Coffee & Conversation with The Hon. Michael Casey
January 14, 2025 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM Virtual
On Tuesday, January 14, INSA hosted a virtual Coffee and Conversation with the Honorable Michael Casey, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), and Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg, President, INSA.
Director Casey began the conversation by outlining some of NCSC’s primary responsibilities, including integrating and deconflicting counterintelligence across the intelligence community, managing the national insider threat task force, supply chain risk management, educating private industry on current threats, and managing workforce security clearances.
He discussed insider threat trends and recommendations for how emerging tech firms can mitigate insider threats within their organizations. Additionally, he highlighted the threats posed by the PRC and Russia and identified some key distinctions between the techniques they use. Casey underscored that exploit access points continue to be easy targets, such as devices that are not kept up to date or accounts that are not secured by multifactor authentication.
He emphasized the vital partnership between NCSC and US private industry in protecting emerging technologies from adversarial actors. NCSC takes part in extensive information sharing and competency building measures for private industry. Casey concisely articulated his recommendations by calling for companies to follow a “common sense” approach and noted that basic cybersecurity is the first defense that can dramatically increase companies’ security. He offered that best practices include integrating security experts into company leadership positions and exercising increased caution when vetting investors.
When asked to identify 2-3 priorities for the incoming presidential administration, Casey offered that they should enhance information sharing between government and the private sector and continue the progress made on mitigating risks to supply chains.
In closing, Director Casey articulated that “they can’t win unless we let them,” and emphasized the collective nature of securing US emerging technology.
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