Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency Director, General Keith Alexander, To Keynote Day One of Black Hat USA 2013

SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Black Hat, the world's leading family of information security events, announced that Gen. Keith Alexander -- Commander, U.S. Cyber Command/Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) -- will present the Day One keynote address at Black Hat USA 2013. Black Hat USA will take place July 27 – August 1, 2013, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. For more information and to sign up for early registration by May 31, please visit http://www.blackhat.com/us-13/.

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A highly regarded advocate of battlefield visualization and "data fusion" for more useful intelligence, Gen. Alexander has led NSA/CSS since 2005. NSA/CSS gives the nation a decisive edge to make information and information technology an asset for the United States and a liability for its adversaries. It applies tools and tradecraft with creativity and agility – maintaining capabilities that exceed what others think is possible. The aim is to discover, make sense of, and securely share information at Net speed. What's more, NSA/CSS measurably improves the security of critical information systems and other operations.

At the helm, Gen. Alexander's depth of experience has made all the difference.

In 2010 the U.S. Senate confirmed Gen. Alexander to head U.S. Cyber Command as a four-star general. The establishment of Cyber Command both unified and strengthened the Defense Department's work to protect vital networks and ensure integration of cyber operations.

On the whole, he emphasizes, success is measured by how well the government collaborates with partners and customers.

"As our dependence on information networks increases, it will take a team to eliminate vulnerabilities and counter the ever-growing threats to the network. We can succeed in securing it by building strong partnerships between and within the private and public sectors, encouraging information sharing and collaboration, and creating and leveraging the technology that affords us the opportunity to secure cyberspace," Gen. Alexander said. "Black Hat provides a great venue to have that productive dialogue by bringing together world-class researchers, technical experts, government officials, executives, and students for critical collaboration and education."

Gen. Alexander continued, "It is my hope that in sharing some of my insights and perspectives with the information security community at Black Hat, we will continue to cultivate the information sharing and collaborative relationships needed to address the cyber threats facing global society."

Black Hat USA will welcome Gen. Alexander to the stage on July 31, 2013. His keynote will give attendees an unmatched insider's look into the U.S. Cyber Command and the interworking of offensive cyber strategy.

"Gen. Alexander's role is one of the most unique in the information security field. He manages risk in ways most of us will never understand. The saying, 'walk a mile in my shoes,' does not apply here, so hearing his story and perspective on international risk management will be both valuable and inspirational for the next generation of information security professionals," explained Trey Ford, General Manager, Black Hat. "We are honored he is joining us this year in Las Vegas."

This year Black Hat USA will welcome security experts, public and private sector security professionals and underground hackers to Las Vegas for a first-hand look at groundbreaking new research, vulnerabilities and security tools from around the world. Sponsors of Black Hat USA include Diamond Sponsors: Microsoft, Qualys, RSA; Platinum Plus Sponsors: Accuvant LABS, Alien Vault, Cisco, Core Security, LogRhythm, Looking Glass; Platinum Sponsors: Blue Coat, IBM, Lieberman Software, Solera Networks, Symantec and Trustwave.

For more information and to register for Black Hat USA 2013, please visit: http://www.blackhat.com/us-13/.

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SOURCE Black Hat