FORGING A RESILIENT FUTURE: AI, CYBER DEFENSE, PROTECTING TEXAS' CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

As Chief Security Officer for Google Public Sector, my mission is to partner with government entities to enhance their security posture in an increasingly complex threat landscape. This keynote will address the urgent need for robust cybersecurity strategies to safeguard Texas' critical infrastructure – from energy grids and water systems to transportation networks and healthcare facilities. We are at a pivotal moment, facing sophisticated adversaries and the intersection of the use of AI for both harmful purposes and to advance our collective defense against these threats. 

The address will explore three interconnected pillars crucial for Texas' resilience: 

Critical Infrastructure Resiliency in a Heightened Threat Environment: We'll begin by outlining the specific threats facing Texas' critical infrastructure, including nation-state actors, ransomware gangs, and increasingly, AI-powered attacks. I'll detail the cascading consequences of successful breaches, emphasizing the impact on public safety, economic stability, and national security. We'll discuss a shift from purely preventative measures to a resilience-focused approach: assuming breaches will occur and building systems capable of rapid detection, response, and recovery. This includes strengthening incident response plans, conducting regular tabletop exercises, and fostering robust public-private partnerships. 

Advancing Cyber Defense and Readiness: This section will delve into the concrete steps Texas organizations – both public and private sector – must take to bolster their defenses. Potential topics: 

• Zero Trust Architecture: Moving beyond perimeter-based security to a model that verifies every user and device, regardless of location. 
• Cloud Security Advantages: Leveraging the inherent security benefits of cloud platforms, including advanced threat detection, automated patching, and scalable security solutions.
• Supply Chain Security: Addressing the growing threat of attacks targeting software and hardware supply chains, emphasizing the need for rigorous vendor risk management. 
• Workforce Development: The critical importance of investing in cybersecurity training and education to build a skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving challenges. The talk will stress a shared responsibility model, emphasizing collaboration between state agencies, federal partners, and the private sector.

The AI Inflection Point: Threat and Opportunity: This is the core of the keynote. We'll explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on both sides of the cybersecurity battleground.

• AI-Powered Attacks: We'll dissect how adversaries are already using AI to automate attacks, create highly sophisticated phishing campaigns, generate deepfakes, and identify vulnerabilities at scale. This necessitates a proactive approach to understanding and mitigating these emerging threats. 
• AI-Powered Defense: Crucially, we'll focus on how Texas can harness the power of AI to gain an advantage in cybersecurity. This includes using AI for: 
  • Threat Detection and Analysis: Identifying anomalous behavior and patterns that indicate malicious activity far faster and more accurately than traditional methods. 
  • Automated Incident Response: Speeding up containment and remediation efforts through AI-driven automation. 
  • Vulnerability Management: Proactively identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. 
  • Predictive Security: Leveraging AI to anticipate future threats and adapt defenses accordingly. 
  • Deception technology: using AI to create and deploy realistic decoys.