Matthew Olsen

Cyber attacks have emerged as a leading threat to our national security, endangering both government and private computer systems and networks. In the coming years, our adversaries will hone their skills, and the scope and scale of the threat will escalate. Companies will need to develop a sophisticated understanding of the nature of the threat, the government’s role in defending cyberspace, and the steps companies can take to secure their networks and information. As a leading government official at the NSA and the Justice Department, Matt Olsen has worked on the inside on these challenges, and he now helps lead a cybersecurity technology firm. Olsen brings an astute understanding of the myriad threats to companies in cyberspace and the government’s capabilities and limitations in this domain, as well as ways companies can enhance their cybersecurity.

With the rapid rise of new terrorist groups like the Islamic State, the ongoing threat from al-Qaida, and the impact of homegrown terrorist cells, terrorism remains an urgent concern for the nation. The terrorism landscape is more complex than ever as terrorist groups have multiplied and expanded. Networks of terrorist operatives pursue a range of lethal objectives both inside and outside of national borders and reach across continents from South Asia to the Middle East and from North Africa to Europe. Over the past few years, terrorists have attacked a natural gas installation in Algeria, killed U.S. government personnel in Libya, and bombed the Boston Marathon—all underscoring the dynamic and persistent threats to U.S. citizens and to our interests around the world. With his deep experience, Matt Olsen shares his keen understanding of terrorism and the ways the government and the private sector can work together to counter these threats and enhance our security.