Today’s WashingtonExec featured interview is with the Vice President of Cybersecurity at Hewlett Packard (HP), Betsy Hight. Hight reflected on how technology has changed since she began her career at the U.S. Navy by using Morse Code and radio frequencies, to the mobile capabilities we are all reliant upon today. Hight also gave WashingtonExec her thoughts on the use of social media by citizens and the state…specifically focusing on the drawbacks of Twitter. An executive with her own Wikipedia page, Hight supports the U.S. Department of Defense in using its cyber capabilities, “to identify, track down and apprehend hackers who are trying to benefit from others or who are trying to hurt others.”
WashingtonExec: Could you start with telling us a little about your background and what led you to your current position?
Betsy Hight: I lead the Cybersecurity Practice for Hewlett-Packard’s U.S. Public Sector business. This business provides the right cyber security solution for our federal, state or local government clients, along with some higher education clients. I joined Hewlett-Packard in January of 2010 having retired from the United States Navy after 33 years working in the communications, computing, satellite communications and cybersecurity arena.
WashingtonExec: How has the way individuals and intuitions engage with technology changed over your career?
Betsy Hight: Oh my goodness . . . when I joined the Navy in 1977, the Navy basically communicated via high frequency radio and Morse Code. I would just say the difference in technology is just phenomenal. Today we have more computing power in our smart phones than they had launching the first men to reach the moon in the mid-60s. The biggest difference in where we are today is that instead of having a marketplace, we have moved into a market space. That space is dominated by the digital capabilities we use on our desk or the ones that we hold in our hands when we are mobile.
WashingtonExec: What are your thoughts on the use of social media by large businesses or sensitive government agencies?
Betsy Hight: First of all let me say that I am a huge fan of social media. Social media in its current form drives people to discuss issues, leads to transparency, and for citizens in a democracy this is absolutely critical. However, it’s really difficult to put yourself in the shoes of people making decisions within a specific context with so very little information as in the case of Twitter. Decision makers make decisions based on the information they have at hand and the situation that is going on at the time. If the public tweets that they disagree with something they may not have the context or in depth understanding of the information on which the decision was based.
WashingtonExec: How do you feel about your Wikipedia page?
Betsy Hight: It has some incorrect information in it. It says that I retired from the government in 2008, butI didn’t retire until 2010. Do I care that it says that? No, I don’t care. It’s incorrect and it’s fleeting. There are a lot of things in Wikipedia that are not fleeting like the Grand Canyon and Mickey Mouse. Most entries on people who have served in the military or in the government are really fleeting because they simply reflect a particular point in time. It won’t be long before that entry will be either removed or people just won’t see it anymore.
WashingtonExec: How do you feel about the Department of Defense saying they are going on the cyber offensive? What are your thoughts on cyber hacking?
Betsy Hight: Let’s be really clear – theft in the United States is illegal. Theft in most countries around the world is illegal. America is known for its innovative spirit and if those innovations are simply stolen, then every American pays for that, not just US businesses but every American that relies on the US economy. I support the use of legal authorities to identify, track down and apprehend hackers who are trying to benefit from others or who are trying to hurt others. I think that is a perfectly reasonable position for the United States government to take.
WashingtonExec: Those are all of my questions for you. Do you have anything you would like to add?
Betsy Hight: Cybersecurity issues are pervasive throughout every piece of our lives. We are in an information explosion revolution. We need to step up to our personal and professional responsibilities. HP has incredible capabilities to help you or your business discover what is going on in your network, to help you understand how you can protect your data, your devices, your network equipment, and more. Once your intellectual property is modified or stolen it is darn near impossible to reset where you were before the information was stolen. We all need to step up to the fact that cyber-security challenges are everywhere.