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The recording and presentation slides will be available soon.
FISSEA is celebrating 38 years of working together and shaping the future. We have adopted the annual theme of “Collaborative Cybersecurity: Building a Community of Awareness and Action.” Quarterly Forums are designed to provide opportunities for policy and programmatic updates, the exchange of best practices, and discussion and engagement among members of the Federal Information Security Educators (FISSEA) community.
Agenda:
1:00pm - 1:05pm
Welcoming Remarks
Latha Reddy, FISSEA Co-chair, Vice President and Director of Technology and Cybersecurity, Spire Investment Partners, LLC
Danielle Santos, Deputy Director of NICE, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
1:05pm - 1:15pm
Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October) Updates
Jennifer Cook, Senior Director of Marketing, National Cybersecurity Alliance
1:15pm - 1:30pm
FISSEA Fifteen: A Collaborative Discussion on Cybersecurity Awareness Activities
Facilitated by Susan Hansche, Training Manager, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
1:30pm - 1:55pm
Reducing Risk Through Awareness and Training
Cybersecurity incidents often stem from human error rather than purely technical failures. This session explores how organizations can reduce risk by embedding awareness and training into their culture. Drawing on insights from the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA, the presentation highlights practical strategies to address human risk factors, align compliance requirements, and build sustainable training programs. Real-world examples, including healthcare phishing defenses, will illustrate how awareness initiatives directly strengthen resilience and trust.
Aman Bhardwaj, Cydeo
1:55pm - 2:05pm
Stop the Hacker – A Cybersecurity Awareness Game
‘Stop the Hacker’ is a werewolf style game that allows ‘employees’ to defend themselves from a ‘hacker’ by following cybersecurity best practices. Ashley and Sarae developed this game and materials for 2024 Security Awareness Month, and reprised the game at other awareness events.
Sarae Winnicki, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Ashley Smith, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
2:05pm - 2:15pm
CISA's 7th Annual President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition
The President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition is a flagship event designed to challenge and develop the cybersecurity skills of the U.S. government workforce. Established under Executive Order 13870, the competition aims to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity workforce through engaging, real-world scenarios that test participants’ technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.
Brittney Thomas, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
2:15pm - 2:25pm
Creating a Cybersecurity Tip of the Month
To reinforce strong cybersecurity habits among SSA employees, the Office of Information Security maintains a Cybersecurity Tip of the Month program. Each month, we share practical advice on protecting government and personal data, covering topics from password management to data privacy. Timed with annual events like Cybersecurity Awareness Month, these tips reinforce essential practices and expand staff knowledge on emerging threats. By encouraging simple actions, such as backing up data or avoiding risky online behavior, we help safeguard sensitive information. This ongoing effort promotes a culture of security and empowers employees to protect the data entrusted to them.
Rebecca D. Martin, Social Security Administration
2:25pm - 2:30pm
Closing Remarks
Joyce Mui, FISSEA Co-Chair, Information Technology Specialist for Security and Networking, National Institute of Standards and Technology