RSA Conference 2012 opens in San Francisco

The world’s top information security professionals and business leaders gathered for the opening of the annual RSA Conference being held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Taking place February 27 to March 2, RSA Conference 2012 brings together the information security industry’s best and brightest to discuss pressing security trends and learn the essential strategies for addressing current and future threats. Through interactions with peers, industry luminaries and emerging and established companies, RSA Conference is the place for security experts to collaborate and drive innovation.

This year’s Conference includes a notable lineup of featured speakers, including:

• Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister, Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Robert Mueller, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Art Coviello, Executive Vice President of EMC Corporation and Executive Chairman of RSA, The Security Division of EMC
• Scott Charney, Corporate Vice President for Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft Corporation
• Philippe Courtot, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Qualys, and many more.

Some of the highlights at RSA Conference 2012 include:

• Innovation Sandbox – Taking place on Monday, February 27, this half-day interactive program features demonstrations from 10 finalists comprised of today’s rising information security stars; interactive whiteboard sessions facilitated by industry experts; “Start-up Speed Dating” with venture capitalists; and the opportunity to speak with industry-leading research labs to learn what may lay ahead for the information security industry. The program will culminate with one finalist being named “RSA Conference 2012’s Most Innovative Company”.
• The Cryptographer’s Panel – On Tuesday, February 28, at 10:30 a.m. PT, this panel features some of the world’s leading authorities on cryptography in a spirited debate moderated by Ari Juels, Chief Scientist, RSA Laboratories. The discussion will span the latest advances in cryptography, research areas to watch in 2012 and practical insights that continue to be drawn from lessons learned over the last three decades.
• Security Debate Sessions – New for 2012, Security Debate sessions will take place in the Crypto Commons at 12:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, February 29 and Thursday, March 1. The first session, “Software Liability: Our Saving Grace or Kiss of Death?”, features debaters Marcus Ranum, CSO of Tenable Networks Security Inc. and founder and CTO of BT Managed Security Solutions, Bruce Schneier. The session will be moderated by Pete Lindstrom of Spire Security. Session two debaters, Peter Eckersley, Technology Projects Director at EFF and Ira Winkler, Director, International Board of Directors at ISAG, will discuss “Internet Access: Right or Privilege.” The session will be moderated by Alan Shimel of The CISO Group.
• Government Forum: Future of Cyber Security – On Tuesday, February 28, James Lewis, Senior Fellow & Program Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, will moderate a Special Forum on the Future of Cyber Security and Active Defense. The panel is scheduled to address the positives and negatives associated with adopting an active security defense strategy. Comprised of international speakers, the panel will discuss implications from responding to modern threats to privacy and the militarization of cyberspace.
• The Rise of Hacktivism Panel – On Wednesday, February 29, Jeffrey Brown, PBS NewsHour Senior Correspondent will moderate a panel alongside Misha Glenny, Author & Journalist; Eric Strom, Unit Chief, Cyber Initiative and Resource Fusion Unit Cyber Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss hacktivists – Who are they and what to do if you become the subject of an attack?
• Innovation Keynote with Sal Khan – Sal Khan founded the Khan Academy with a simple but innovative idea: to provide world-class education to anyone, anywhere. His work helped build the Academy from a small start-up to a much talked-about venture attracting the attention of major donors, including Google and the Gates Foundation. While building Khan Academy provided one set of challenges, keeping a focus on disruptively innovating the way we learn provides a whole new set of obstacles. During this keynote on Thursday, March 1, Khan shares the keys that leaders must keep in mind when managing innovation.
• RSA Conference Online – Launching in conjunction with RSA Conference 2012, RSA Conference Online is a global experience that enriches and expands RSA Conference for attendees and the RSA Community at-large by providing online access to Conference content as well as opportunities to connect and collaborate around the key industry topics that are transforming the information security industry. Attendees to the inaugural RSA Conference Online will have access to live activities and programming, including keynotes, through March 15.