New AI Safety Standards, Cyber Skills Gap, Experience VS. Certification

11/28/23 • 35 min

Join us for another riveting episode of Unmasked to close out November. Get ready to dive into recent cybersecurity events and hot topics. We dissect AI's use across multiple industries, examining how it's trained for specific tasks and discussing its limitations. And for those of you who are looking to break into or progress in the cybersecurity job market, we share insights on the critical role of certifications. But remember, it's not just about having a certification, it's about gaining practical skills and hands-on experience. So listen in, sit back and let's navigate the complex world of cybersecurity together. You won't want to miss this!
SHOW NOTES:

Whitehouse AI :President Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence

The Executive Order establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, advances American leadership around the world, and more.
It builds on previous actions the President has taken, including work that led to voluntary commitments from 15 leading companies to drive safe, secure, and trustworthy development of AI.
New Standards for AI Safety and Security
- Require that developers of the most powerful AI systems share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government.
- Develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy
- Protect against the risks of using AI to engineer dangerous biological materials
- Protect Americans from AI-enabled fraud and deception by establishing standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content
- Establish an advanced cybersecurity program to develop AI tools to find and fix vulnerabilities in critical software
- Order the development of a National Security Memorandum that directs further actions on AI and security
Protecting Americans’ Privacy
Advancing Equity and Civil Rights
Standing Up for Consumers, Patients, and Students
Supporting Workers
Advancing American Leadership Abroad
Ensuring Responsible and Effective Government Use of AI

Cybersecurity Education

Empowering Educators to Teach Cyber | Cyber.org

A Workforce development Organization

Funding from CISA

(Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)

Director Jen Easterly

US Army Intel

With Partnership with National Cyber Scholarship Foundation.

Has a cyber range for K-12 students to learn and practice safely

Path way to the basic certs: A+, Net+ Sec+, etc

ISC^2

(International Information System Security Certification Consortium)

Offering the CC free for a limited time.

(Certified in Cyber)

A entry level certification, perfect start for a lot of people high-school and above.

Options for hands on learning

SANS holiday hack
Try hack me- holiday hack

The Executive Order establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, advances American leadership around the world, and more.
It builds on previous actions the President has taken, including work that led to voluntary commitments from 15 leading companies to drive safe, secure, and trustworthy development of AI.
New Standards for AI Safety and Security
- Require that developers of the most powerful AI systems share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government.
- Develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy
- Protect against the risks of using AI to engineer dangerous biological materials
- Protect Americans from AI-enabled fraud and deception by establishing standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content
- Establish an advanced cybersecurity program to develop AI tools to find and fix vulnerabilities in critical software
- Order the development of a National Security Memorandum that directs further actions on AI and security
Protecting Americans’ Privacy
Advancing Equity and Civil Rights
Standing Up for Consumers, Patients, and Students
Supporting Workers
Advancing American Leadership Abroad
Ensuring Responsible and Effective Government Use of AI

Cybersecurity Education

Empowering Educators to Teach Cyber | Cyber.org

A Workforce development Organization

Funding from CISA

(Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)

Director Jen Easterly

US Army Intel

With Partnership with National Cyber Scholarship Foundation.

Has a cyber range for K-12 students to learn and practice safely

Path way to the basic certs: A+, Net+ Sec+, etc

ISC^2

(International Information System Security Certification Consortium)

Offering the CC free for a limited time.

(Certified in Cyber)

A entry level certification, perfect start for a lot of people high-school and above.

