David McKeownsenior information security officer and deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity at the Department of Defense, researches potential applications of artificial intelligence in the field of cybersecurity in support of the DOD’s zero trust strategy, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.
Speaking at an AFCEA TechNet Emergence panel, McKeown said he was “looking for ways to leverage AI on the cybersecurity front” and called on industry members to present “all the products that leverage AI to do things in terms of cybersecurity”.
McKeown said that within the Pentagon, the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office oversees the future of DOD’s data and AI, but its primary focus is on integrating AI into combat missions, such as optimizing aircraft maintenance activities.
The previous Wash100 The winner said it is imperative to provide cyber defenders with the capabilities to quickly identify anomalous behavior as cyber actors increasingly use sophisticated techniques to evade detection.
“They’re going to access your networks, and in many cases, when they get there, they look like legitimate users. They often don’t upload any payloads with signatures that our tools will see,” McKeown warned. “(So) we have to get really good at knowing what an anomaly looks like. …What is within the realm of possibility for the detection of abnormal behavior?
McKeown will serve as keynote speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s Cyber Summit 2024 on June 6. register here to join us and hear from government and industry experts on the dynamic and evolving role of cyber in the public sector.
