Jen Easterly, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with nearly two decades of experience, has been appointed as the CEO of the RSAC Conference. The conference, which is now known as RSAC Conference after being rebranded from RSA Conference LLC's flagship event, attracts thousands of attendees each year and brings together top minds in the field to discuss the latest threats and innovations.
Easterly, who previously led the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency for over three years, said she is taking on the role at a critical juncture for cybersecurity. "We are living through an inflection point," she noted, adding that the industry needs more innovation and collaboration to keep pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
As CEO of RSAC Conference, Easterly plans to expand the organization's year-round global membership entity, support early-stage startups, and foster a community of innovators and researchers. She emphasized that security is not a partisan issue and that her focus will be on building trust and collaboration across administrations and borders.
Easterly's appointment comes at a time of great transition for the cybersecurity industry, with AI tools enhancing both attackers' and defenders' capabilities and the need to secure these platforms themselves becoming increasingly pressing. Additionally, the Trump administration's policy changes pose significant challenges to private-sector cybersecurity and public-private partnerships in North America and globally.
Despite facing criticism from President Donald Trump regarding CISA's election integrity work during her tenure, Easterly maintained that she approached the RSAC Conference leadership opportunity with optimism rather than fear or speculation. She stressed that cybersecurity is a professional endeavor, not a political one, and that she remains committed to the principles of collaboration and community-building that have guided her career.
As she takes the reins at RSAC Conference, Easterly will likely face significant challenges in navigating these complex issues while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among its members.
Easterly, who previously led the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency for over three years, said she is taking on the role at a critical juncture for cybersecurity. "We are living through an inflection point," she noted, adding that the industry needs more innovation and collaboration to keep pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
As CEO of RSAC Conference, Easterly plans to expand the organization's year-round global membership entity, support early-stage startups, and foster a community of innovators and researchers. She emphasized that security is not a partisan issue and that her focus will be on building trust and collaboration across administrations and borders.
Easterly's appointment comes at a time of great transition for the cybersecurity industry, with AI tools enhancing both attackers' and defenders' capabilities and the need to secure these platforms themselves becoming increasingly pressing. Additionally, the Trump administration's policy changes pose significant challenges to private-sector cybersecurity and public-private partnerships in North America and globally.
Despite facing criticism from President Donald Trump regarding CISA's election integrity work during her tenure, Easterly maintained that she approached the RSAC Conference leadership opportunity with optimism rather than fear or speculation. She stressed that cybersecurity is a professional endeavor, not a political one, and that she remains committed to the principles of collaboration and community-building that have guided her career.
As she takes the reins at RSAC Conference, Easterly will likely face significant challenges in navigating these complex issues while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among its members.
I'm not surprised by Jen Easterly's appointment as CEO of RSAC Conference. She's got the right experience and skills to tackle the rapidly evolving threat landscape in cybersecurity. The thing is, she's not just stepping into this role to sound good - she genuinely believes that security can bridge partisan divides 
. We need more people like her who put aside politics to focus on building trust and collaboration across borders. It's not going to be easy, but with Easterly at the helm, there's hope for a brighter future in cybersecurity 
! She's got some serious experience under her belt and I think she'll be able to bring a lot of value to the organization. With AI tools being used more and more in cyber attacks, it's super important that we're supporting early-stage startups and fostering a community of innovators and researchers to stay ahead of the game 
. I also love how she's emphasizing the importance of collaboration across administrations and borders – it's so true that security isn't just about one party or government 
. Can't wait to see what she does with the conference!
I think Jen Easterly is like 
She's all about innovation & collaboration 
to tackle those evolving threats 
& AI tools 
are gonna be key players in this game 
I'm hyped about her plans to expand the global membership entity & support early-stage startups 
at the table for a brighter future 
!
I also feel her on not making cybersecurity partisan 
We gotta work together across borders 
to stay safe online 
& we need to secure them ASAP 
Can't wait to see what Jen does with this role 
. It's gonna be a tough road ahead, but I guess we'll just have 2 wait & see how Easterly handles it 
.
With her years of experience leading the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, she's got the skills to tackle some major challenges. I'm curious to see how she'll balance keeping up with AI advancements and AI-powered attacks, it's like trying to catch a digital lightning bug 
!
.
. But at the same time, having a seasoned expert like Easterly at the helm might just be what the industry needs to shake things up 
But then again, what if she's just going to get stuck in the middle of all the partisan debates? Like, how will she navigate all those complex issues without getting too caught up in it? 
. It's also interesting that she's emphasizing security isn't a partisan issue – I think we've seen enough to know that's true 
.
. But on the other hand, she did face some criticism from President Trump during her time at CISA... it's like that old saying "you can't take the boy out of politics" 
! As someone who's passionate about cybersecurity and community-building, I think she's going to bring a ton of energy and expertise to the table 
. But I'm confident that Jen will navigate these complex issues with her usual professionalism and expertise 
. AI tools are making it harder for defenders to keep up, not easier 
. One thing's for sure though, she's gonna bring some much-needed expertise to the table 
️. The cybersecurity industry is already super complex, what with AI tools and policy changes and all, so adding some extra leadership to the mix might make things even more chaotic 
...