October 2015
Cyber Pulse:October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
LaToya Staten is the ProgramManager forCyber Development within theMaryland Department of Commerce.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Maryland will again play host to the CyberMaryland Conference, being held October 28-29 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The 2015 conference builds on the CyberMaryland Initiative launched by the State of Maryland in January 2010.
An array of information assurance assets make Maryland the nation's epicenter of cybersecurity. The state is home to the U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, CECOM, and other federal organizations at the forefront of protecting the nation's digital infrastructure. Trailblazers like Tenable Network Security, Optio Labs, ZeroFox, and RedOwl are addressing the ever-evolving threats of cyber attacks. And students throughout Maryland's higher education system – 16 of which have been recognized as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance – are being educated to fuel the cyber warrior pipeline.
These assets and more will be on display during the 2015 CyberMaryland Conference and concurrent activities. Founded by DBED, UMBC, and SAIC in 2011 as the Maryland Cyber Challenge and Conference, the conference has since expanded to a national forum. In addition to representatives from Maryland's burgeoning cybersecurity sector, the conference features nationally-recognized speakers and panelists on cybersecurity and innovation.
In addition to keynote addresses, educational sessions, and an industry showcase, the conference has added a Cyber Shark Tank and Investor Connection, during which cyber start-ups will pitch to potential investors. A Cyber Job Fair will connect qualified candidates with opportunities throughout the state's cyber sector. CyberTini, a networking event hosted by bwtech@UMBC, will take place at the Columbus Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
The Maryland Cyber Challenge, being held again this year in conjunction with the CyberMaryland Conference, features high school, college, and professional teams competing for prizes, internships, and cash awards. Concluding the two-day slate of activities is the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame Dinner, recognizing industry pioneers, at the Four Seasons Baltimore.
For more information on the 2015 CyberMaryland Conference and related events, visit www.fbcinc.com/e/cybermdconference.
