Global Security Series Examines Infrastructure Security in Digital Age
The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University recently hosted Jeff Greene, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Professor Jack Weinstein, Lieutenant General, USAF, (Ret), moderated this latest installment of the Global Security Speaker Series, focusing on protecting American infrastructure in an interconnected digital landscape.
Drawing from his extensive career at CISA, Greene painted a stark picture of current digital security challenges. “The situation isn’t rosy,” Greene admitted, “but we’re not without hope.” He highlighted recent incidents like the SolarWinds breach and Colonial Pipeline attack to demonstrate evolving cyber threats.
Greene paid particular attention to the “Volt Typhoon” campaign linked to China, noting its unusual focus on U.S. infrastructure. “The targets Volt is choosing have little to no intelligence value,” Greene explained. “They’re positioning themselves for disruptive, destructive actions.” Unlike previous intelligence-gathering operations, this campaign appears designed for potential system disruption.
Small infrastructure operators face particular challenges, Greene noted, often lacking resources for robust cybersecurity. He outlined CISA’s response: free vulnerability assessments and new grant programs supporting critical infrastructure protection. Greene emphasized strengthened partnerships between government agencies and private organizations as essential for future security.
Beyond systemic threats, Greene offered practical digital safety guidance. His recommendations ranged from regular software updates to multi-factor authentication – steps relevant to both organizations and individuals.
Students engaged actively with these real-world security challenges. Richa Jindal, BA IR ’26, reflected on the session’s impact: “What I took away was some great career advice, the value of updating my devices and being more secure, and knowledge about cyber security that will make me look smarter at dinner next week.”
Greene concluded by highlighting three positive industry shifts: enhanced global collaboration, improved U.S. government coordination, and stronger public-private information sharing. These developments, he suggested, offer paths forward despite growing threats.
The Pardee School’s Global Security Series continues to examine pressing security challenges, from cyber attacks to climate change, bringing expert perspectives to critical global issues.