DEF CON Unplugged: Cocktails & Cyber with Jeff & Jen
Jen Easterly, Jeff Moss
DEF CON 32 Main Stage · Day 1 · Main Stage
This DEF CON Unplugged session, titled "Cocktails & Cyber," offered a unique glimpse into the evolving relationship between the U.S. government's lead civilian cybersecurity agency and the broader hacker community. Featuring Jen Easterly, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (**CISA**), and Jeff Moss, the renowned founder of DEF CON and Black Hat, the talk transcended traditional conference presentations by adopting an informal, conversational format. The core of the discussion revolved around the critical importance of building **trusted partnerships** and fostering genuine community engagement as foundational elements of national cybersecurity strategy.
AI review
This session, while devoid of technical exploits, delivered critical strategic signal from the highest levels of CISA. Director Easterly's direct articulation of CISA's non-regulatory, non-law enforcement role, coupled with Jeff Moss's foundational advice on human-centric trust, represents a significant, actionable shift in government-community engagement. It's a masterclass in strategic communication, providing clarity and a roadmap for collective defense that every security professional needs to understand.