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The Power of Diversity and Collaboration - Morocco
April 6, 2012
In the city of Marrakech thousands of satellite discs rest on rooftops amongst the background of minarets and hazy sunlight skies - keeping the Moroccan people connected to the world. A bustling city of mopeds and riders with donkeys pulling carts weaving in and out of the snarls of traffic seamlessly, without incident. Capitalism at its finest, no one is idle, bartering vegetables, berries and nuts on every street corner and in the Sooks - a massive maze of cobblestoned walkways that make England's garden hedge maze child's play in the navigation to exit. Sunshine is not their desire, rather it is rain and what it brings; agriculture, food, economy, jobs, nourishment, health and the basics essentials of life - sustenance, they have their priorities straight. A fascinating and amazing place where for thousands of years Christians, Jews and Muslims have lived in harmony and peace, the power of diversity and collaboration working together. An incredible experience and what I loved the most were the people.
Why was I in Morocco? In a prior life I served as a Special Agent for 22 years with the United States Secret Service (USSS) where one of my assignments was to protect the President of the United States (POTUS). National Geographic is currently filming a documentary on the USSS Presidential Detail and the producers asked if I would travel to Rabat to recount a trip I took with President Clinton who was in attendance for King Hassan's funeral. The King was highly revered as he was instrumental in keeping peace in the middle east for decades and 60 Kings, Queens, Princes, Ministers and Presidents were in attendance. All participated in a two mile funeral procession surrounded by two million screaming emotional people in the heat of summer. This mission lasted 36 hours and had its elements of high risk and to say the least, nervous moments. As I arrived home at 3:00 in the morning the following day I looked up and noticed the glowing full moon, the same one I saw only hours before in Morocco as I was climbing the rear steps of Air Force One getting ready to fly home-sweet-home. To be aired in late September... Robert D. Rodriguez
6th Annual SINET IT Security Entrepreneurs' Forum
March 30, 2012
Jane Holl Lute, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security
Robert J. Carey, Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer, US Department of Defense
Robert Rodriguez, Chairman & Managing Principal, SINET
DHS S&T and SINET hosted the 6th annual IT Security Entrepreneurs' Forum at Stanford University last week. After a solid week of downpours, the sun broke out and welcomed our guests to the spirit of Silicon Valley and what it represents: Entrepreneurialism & Innovation. The energy was high, the networking robust and many business cards where exchanged. I have already received feedback that numerous meetings will be taking place in our nation's capital. This is the essence of the day as we continue to drive innovation through collaboration models. Perhaps there is a marriage, maybe not...but at least increased awareness was achieved for both the builder and the buyer. This Forum represents the SINET public private partnership formula at it's finest: Top Down - Bottom Up, Mutually Beneficial Relationships that are Trust Based. The presence of senior executive leadership from the Beltway sent a wonderful and powerful message to the representatives in the room, in particular to the entrepreneur: What you do is not only important to me but important to our country's national security interests...
Robert D. Rodriguez
SINET Perspectives on RSA 2012
March 12, 2012
I was one of many who attended this year's RSA event. Yes, the frenzied pace at RSA was apparent and I do not suspect the world of Cybersecurity to go away anytime soon. I hope the many newcomers and veterans in this space recognize the importance of the lofty standard we must abide by within our domain. It is one thing to be an entrepreneur who makes and sells cupcakes; it is another to invent, build & sell security and risk management solutions that protect our nation's 18 deemed critical infrastructures, command & control systems, privacy and ultimately our most basic freedoms. I hope the "smell of green" does not make people forget that they have a higher calling to our nation as Cybersecurity professionals and that they remain resilient in their sense of purpose and commitment to this ultimate cause. The time is now to collaborate. Not only with people but also with the best of class technologies. In order to be successful at both, we must move from me to we to us against them, the adversary...
Robert D. Rodriguez
Showcase Highlights the SINET 16 at the National Press Club...
