DISA Intelligence Chief: Emerging Technologies Offer Advantages, Threats to Cybersecurity

Army Col. Richard Leach, director of intelligence at the Defense Information Systems Agency, said that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies present advantages and threats to cybersecurity.

Speaking at the Digital Protection Summit on Thursday, Leach said the growth of remote work during the global pandemic provided hackers with a new opportunity to access an enterprise network. He also tackled the impact of the growing use of AI on cybersecurity. 

The DISA intelligence chief recommended using emerging technologies to address cyberthreats, including using AI to accelerate threat analysis and embracing zero trust architecture, DISA said.

In September 2023, Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, DISA director and a past Wash100 winner and past Potomac Officers Club event speaker, said at the Department of the Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower conference that the agency is turning to AI to help improve the U.S. cyber posture.

To help federal IT leaders further maximize the promise of AI, the Potomac Officers Club will be hosting an event on March 21 to discuss its transformative power across all industries.