The State Department’s Bureau of Information Resources Management (IRM) has recently wrapped up a month-long workshop in an effort to provide support to President Joe Biden’s executive order to boost cybersecurity.
The IRM workshop, held Oct. 29, featured sessions on the challenges the country faces in cybersecurity and related issues, according to a State Department press release.
"IRM broadcast the workshop to over 100,000 State Department IT users at 270 embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions worldwide, in keeping with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s goal of the Modernization of American Diplomacy in the areas of cybersecurity and emerging technologies," State Department officials said in the release.
October is recognized annually as cybersecurity awareness month, and the time of year was considered ideal for sessions offering possible solutions to the issues through heightened cyber awareness and evolving strategies to boost cloud-based technologies, cybersecurity plans and network architecture, the State Department said.
Keynote speakers during the workshops included Donna Bennett, chief information security officer (CISO), U.S. Department of State; Chris DeRusha, Federal CISO, Office of Management and Budget; Mike Duffy, associate director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); Chris Inglis, national cyber director, Office of the National Cyber Director; Keith Jones, chief information officer, U.S. Department of State; Gharun Lacy, deputy assistant secretary for Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State; and Kevin Mandia, chief executive officer of Mandiant, the release said.
The IRM provides information technology and services to the State Department, according to the State Department’s website. They assist in improving current methods as well as defending against cyber threats.
“Our mission is to create an interconnected, secure, and informed Department through the prioritized, secure, and innovative application of IT resources. Our vision is to drive necessary and effective operations and collaboration across the Department, its partners, and foreign audiences,” IRM said.