October 25 & 26, 2011
General Keith B. Alexander, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command & Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service, & Robert D. Rodriguez, Chairman and Managing Principal, SINET
Robert D. Rodriguez, Chairman and Managing Principal, SINET, & His Excellency Jaak Aaviksoo, Minister of Education and Research, Republic of Estonia
As I fly home from Washington DC I am reflecting on our latest program...The SINET Showcase - Washington DC. Leadership once again set the stage through their mere presence on the importance of collaboration models and innovation. General Keith Alexander, Director of the National Security Agency & Commander of U.S. Cyber Command (VIDEO CLIP HERE) called for increased collaboration among the government, industry and America's allies in developing more defensible networks to confront escalating global cyber threats. His Excellency Jaak Aaviksoo, Minister of Education & Research, Republic of Estonia called for the same and for us to conduct basic Cybersecurity hygiene. A true Cyber warrior, having served as the Minster of Defense for the first nation to engage in Cyber warfare. Both spent time at the evening reception mingling and speaking with the entrepreneurs' in the room.
A diverse audience of representatives from Federal Government, private industry, system integration, entrepreneurial, investment, intelligence, legal, policy and our military communities came to see these global leaders and watch the SINET 16 present. How does one advance innovation? A start is to begin by increasing awareness between buyers, builders, researchers and investors of companies that may not otherwise be on one's radar. Who knows where the next great garage company lies, just like the beginnings of Hewlett Packard, the Google Boys in their apartment and Jobs - Wozniak when they began their journey. These visionaries took risks, believed, and they never, ever gave up.
This month America lost one of it's greatest innovators. His vision re-shaped the landscape of conventional business models and brought change to the world in more ways than just leading edge technologies, he lived a philosophy that embodied the below and his passion drove him to be the best, I cannot begin to give him justice in prose so I share the below excerpt from his commencement speech to the Stanford University Class of 2005...
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs
The challenges we face in the cyber domain will not be addressed traversing the road most traveled but the one less traveled and I ask you to think about the way you go about the business of security: are you making a difference, are you exploring new approaches, taking reasonable risk or living the status quo? New models are in order and when it comes to the advancement of innovation, America cannot afford to leave any stone unturned. I ask you to explore open innovation ideals, embrace collaboration models, re-evaluate the way you view risk and help re-invigorate the importance of public private partnerships both domestically and globally. Thank you to the entrepreneurs of the world and to the SINET 16; keep believing and never, ever give up. Only when we take risk, can we truly alter the world... Robert D. Rodriguez
SINET & The Department of Homeland Security - Science & Technology Directorate hosts Inaugural Innovation Summit at MIT
October 5, 2011
SINET traveled to Boston to host their inaugural Innovation Summit at the MIT Faculty Club. The diversity in the room was robust, not just in color but from heterogeneous backgrounds; scientist, academics, investment bankers, venture capitalists, small & big business and representation of leaders from Washington DC - the Federal Government. Attendees were engaged, all stayed the entire day and Government executives exhibited leadership by their mere presence; Dr. Tara O'Toole, Under Secretary, Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate, Dawn Meyerriecks, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Acquisition, Technology & Facilities ODNI and Dr. Douglas Maughan, Division Director, Cybersecurity, Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate. We were also privileged to have Dr. Clayton Christensen, Harvard Business School and Author of the Innovator's Dilemma and the Disrupting Class, deliver a thought provoking keynote. Over the years there has been much banter about the problem, that someone needs to do something, who is in charge...and with little action. Lately, I am sensing change is in the air, that it is us, the individuals in the Cybersecurity space who are in the early stages of a transformation from building a community of interest & trust to a movement, albeit very, very small, nonetheless a shift in attitude. There appears to be a stronger passion that is percolating to collectively solve a really, really hard problem, protection of the Internet and all the things that go with it. To paraphrase Dr. Christensen; "Sometimes the crucial issue is not about responding to a customer's stated needs but instead focusing on a full understanding of the problem that needs to be solved." I love Boston in the Autumn...Robert D. RodriguezSINET Moderates 9/11 Keynote Panel at the Global CIO Executive Summit
September 11, 2011
