National Guard as a Cyber Defense Organization | A Conversation With Dr. Hunter LaCroix and Marco Ciappelli | Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast With Sean Martin

Guests: Dr. Hunter LaCroix, Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland Global Campus [@umdglobalcampus] and EMT Firefighter Rescue Technician Hazmat Specialist, State of Maryland [@StateMaryland]

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-l-035498234/

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/sean-martin ____________________________

This Episode’s Sponsors

Imperva | https://itspm.ag/imperva277117988

Pentera | https://itspm.ag/penteri67a

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Episode Notes

In this episode of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast, Sean Martin is joined by Dr. Hunter LaCroix and Marco Ciappelli to discuss the intersection of emergency management and cybersecurity. Dr. LaCroix argues that there is a significant disconnect between the two areas, with emergency management professionals not considering cyber attacks as a true area of disaster. This is despite increasing cybercriminal activity targeting local and state governments and their supporting critical infrastructure. The conversation points out that there is a need for a cyber capability that develops around the physical disaster response framework, similar to the response we often see when a natural disaster occurs.

States such as Ohio and California have implemented cybersecurity volunteer reserves and cybersecurity watch centers, respectively. The National Guard units also assist local entities during cyber incidents and play a vital role in emergency management relationships. Pre-existing relationships with the National Guard can be leveraged and building public-private partnerships is critical in cybersecurity incident response. The private sector and cybersecurity professionals trust the National Guard to be a leader in local and state cybersecurity incident response. Still, there is a widespread problem at the local and state level of operations and a lack of broader implementation and utilization of these services.

Dr. LaCroix has written about this topic, with a book being published shortly. You can read the abstract for the book below.

Book Abstract

Cybersecurity is a national priority for the Homeland Security enterprise. Yet, despite a prioritization at the federal level, municipal and state governments have struggled to incorporate the National Guard in cyber incident response. Cyber incidents strain municipalities and states, which have spent significant resources to mitigate cyber threats. The glaring gap in the National Guard’s role in municipal and state cyber incident response warrants two key questions as to why the National Guard isn’t more readily used. “Is it cost prohibitive to use National Guard assets when compared to private entities?” Or “is there an underlying sociological disconnect regarding the National Guard’s role in cyber disaster when compared to physical disasters.”? Both questions and the National Guard’s role have largely been under-examined by Homeland Security professionals and academia requires additional examination.

This dissertation seeks to study via a sequential mixed method approach answers to both questions. First, using a quantitive analysis method examining case studies this study seeks to examine if “it is less expensive for municipal and state governments to use the National Guard instead of private sector assistance for cyber incident responses?" Sequentially if it is less expensive, this dissertation seeks to utilize a survey-based questionnaire from associations of National Guard and Emergency response personal to answer, “is there and underlying sociological misperceptions that contribute to National Guard’s underutilization for cyber disasters when compared to their role in traditional disaster response?”

This study achieved complimenting results: with quantitative testing affirming the initial hypothesis regarding the National Guard’s cost effectiveness versus private sector entities in case studies examined. This led to qualitative studies using surveys to examine possible misperceptions of the National Guard’s role in cyber incident response for municipal and state level operations. Surveys revealed both a lack of understanding and disconnect between the National Guard’s role in cyber incident response when compared it is normal role in physical disasters. This research creates opportunity and future growth for homeland Security professionals to prioritize the understanding and growing role of the National Guard for public and private enterprise at the municipal and state level of cyber incident response.

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Resources

Book: Coming (Date: TBD)

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To see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

Watch the webcast version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq

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Release date

Lydbog: 8. marts 2023