Coffee & Conversation with Gurpreet Bhatia

On Tuesday, November 12, INSA hosted a virtual Coffee & Conversation with Gurpreet Bhatia, Principal Director for Cybersecurity/Deputy CISO at the Department of Defense, and INSA Vice President for Policy Bishop Garrison. 

Recording courtesy of host sponsor, Salesforce!

Mr. Bhatia opened by noting that cybersecurity challenges evolve as our adversaries evolve. He stressed the importance of strong partnerships across industry, academia, and international allies. Mr. Bhatia said that a key priority is ensuring DoD implements its Zero Trust Cybersecurity Framework by 2027. Given that adversaries are already likely inside the digital infrastructure, it is important to have broad visibility within your own environment to ensure that they are not able to maneuver freely and extract data at will. He described this emphasis on broad visibility as a cultural shift that requires trained cyber defenders at all levels, who can effectively respond to threats and help organization's recover from incidents.  

With respect to lessons learned over the course of a 30-year career in intelligence and national security, Mr. Bhatia highlighted that cybersecurity is a “forever game” that requires constant upscaling. He noted the importance of developing partnerships to deliver integrated solutions and capabilities that can be adapted to different needs.  

In closing, Mr. Bhatia said that strong partnerships are a “superpower.” With respect to international allies, he spoke about the importance of being able to seamlessly share information, make sure they know where our roadmap is leading and understand lessons learned on our side. With respect to industry, he reiterated the importance of maintaining strong relationships, ensuring that every voice is heard, and working with innovative companies who can provide rapid solutions that meet government goals.