A couple of interesting reports came out this week.

So far in 2017, cyberattacks like WannaCry and Petya have left the world wondering what can be done to prevent such attacks in the future before people lose millions of dollars to ransomware, or worse.  While no digital system is ever completely secure, finding and patching vulnerabilities before they can be exploited is the best defense, but continues to be a challenge.  One tool that can help detect vulnerabilities is artificial intelligence (AI).  AI technology can look for bugs that need to be patched in a faster, more in-depth way that produces more results than humans can.  In this vein, this week’s AI spotlight is about using AI in data science competitions like those held by Kaggle, which is part of Google’s cloud platform, or those held by the U.S. Department of Defense.  Typically, Hackathons pit human versus human or human versus system in competitions which also show how particular systems can be vulnerable and need to be fixed, like ...

An introduction to one of the newest members to join SIIA’s Software & Services Division, CISOSHARE. VP of Sales & Marketing, Ryan Vallone, tells us more about CISOSHARE and provides insight into security programs and technology.  more

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing entitled “Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance Between Public Safety and Privacy” for Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 a.m., in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.  Among the witnesses is FBI Director James Comey who is expected to testify that national security and law enforcement officials need their own special access to encrypted material.  The world, he will say, is going dark.

In a series of white papers released this week, Leviathan Security Group assesses the security of world-spanning cloud storage services, versus storing data in localized datacenters.

As Mark MacCarthy, SIIA VP of Public Policy, wrote in a column last week, when it comes to Cybersecurity: Sharing is Caring!  Information sharing on known cyber threats and vulnerabilities is the most critical component to prevent and mitigate attacks. When a company detects a breach, a crucial next step is to immediately let other companies and government agencies know about it right away. If one company is under attack, it is likely that other enterprises and institutions are also vulnerable. But without timely warnings, organizations have no ability to prepare their own defenses and team up to prevent the spread of attacks.

CYBER SECURITY, DHS, EPA, HHS, NIST CYBERSECURITY FRAMEWORK, WHITE HOUSE more

Judiciary Chairman to Introduce Patent Litigation Reform Legislation House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) will introduce his patent reform bill today, and he has scheduled a Committee hearing on the legislation on October 29, entitled “Improving the Patent System to Promote American Innovation and Competitiveness.” The bill is expected to be very similar to the recent discussion draft released in September. SIIA believes that it is essential for Congress to promptly pass legislation that effectively addresses patent litigation abuse without harming the patent protections that spur innovation. We will continue working closely with Chairman Goodlatte and other congressional leaders to accomplish this objective.

Judiciary Chairman to Introduce Patent Litigation Reform Legislation  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) will introduce his patent reform bill today, and he has scheduled a Committee hearing on the legislation on October 29, entitled “Improving the Patent System to Promote American Innovation and Competitiveness.” The bill is expected to be very similar to the recent discussion draft released in September. SIIA believes that it is essential for Congress to promptly pass legislation that effectively addresses patent litigation abuse without harming the patent protections that spur innovation. We will continue working closely with Chairman Goodlatte and other congressional leaders to accomplish this objective.

Earlier this week SIIA submitted comments in response to the proposed implementation of Section 8(e) of Executive Order 13636 – Improving Critical Infrastructure Protection, issued on February 12, 2013.  We greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide formal comments to GSA and DOD on this critical section of the Executive Order.