On January 13, the Silicon Valley Japan Platform (SVJP) kicked off the new year with its monthly benkyokai webinar series featuring two specialists on cybersecurity: Claire Vishik, Intel Fellow and CTO of Intel Government, Markets, Trade Division and Mihoko Matsubara, Chief Cybersecurity Strategist of NTT Corporation, Tokyo. Moderating the session was SVJP President, Jon Shalowitz.
The virtual event, titled “2021: The Year of Cybersecurity,” began with Dr. Vishik discussing the paradoxes faced when trying to defend our complex infrastructures, ecosystems or organizations from cybersecurity threats. Ms. Matsubara provided insights on Japan’s preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the opportunities it provided not only to focus on and enhance their national security capabilities, but to also work closely with the United States on cybersecurity.
Guests posed questions on the barriers to implementing adequate cybersecurity to current methods being used to catch security threats. The panelists touched on what we can do to boost cybersecurity, including recognizing the hard work of IT staff and clicking “yes” when prompted to update security features.
Feedback from the guests reflected agreement that this is an issue of crucial importance and requires further probing. Moving into 2021, we have a better vision into the complexity of the cybersecurity environment, which will allow defenders such as Dr. Vishik and Ms. Matsubara to improve our cyberworld and make it a safer place.