Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

Cyber Security Challenges and the FBI's Response

RSVP Required Harvard Faculty, Fellows, Staff, and Students

Join the Intelligence and Cyber Projects for a hybrid seminar discussion on cybersecurity with Cynthia Kaiser, Section Chief with the FBI's Cyber Division. In the Cyber Division, Cynthia focuses on public-private outreach, information sharing across all levels of government, addressing cyber threats to elections, and identifying and responding to risks from malicious cyber actors. In this talk, Cynthia will discuss the FBI's approach to cyber security risks in the United States and current mitigation measures. This discussion will be moderated by Cyber Project Executive Director Lauren Zabierek.

This event is for Harvard faculty, students, fellows, staff, and affiliates. The event is being held under the Chatham House Rule and is off the record. Attendees may join in person in the Allison Dining Room at HKS (first 50 registrants who opt to join in person), or virtually via Zoom. Please register at https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AFLFGQLPTSSzG_AEJ7MAfA. If you are planning to attend person, select the in person option in the registration form.

Date: Time: - Location: Taubman Building - Allison Dining Room, 5th Floor

Speaker Bios

Cynthia Kaiser is a Section Chief with FBI Cyber Division. She has covered cyber, technology, and counterintelligence issues for over 16 years for the FBI and has led FBI cyber threat analysis since 2017. In this role, she serves as an FBI lead for cyber threats to elections, meets regularly with the private sector and state and local government officials, promotes information sharing across all levels of government, and collaborates with partners to help place the FBI in the best position possible to impose risks and consequences on malicious cyber actors. Cynthia holds a Master’s degree in security policy focused on science and technology, and an Executive Master’s degree in leadership.

Lauren Zabierek (Moderator) is the Executive Director of the Cyber Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. She comes to this role as a 2019 graduate of the Kennedy School's mid-career MPA program. Her work focuses on strategic, national security issues in cyber and tech--ranging from international conflict, cooperation, and norms to domestic collaboration, diversity, privacy, and supply chain issues. Lauren is the co-founder of the online social media movement called #ShareTheMicInCyber. Lauren served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force at the beginning of her career.  Later, as a civilian intelligence analyst with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) assigned to the Office of Counterterrorism, she completed three war zone deployments. After leaving NGA, she joined the cybersecurity threat intelligence startup Recorded Future. She also co-founded the Recorded Future Women's Mentorship Initiative, helped to start a women's initiative at NGA, and is a member of the NatSecGirlSquad.  Lauren is also a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University’s National Security Institute and a Nonresident Fellow at New America.