Media Advisory: National cybersecurity expert to speak at UB

What: National information security expert Dave Kennedy will demonstrate effective ways businesses can combat some of the main techniques cyberthieves use to attack an organization. The presentation will walk through the security issues facing organizations today, both politically and as an industry.

Who: Sponsored by the University at Buffalo School of Management and the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), and presented by Dave Kennedy, founder of TrustedSec and Binary Defense Systems, organizations that focus on improving the information security industry from an offensive and a defensive perspective.

Previously, Kennedy served as chief security officer for a Fortune 1000 company, where he ran the entire information security program. Kennedy is a co-author of the book, “Metasploit: The Penetration Testers Guide,” and is the creator of the Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) and Artillery, open-source software designed to protect computers from cyberattacks.

Kennedy has testified in front of Congress on two occasions about the security of government websites and has been featured as an information security expert in interviews with CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, Katie Couric and BBC World News.

Why: Businesses continue to struggle with how to handle information security threats. From breach to breach, cyberthieves rip through all the barriers the information security industry puts up. Kennedy says information security isn’t a technology problem—it’s a social issue.

“Until we recognize that, we will continue to see breaches year after year as we battle (and lose) the same types of attacks,” according to Kennedy. “There’s a lot of talk inside the industry on technical controls, products, adversarial simulation, and more for strengthening our defenses. These couldn’t be further away from what we really need to combat these types of attacks.”

When: 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 (detailed schedule below).

Where: The Center for the Arts Screening Room on UB’s North Campus.

Details and Photo Opportunities:

• 6 – 6:15          Introduction and welcoming remarks
• 6:15 – 7:15     Featured information security presentation by Dave Kennedy
• 7:15 – 7:30    Audience Q&A

Dave Kennedy will be available for interview immediately following the audience Q&A.