Options for hands on learning

SANS holiday hack
Try hack me- holiday hack

Previous Episode

Special Guests from the University of Richmond

Join us for this very special episode as we sit down with the IT and Security experts from the University of Richmond. John Craft (Director of Information Security), Keith McIntosh (Chief Information Officer), and Svetla Walsh (Information Security Analyst) discuss their upcoming Capture the Flag (CTF) event. Get to know them beyond their professional titles as we break the ice with fun tidbits on their favorite cybersecurity-themed books and TV shows.
We're not just about the banter, though. We also venture into the exhilarating world of CTF, an event that's not just about winning but also sharpening technical abilities and soft skills. Discover strategies to earn flags and points and how to work together in a team to maximize strengths. We wrap up by contemplating the future of CTFs in higher education, including the promising idea of inter-university collaborations. So, whether you're a cybersecurity veteran or a curious newbie, tune in for an informative and entertaining episode.

Next Episode

Special Guest from RVATech, Nick Serfass, CEO

Get ready for a very special Unmasked. Joining us in this episode is Nick Serfass, CEO of RVATech. For those not in the Richmond area, RVATech is on a mission to ignite the growth of the technology sector, the success of technology companies, and the vibrancy of the technology community within the greater Richmond region. Listen in as we dive into Nick's intriguing journey, discuss initiatives RVATech is leading to foster Richmond's thriving tech community, and more.
Episode Notes:

More about Nick:

Nick has been at the helm of the Richmond Technology Council
(rvatech/) since early 2019. Nick has worked to shepherd the growth
of programs across the board for the Council, including several new
cyber-related initiatives including CyberConVA and a formal partnership with the Virginia Cybersecurity Partnership (VCSP). Most
recently he worked to position Richmond as a potential Tech Hub in
artificial intelligence and machine learning through a US federal grant
program. Prior to rvatech/, Nick served as the Executive Director of
the American Institute of Architecture Students, where he put his
architecture background to use serving college students across
the country. He is a Virginia Wahoo, Miami Hurricane and Auburn
Tiger. His preferred programming language is Pascal.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickserfass/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickserfass/

CyberConVA 2024

https://rvatech.com/rvatech-events/cyberconva-2024/

Theme: The Rise of Cyber AI and Transformation
When: February 1, 2024 - 9am-5pm
Where: Dominion Energy Center 600 E Grace St Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23219
Details:
- Join us in Richmond, Virginia, for a day of innovative sessions focused on connecting with the Richmond cyber community and growing your career. CyberConVA promises a full day of skill development, new ideas, and connections to supercharge your cyber career.
- This 2nd Year
- Student discount available
- Out of town guest packages available
Virginia Cybersecurity Partnership (VCSP)
- https://vacsp.com/

RVATech

Website: https://rvatech.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rvatech/
Focus for 2024 - "Richmond VA Tech's Most Creative City"
- In Richmond, creativity isn't just a buzzword; it's ingrained in our community of problem-solvers, thinkers, and doers. Here at rvatech/, we've cultivated a collaborative spirit that sets us apart from other tech cities. Our community is the heartbeat of Richmond's vibrant atmosphere of ideas, connections, and aspirations. “Tech’s Most Creative City” - A bold proclamation, isn't it? I believe it's not just a statement; it's our next chapter waiting to be written.
- The concept of "Tech's Most Creative City" is set to make a significant impact on how we present ourselves to the world through:
  - A revitalized brand that reflects the vibrancy, innovation, and creativity that define Richmond's tech landscape
  - Creative elements in our conferences that make each experience memorable and inspiring
  - Outreach efforts to echo the creativity that defines us, drawing in technology's best, brightest, and most creative minds
  - Thank you for being a driving force in our creative community. Together, let's make 2024 a year of possibilities, where the world recognizes Richmond not only as a tech hub but as Tech's Most Creative City.

Unmasked - New AI Safety Standards, Cyber Skills Gap, Experience VS. Certification

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:10.291

Welcome to Unmasked , brought to you by Ashura , where the superheroes of cybersecurity provide a clearer understanding of the threats we face in our digital world .

Speaker 100:00:25.887

Hey everybody , welcome out to another episode of Unmasked . I'm Paul Blacker , your co-host , along with Mark Harvey . Hey , mark , how are you today Doing ? Well , man , how's