Show notes
Dragos CEO and U.S. National Guard Lt. Col. Rob Lee joins hosts Michael Farnum and Sam Van Ryder to discuss why he returned to military service, the growing cyber threats to critical infrastructure, and the role exercises like Cyber Fortress play in preparing both government and private sector operators for real-world cyber incidents.
SHOW NOTES:
Things Mentioned:
Episode 64 Timestamps:
6:48 – Why Lee returned to military service
Lee explains how calls from government and military leaders prompted him to return to the National Guard to help address unresolved questions around defending operational technology (OT) during conflict.
9:33 – Role in the 91st Cyber Brigade
Lee describes his position as executive officer and the mission of the Army National Guard’s cyber brigade.
14:52 – Cyber Fortress exercise explained
Lee walks through the origins of Cyber Fortress and how it evolved from a state-level exercise into a broader operational technology training environment.
17:53 – How Cyber Fortress works
The exercise combines training, red-team simulations, and participation from infrastructure operators to practice responding to real OT cyber incidents.
20:10 – Cyber conflict and civilian infrastructure
Lee discusses the growing risk of state actors targeting hospitals, utilities, and other civilian infrastructure.
24:23 – Cyber attacks that lead to loss of life
Lee argues the cybersecurity community must acknowledge that cyber operations have already contributed to real-world deaths.
27:04 – The role of cyber in modern warfare
The discussion explores how cyber capabilities are increasingly intertwined with traditional military conflict.
Do you have a question for the hosts? Reach out to us at media@cscgroupllc.com
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