SAN FRANCISCO, CA and WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - February 26, 2010) -  As cyber attacks reverberate around the globe with more severity and frequency, experts view electronic societies as losing the race against increasingly sophisticated and persistent adversaries. That outlook is drawing leaders spanning public and private sectors to the IT Security Entrepreneurs' Forum (ITSEF), an annual gathering focused on advancing innovative cyber capabilities. Attending will be representatives from the U.S. Federal Government, system integration, private industry, venture capital, and research communities who will collaborate with entrepreneurs and innovators of IT security technologies.

Hosted by The Security Innovation Network, this year's forum, "Bridging the Gaps in our Nation's Cyber Security: Connecting Leadership, Innovation, and Policy," will take place March 16th & 17th, 2010 at Stanford University. The annual forum is a unique venue for early stage and emerging solution providers to meet with a select group of government, industry, and venture capital leaders who will address market trends, needs, and opportunities to get their cyber technologies funded, noticed, and potentially deployed.

This year's keynote will be delivered by His Excellency Jaak Aaviksoo, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Estonia, which in 2007 faced comprehensive cyber attacks against its government agencies, banks, media and telecommunications. The attacks demonstrated the vulnerability to threats that emanate from hard-to-identify adversaries who continually evolve new offensive techniques. The difficulty in repelling cyber attacks, pin-pointing and prosecuting their sources is complicated by defining the boundaries between national, international, public and private interests. Thus, the case for advanced technical solutions, public-private partnerships and multinational cooperation is an imperative. 

The March 17^th Forum features the following panels and speakers:
Full agenda at: http://www.security-innovation.org/itsef/agenda.htm

An Industry & Government Perspective on Emerging Cyber Threats, Risks and Vulnerabilities
Moderator: Mark Weatherford, CISO, State of California

• Richard C. (Dick) Schaeffer, Information Assurance Director, National Security Agency
• John N. Stewart, Vice President & Chief Security Officer, Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Samuel Sanders Visner, CSC, Cyber Lead and Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, North American Public Sector -- Enforcement, Security and Intelligence.

Can the U.S. Government be a Viable Channel Partner for Security Startups?
Moderator: Pascal Levensohn, Founder & Managing Partner, Levensohn Venture Partners

• Steve Bowsher, Managing Partner & Executive Vice President, In-Q-Tel
• Riley Repko, Senior Advisor, Cyber Operations & Transformation Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans & Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

Cyber Identity and Attribution
Moderator: Robert Lentz, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Information Assurance, President, Cyber Security Strategies.

• Jeff Moss, Founder & Director, Black Hat
• Nadia D. Short, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.
• Air Commodore Graham Wright CBE, Deputy Director -- Office of Cyber Security, Cabinet-Office, United Kingdom.

The Pros and Cons of Early Adoption of Innovative Technologies
Moderator: Robert K. West, Founder & CEO, Echelon One

• Joseph Ansanelli, Chairman, Lookout, Inc. (former CEO Vontu)
• Michael Barrett, Chief Information Security Officer, PayPal
• Pat Clawson, Chairman & CEO, Lumension
• Matthew D. Howard, General Partner, Norwest Venture Partners
• Rhonda MacLean, CEO, MacLean Risk Partners, LLC

Moving Forward with a Roadmap for the IT, Banking & Finance and Energy Sectors

• Dr. Douglas Maughan, Program Manager, Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology, Cyber Security Research & Development Program.
• Henry S. Kenchington, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Research & Development, U.S. Department of Energy.

What are the Federal Government's Priorities and Spend Relative to Cyber Security?
Moderator: Larry Allen, President, Coalition for Government Procurement

• Richard Hale, Chief Information Assurance Executive, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).
• Dawn Meyerriecks, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Acquisition and Technology, DNI.

This year's forum includes an optional half-day of workshops to provide early stage companies with specific guidance on how to navigate the complex process of selling and developing commercial relationships with the civilian, defense and intelligence agencies of the Federal Government. These workshops will be taught by industry and government subject matter experts.

When:
March 16, Optional Workshops: http://www.security-innovation.org/itsef/workshops.htm
March 17, IT Security Entrepreneurs' Forum: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Networking Reception 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Stanford University, Francis C. Arrillaga Alumni Center

To register: http://www.security-innovation.org/itsef/apply.htm

About The Security Innovation Network:
The Security Innovation Network (SINET) enables small business growth, innovation and increased awareness of available technologies into the system integration, industry and Federal Government cyber security markets. SINET "gives Entrepreneurs a voice" by bridging the gaps between technology innovators, policy-makers, VCs, researchers, academics and private industry. Acting as a catalyst, SINET connects individuals and organizations involved with the technical, strategic, legal, economic, and policy aspects of cyber. 

SINET was founded by Robert D. Rodriguez, a retired Secret Service Special Agent who served on several Presidential details and oversaw the development of one of the first electronic crimes taskforces in the nation. Mr. Rodriguez is a certified graduate of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service Program and was a recipient of the 2009 CSO Magazine CSO Compass Award in recognition of outstanding leadership in the security field. For more information please visit: www.security-innovation.org

Contact Information:

Media Contact:
Joel Greenberg
DCPR
202-363-1065 | 202-669-3639