organizations and professionals in fighting cybercrime, Balboni added a side note to individuals: secure your own personal systems. Those who spread malicious software, or botnets, won’t have as much success if each system maintains basic, up to date security. He also emphasized the point that a network is often only as strong as its weakest link.

“We are all connected,” Balboni said. “That means whoever utilizes your system, if they’re not secure, you’re not secure.”

Balboni also mentioned that New York State has a 24/7 cyber security system that offers intrusion detection, prevention, mitigation and recovery service. Why are municipal systems important? Balboni said that most of our nation’s operating systems– dams, electrical grids, telecommunications—are done through local municipalities.

—Janet Sassi

The conference, a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fordham University, will bring together global leaders in emerging cyber threat analysis and enforcement at the University's Lincoln Center campus from January 6 through 8, 2009.