Baltimore, Maryland - How do hackers crack a computer system and steal data? How should organizations protect themselves? How should they prepare for and respond to attack?

These are among the questions that will be addressed by experts in the field at the third annual Senior Executive Cyber Security Conference to be held Wednesday, September 21 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Registration for the daylong event is under way here, and early registration discounts are in effect through August 21.

Featuring speakers from government, business and academia, the conference is sponsored by the university’s Whiting School of Engineering, its Information Security Institute and by COMPASS Cyber Security. The theme for this year’s event is “Navigating Today’s Cyber Security Terrain,” featuring presentations and panel discussions with 13 experts.

“The threat of data breaches, malware, ransomware and other cyber security intrusions cannot be understated for organizations large and small,” said Anton Dahbura, executive director of Johns Hopkins University’s Information Security Institute (JHUISI), part of the Whiting School of Engineering. “This conference is designed to be a one-stop-shop for business executives and all who have a vested interest in their organization’s digital security to hear about security best practices and trends and to participate in the discussion with the foremost experts in the field.”

Michael Misumi of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory will deliver a presentation on advanced persistent threat attacks, in which hackers gain access to a network and remain there for an extended period of time to steal information. Misumi will consider what such an attack looks like from a defender’s viewpoint, and lessons that have been learned in the aftermath of such attacks.

Mike Colford of Aspen Insurance will present on what an organization can do to prepare for and respond to a data breach. He’ll consider response planning, regulatory concerns and steps for effective management of a data breach.

Other scheduled speakers include:

• Lorrie Cranor, chief technologist, U.S. Federal Trade Commission
• Dan Larkin, PNC Financial Services Group
• Bob Olsen, CEO, co-founder of Comprehensive Applied Security Solutions (COMPASS)
• Michael Misumi, CIO, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Mike Colford, Aspen Insurance
• Avi Rubin, professor of computer science, Johns Hopkins University, technical director of Information Security Institute
• Michele L. Cohen, principal, Miles & Stockbridge
• John Holmblad, technology development services, U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms