By Craig Robinson

Today’s leading information security professionals and experts recognize that the public and private sectors must work together more effectively if we are going to truly build a more secure digital world. This week we saw another example of this collaboration in practice as the world’s infosec elite gathered for the EastWest Institute’s Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit at Belo Mansion in Dallas, Texas.

The talks at the event highlighted the real-world threats posed by today’s most sophisticated cyber criminals (especially as those criminals attempt to interfere with business activities and military operations). Experts also shared ideas on how to create effective Internet usage policies that don’t infringe upon free speech, technology innovation, and economic growth. They also discussed how to promote conversation among international stakeholders in an effort to ensure that meaningful policies are enforced and criminals stifled.

According to Victor Godinez of the Dallas Morning News, “The biggest component of the conference… was a series of workshops where attendees—security professionals, government officials, and business executives—worked with industry experts to craft suggestions for how their industries could prepare for cyberattacks.” When these focus groups presented their ideas at the end of the event, suggestions ranged from developing security standards for wireless devices and software, to providing tracking tools for uncovering the origins of the software and hardware components used in building other products.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Texas take a leading role in facilitating the conversation about how to address cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Last year, San Antonio was named as the home of the new Air Force Cyber Command (24th Air Force). This command is the first of its kind and is a testament to the strong infosec community in San Antonio, which dates back to the 1950s and the founding of “Security Hill” at Kelly Air Force Base. With the emergence of the Internet era, Security Hill has become increasingly focused on thwarting cyber attacks and other malicious activity.

At GlobalSCAPE, we believe the cybersecurity industry in the U.S., and particularly in Texas, will continue to outpace the overall technology market over the next few years. Our national infrastructure is increasingly reliant on information systems, and from a national security perspective, cyber capabilities are a significant force multiplier for our armed forces. As the talks this week in Dallas demonstrate, the U.S. and our adversaries clearly appreciate these realities. Cyber security therefore is a central focus of national-level strategy, planning, and initiatives. At GlobalSCAPE, we support these national-level initiatives and will continue to do our part to provide warfighters and businesses with the solutions they need to implement, sustain, and enhance their secure information exchange capabilities.