USCIS CISO Shane Barney to Speak at 2024 Cyber Summit

Shane Barney is the chief information security officer (CISO) at the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). In this role, he oversees the advanced information technology security program, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of USCIS’s networks, systems and data. 

Attend the 2024 Cyber Summit to gain insights from Barney, who will share his extensive knowledge and expertise as a featured panel speaker.

 

Who is Shane Barney?

As the USCIS chief information security officer, Shane Barney oversees the agency’s IT security program and ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of USCIS systems. 

Prior to his current role, Barney served as the deputy CISO and chief of the Cyber Intelligence Branch. In these roles, he managed classified operations and insider threat programs. 

Barney holds two master’s degrees alongside a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.

 

Barney’s Professional Background and Notable Awards

 

Barney’s Professional Background

Barney worked as a government contractor before joining the federal workforce. He initially worked as a contractor for the USCIS contracting office in Vermont and later with the agency’s Office of Security and Integrity in Washington, D.C. 

In these roles, he defined the technical strategy for intelligence and fraud detection on classified networks. He was also instrumental in developing analytical tools, establishing data requirements, and determining systems to support critical missions.

 

Barney’s Award-Winning Contributions at DHS

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security celebrated the exceptional efforts of its employees during a prestigious awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. This event acknowledged the dedication and achievements of 268 outstanding individuals. 

Among the honored recipients was Shane Barney. He was recognized for his groundbreaking work in cybersecurity and transformative leadership in the DHS, shifting the department’s cybersecurity approach from reactive to proactive. 

By implementing advanced security automation, Barney also significantly enhanced the cybersecurity program’s efficiency and effectiveness, resulting in an impressive $17 million in saved labor hours over the past year, 

His contributions set a new standard for cybersecurity within the DHS, demonstrating the power of his forward-thinking and automation in protecting the nation’s security infrastructure and interests.

 

About the 2024 Cyber Summit

 

The 2024 Cyber Summit will spark insightful conversations surrounding the cyber sector’s impact on government. The summit is particularly relevant amid the increasing importance of cybersecurity in exploring the latest strategies and trends that shape the future of government operations.

Barney will be participating in the Implementing and Managing AI in Government panel at the Cyber Summit. 

Date: June 6, 2024 (7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m./ ET)

Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 S Hayes St., Arlington, VA 22202

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit.

 

Barney’s Contributions to GovCon

 

Addressing Evolving Cyber Threats by Prioritizing Cybersecurity 

Barney said the USCIS has been on a zero trust journey for over eight years. Despite this extensive commitment, the agency grapples with many cybersecurity challenges in the ever-evolving digital landscape. 

During a discussion on Federal News Network’s Prioritizing Cybersecurity Goals to Protect Agency Networks, Barney said, “Our biggest priority is on the identity side. My office owns identity and credential management systems, unique in the federal space; not all CISOs do. It should be mandated. So in terms of our focus, it’s really on the networking side and applications.”

The CISO’s focus on identity and credential management aligns with USCIS’s overarching zero trust strategy, which is driven by the necessity to secure cloud-based operations and advanced cybersecurity threats. 

 

Barney Discusses USCIS’s Zero Trust Successes and Future Challenges

During a talk hosted by FeedScoop, Barney emphasized the role of automation and artificial intelligence in managing extensive data sets and enhancing operational security. While acknowledging their benefits, he also raised concerns about the potential risks of deploying advanced AI technologies.

Barney advocates for a cautious and measured approach to AI deployment, ensuring thorough risk assessments are conducted to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

 

Read more: The Infinite Journey of Zero Trust Is Worth the Cost, Federal Officials Say

 

Accelerating the Mission with AI: Improved Security For Federal Data

In an interview, Barney joined in discussing various innovative programs and strategies being adopted by his agency. 

“We have, from a cybersecurity perspective, in my plans I am building, what we’re referring to as a security integration platform, which is an open source-based platform, and it has a whole AI/machine learning piece built into it based on open-source principles and practices, as well as some software platforms that will be integrated into the security program,” Barney shared.

Amid the anticipation of further directives from the White House regarding AI implementation, Barney is proactively establishing fundamental principles to accelerate the advancement in implementation plans and leveraging USCIS’s ongoing development of an open cybersecurity schema framework.