The Cyber Defense Paradox: Nation-State Threats vs. Domestic Resources

“The homeland has never been less secure.” This was the testimony of Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery to the United States Congress on the first day of the Committee for Homeland Security in 2025. Why? We are facing a new era of state-sponsored espionage where foreign adversaries l aren’t just stealing data—they are planting “sleeper bots” deep within our networks, waiting for the signal to strike. But even as US federal budgets rise, front-line defenses at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are struggling with massive staffing attrition and the sudden dissolution of critical advisory structures, such as the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB). Is the US equipped to defend against an enemy that is already inside, patiently waiting for the signal to strike? Join us for a conversation with Dr. Nadya Bliss, the Executive Director of the Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute at Arizona State University. Formerly, she was the founding group leader of the Computing and Analytics Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and past chair and current steering committee member of DARPA’s Information Science and Technology Study Group. Hosted by: Alexa Raad and Leslie Daigle. Further reading: Unconstrained Actors: Assessing Global Cyber Threats to the Homeland: The Committee on Homeland Security Hearing, Jan 22 2025 State-Sponsored Actors Compromise and Maintain Persistent Access to U.S. Critical Infrastructure CISA faces budget cuts, workforce loss amid cyber threats CSET; Securing Critical Infrastructure in the Age of AI Lawfare; The Cybersecurity Patchwork Quilt Remains Incomplete Computing Research Association; The Post-Quantum Cryptography Transition: Making Progress, But Still a Long Road Ahead National Academies Consensus Study Report; Cyber Hard Problems: Focused Steps Toward a Resilient Digital Future (2025) The views and opinions expressed in this program are our own and may not reflect the views or positions of our employers.