CHAPEL HILL – Businesses, cities, organizations and citizens are increasingly harnessing the Internet of Things to improve the way they live and work on a daily basis. The federal government, too, is jumping on the opportunity to enhance operations through the use of smart sensors, autonomous vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems and more IoT-enabled technologies.

Delivering the keynote will be General Paul Nakasone, who concurrently serves as commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service.  Nakasone will discuss cyber threats under the angle of national security, and the solutions federal agencies are adopting to combat these threats.

With this adoption comes new threats to the security of these connected systems and networks, and new implications for how the government and the technology industry should collaborate to ensure the security and defense of IoT.

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), a business development program of the North Carolina Community College System, saw the need inform North Carolina’s business community about the latest cybersecurity challenges and opportunities—especially as it relates to IoT. Next week, the NCMBC will be hosting a day-long Cybersecurity and Technology Symposium in Chapel Hill to focus on these themes.

The event, slated for October 11 at the Friday Conference Center, will include insights from Army researchers and scientists, representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, experts from academic institutions, head officials from the National Security Agency and the Department of Defense Cyber Command.

NCMBC Director Dennis Lewis, an Army veteran and former senior executive of Harris Corporation’s Government Communications Systems Division, says that the NCMBC recognizes that tech companies in North Carolina need to be aware of the cyber threats and challenges in today’s tech sector.

Lewis said the symposium is designed to be well-rounded in providing the “government perspective, the standards perspective and the industry perspective” to help identify the considerations tech companies need to take when they’re building internet-connected products.

“IoT is really taking the world by storm; there will be billions of devices attached to it in future,” Lewis says. “This is a great breakthrough and it’s becoming an inherent part of our lives, but it’s also presenting more cybersecurity challenges.”

“The good thing is that although there are a lot of industry folks who are smart when it comes to AI and machine learning, there will be more opportunities in the future to grow their business if they’re prepared,” Lewis added. “One way get prepared is to understand the direction the government is going in, so that these businesses can adjust accordingly.”

Ahead of the Cybersecurity and Technology Symposium, the NCMBC is hosting a welcome reception in Chapel Hill on the evening of October 10.

The main event will begin at 8 a.m. on October 11, with a welcome from North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Secretary Larry Hall.

A morning keynote will be delivered by Dr. Alexander Kott, who leads the Network Science Division of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Kott will share details on the division’s Internet of Battlefield Things initiative, which is exploring innovative predictive analytics systems for battlefield command and control.

Next, Consortium Management Group Founder and President Charlie McBride will deliver a presentation on Other Transaction Authorities (or OTAs), a type of agreement that the federal government follows in acquiring innovative prototypes and projects. Lewis says this presentation is aimed to inform businesses of the benefits of OTAs, a model they might not be aware of. In particular, Lewis adds, “this session will be of interest for technologists attending the event.”

Later in the morning, there will be two sessions covering the definition of IoT, and the requirements, challenges, standards and trends taking shape in this industry segment. The discussion will include insights from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and from senior leaders in military security.

After lunch, there will be a series of panel discussions. One covers the technical side of OTAs and their opportunities for regional business. Another focuses on cyber education training and research, including insights from the U.S. Army Cyber Institute at West Point.

A networking event will close out the symposium. There, attendees can meet with government representatives, presenters and speakers. One-on-one meetings will rotate from table to table within a span of three to four minutes.

Lewis says this is an opportunity for businesses to open up a channel of communication with government officials. “If the government [representative] has a need for what the business is doing, or knows someone that does, these companies can get a direct connection from them.”

Organizers are expecting a turnout of around 250 people at the symposium. Lewis noted that the relatively modest size of the conference is an environment capable of giving attendees “a chance to really ask questions and get involved with IoT and how cybersecurity relates to that.”

Tickets to the symposium are priced at $150, available here.

https://wraltechwire.com/event/southeast-region-cyber-security-technology-symposium/