I moderated the 9/11 keynote panel at the Global CIO Executive Summit. 175 CIOs of Fortune 500 companies were in attendance from corporate giants such as Chevron, General Electric, Toyota and on...Although the theme: ENGAGE - INFLUENCE - TRANSFORM set the tone for the Summit, it was the following words that resonated throughout the event; explore open innovation, embrace collaboration models, social revolution, change and the need to re-evaluate risk...to take more, not less. The digital age has catapulted us into the knowledge age as we work, play and socialize with information overload. We must adapt to the speed of these transformations and embrace change and do so quickly or we will ultimately face dire consequences. Our esteemed panelists discussed how the business of security has evolved over the last ten years since that fateful day. Lockheed Martin spoke to the innovative products they are delivering to better enable the warfighter, DNI addressed how new processes & technology are breaking information sharing stovepipes and doing more with less, the Secret Service shared the formula that has created one of the most successful public private partnership models in the nation, their Electronic Crimes Task Forces, and the FAA stated the substantial in roads they have made to secure our skies so we are safer and that another 9/11 never - ever happens again. A big thank you to our public servants who serve with purpose and commitment and the sacrifices they make for our country so we feel safe, secure and free...Robert D. RodriguezSINET interviewed by National Public Radio - KQED on Anonymous Retaliation Against BART
August 16, 2011
Robert Rodriguez was interviewed on BART's decision to shut down cell service to thwart a protest, which has critics charging First Amendment violations. The hacker group known as Anonymous retaliated against BART by breaking into the transit agency's website and posting information about customers. Are BART's actions justified in order to protect passengers? Is hacking a reasonable way to protest? Are there parallels to the crackdowns in Egypt and Syria? -- KQED RadioClick here to listen to the audio.
SINET Attends the Aspen Institute Security Forum
August 1, 2011
I recently returned from Colorado where I attended the Aspen Institute Security Forum. Clark Ervin, Director of the program and one of the SINET Showcase steering committee members, did a fantastic job of bringing in current and past executive policy makers from the Federal Government, private industry, academia and world-class think tanks along with noted print and broadcast journalists. Topics covered a wide spectrum from border, aviation, maritime and nuclear to cyber security, with additional discussions on innovation, counter terrorism, intelligence and the "war on terror." A most beautiful venue to listen to less filtered, important and serious topics related to our nation's homeland security. The mountainous setting enhanced thought provoking and lively group discussions amongst the dark green and silver backed Aspen tree leaves. Memorable, in particular as swift breezes would make the leaves flicker like the sound of a silent era film reel. High compliments to you Clark...Robert D. Rodriguez
SINET Moderates Panel at Amphion Forum - Federal Washington DC
July 20, 2011
As things become more connected - applications, devices & people - we have more to protect...hence more to lose. Everything from servers to toasters and refrigerators in between are becoming more connected and as a result, risk continues to shoot upward. Some of our adversaries have demonstrated the ability to out-innovate us. Now is the time to embrace new models and innovative approaches to defeat these challenges. The below "Change Agents" discussed what they are doing to contribute towards the advancement of innovation and how they are leading collaboration between the public and private sectors to defeat cyber threats. Thank you gentlemen for influencing change in a culture that is not always comfortable with change...Robert D. Rodriguez
Moderator
Robert RodriquezChairman & Managing Principle, SINET
Panel
Hart RossmanVice President & Chief Technology Officer for Cyber Security Solutions, SAIC
Kenneth D. Rogers
Director IT Strategic Planning US Department of State
John Weinshenk
President & CEO, Cenzic, Inc
Donald A. Purdy, Jr. Esq., CISSP
Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, CSC Cybersecurity
SINET, Ernst & Young and Bay Area Council Host the German Ministry of Defense
June 30, 2011
SINET was asked to coordinate a workshop in San Francisco for sixteen IT Security professionals from the German Ministry of Defense, private industry and academia. Interesting and stimulating dialogue ensued on numerous topics to include; The German Underground Scene, Targeted Attacks and Critical Infrastructures (a CIO view from a large German energy company) Malware Analysis and Countermeasures - a research project from the Fraunhofer Institute and other matters of cyber relevance. It was no surprise that their challenges...are the same as our challenges. As I meet new people around the world, the words collaboration, innovation, public private partnerships and sharing of information continue to resonate in all neighborhoods, both domestic and global. This outreach by the Germans is an important step towards building international coalitions with our trusted allies before and not after the fact...Robert D. RodriguezSINET Attends the 28th International Workshop on Global Security
June 19, 2011
