Jim Downes (Federal and International Emergency Communications Branch Chief , Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA))
Chris Maiers (Iowa Statewide interoperability Coordinator , Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board)
Stuart Sanz (Interoperable Communications Manager, Arlington County Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management)
Justin Evans (Radio System Manager, Montgomery County (TX) Hospital District)
Scott Wright (Telecommunications Engineer II, Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection)
Alan Massie (Electronics Engineer, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))
Location: N257
Date: Thursday, March 24
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Track: Interoperability, Cybersecurity / Security
Format: Short Course
Vault Recording: TBD
Through this round-table session, participants will learn about public safety communications security (COMSEC) and the necessity for protecting sensitive information transmitted over public safety radio channels as well as best practices for agencies looking to establish a security strategy for mission-critical communications. The roundtable members will discuss the basic elements of a COMSEC program, and established communications security principles, procedures, and technologies used to secure information. Also, under discussion will be trending encryption topics, such as current efforts to sunset the Data Encryption Standard (DES).
1. The basic elements of a reliable COMSEC program and what resources are available to help agencies establish a COMSEC program
2. How agencies can develop an effective strategy to prevent and mitigate unauthorized access to information
3. How proper management of encryption enhances COMSEC while maintaining interoperability
4. Best practices for implementing encryption without compromising interoperability