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Listen to interviews with cybersecurity professionals from Maricopa County, Splunk, Grand Canyon Education, and Cisco as they share insights on their roles in the public sector and discuss cybersecurity and technology.

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Recorded at the 2024 Phoenix Live Podcast Tour at GMI on April 1st to 3rd.

Lester Godsey, CISO, Maricopa County

Lester serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for Maricopa County, the fourth largest county in the United States by population. With extensive experience in managing cybersecurity risks and implementing robust security protocols, Lester plays a crucial role in safeguarding the county’s digital infrastructure against various cyber threats.

Tina Carkhuff, Industry Executive Advisor, Splunk

Tina is an Industry Executive Advisor at Splunk and the former CIO for the City of Houston. With a deep passion for data analytics, Tina brings valuable insights from her work with Splunk’s platform in detecting and mitigating fraud. Her experience spans across various public sector roles, where she has consistently leveraged data to drive significant improvements in cybersecurity and operational efficiency.

Gary DePreta, Senior Vice President US Public Sector, Cisco

Gary is the Senior Vice President of US Public Sector at Cisco. Having joined Cisco in 2005 and with a brief stint at Splunk, Gary has a unique perspective on the integration of advanced cybersecurity solutions. He is dedicated to addressing the complex challenges faced by public sector entities, particularly in enhancing cybersecurity through innovative technologies and strategic partnerships.

Christian Taillon, Threat Response Engineer, Grand Canyon Education

Christian is a Threat Response Engineer at Grand Canyon Education. He is committed to protecting student and institutional data while training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Christian’s work involves utilizing advanced security technologies and fostering public-private partnerships to bolster cyber defenses within the educational sector.

In this episode you'll learn:

How Maricopa County combats misinformation and disinformation, particularly during election cycles, and the importance of incident response protocols in addressing physical and digital threats.
The role of data analytics in fraud detection, exemplified by Splunk’s success in helping states like New Jersey save billions in fraudulent unemployment claims.
The impact of Cisco’s acquisition of Splunk on enhancing cybersecurity through the integration of data analytics and threat intelligence.
The strategic importance of public-private partnerships in improving cybersecurity defenses, with real-world examples from Grand Canyon Education.
The challenges and solutions associated with using AI and machine learning in cybersecurity, including maintaining data privacy and automating threat response.
How trust in government can be restored and improved through effective public-private collaborations and innovative use of technology.

Full transcript and show notes

Lester's LinkedIn

Tina's LinkedIn

Christian LinkedIn

Gary's LinkedIn

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