I just returned from Paris after attending the 28th International Workshop on Global Security. Ministers and Ambassadors from around the world where in attendance and the hot topic that resonated with everyone was the escalation of the cyber threat moving from exploitation to disruption and onto destruction. Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn spoke about this and compared the Cold War construct of how the shared warning of air and defense was linked with our key allies and how we must also monitor our IT systems and share information with our trusted global partners. Minister of Defense for France, Gerard Longuet & Peter Luff, Minister for Defense for the United Kingdom addressed the criticality of global collaboration in the cyber age and Minister Jaak Aaviksoo of Estonia discussed his Cyber Defense League model, a public private mutual trust model of critical infrastructure operators and government personnel engaged in a "call to arms" to aide their country in a time of cyber need, a win-win-win formula. Howard Schmidt spoke about the White House International Strategy for Cyberspace. He so rightfully stated that we build an international environment that ensures global networks are open to new innovations, interoperable the world over, secure enough to support people's work, and reliable enough to earn their trust. Workshops like this are invaluable to building global relationships that are mutually beneficial and trust based... Robert D. RodriguezSINET & The Chertoff Group Host Annual Industry - Law Enforcement Dinner
May 18, 2011
Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff & SINET Chairman & Managing Principal, Robert Rodriguez hosted the 5th Annual Private Industry - Law Enforcement dinner in San Francisco, California. This evening represented a series of SINET led global public private partnership gatherings for industry security leaders to collaborate with the heads of Federal, state and local law enforcement. Sixty CISOs, CEOs, Venture Capitalists, Academics and members of the law enforcement community engaged in an excellent discussion and relationship building accompanied by fine wine, cigars and cuisine.SINET joins Bay Area Council Delegation to Washington DC
April 29, 2011
SINET Chairman, Robert Rodriguez helped organize meetings on Capital Hill as the Bay Area Council Cyber Security Delegation
Cyber DC Booklet spent two days meeting with Senate and Congressional Staffers as well as White House Cyber Security Coordinator Howard Schmidt
"The BAC provides cyber security professionals an opportunity to have a voice in shaping and supporting legislation as it is being drafted." Robert D. Rodriguez
SINET Supports National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) to Protect Online Consumers and Support Innovation
April 15, 2011
SINET believes that innovation is a major driver to the national economy and smart, well thought-out policies and initiatives such as the NSTIC contribute to a healthier entrepreneurial environment - leading to enhanced job growth and stronger economic sustainability. Read more.
Video: SINET Showcase and Keynote
October 27, 2010The SINET Showcase is an event that connects emerging security technologies from developers in the private sector to the Federal domain. Please watch and listen to former Secretary of Homeland Security Department, Michael Chertoff present the inaugural Showcase Keynote and Robert Rodriguez, Chairman and CEO of SINET as he delivers opening remarks.
Video: Cyberespionage and Cybercrime Response
May 11, 2010In this video, Robert Rodriguez, chairman and founder of the Security Innovation Network (SINET), discusses the state of cybercrime and cyberespionage, and what enterprises need to do to secure themselves. Robert also gives his take on the appointment of Howard Schmidt as cybersecurity coordinator.
Upcoming Events:
SINET Workshops and Showcase 2012
October 24 & 25, 2012
National Press Club
Washington, D.C.
This 'must attend' event is designed for innovative Cybersecurity companies to apply and for those who are looking for solutions. Our esteemed vetting committee will select the "SINET 16" to showcase their technology to an audience of investors, researchers, industry leaders and government agencies. For more information, please click here.
Apply to be a SINET 16 Presenter
The search is on! SINET is looking for companies with innovative and potentially disruptive Cybersecurity technologies to apply to become one of the "SINET 16" who will be selected to present on stage at the National Press Club - Washington, D.C. The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, July 1, 2012 at Midnight, and there is no fee to apply. For more information, please click here.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate
Innovation Summit
August 8, 2012
University of Chicago - Booth School of Business
Chicago, Illinois
Bringing practitioners and theory into the same room creates Centers of Excellence...
Help us reinvigorate the importance of public private partnership research efforts and build trust based relationships between industry, government & academia that foster the sharing of information and collaboration.
For more information about attending Innovation Summit, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Join us as we continue to bridge cultural & technology gaps by connecting the Midwest to Silicon Valley and the WDC Beltway.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate