Cyber Defense eMagazine May 2019

Conclusion
Attribution is an important component of full-spectrum cyber operations, and as attribution using purely
technical methods becomes more difficult, we should improve our ability to use PAI to further the
objectives of advanced attribution. While there is no single, silver-bullet solution for ending malicious
cyber activity, by making life more difficult for malicious actors, we can more easily disrupt and deter the
threats they pose. Just as important, as we learn the names of malicious hackers around the world and
increase what we know about them, we shine a light into cyberspace that makes it easier to parse the
signal from the noise. Knowing who poses the threat, where they’re attacking from, what they intend to
do, and the extent of their capabilities can boost our defenses and countermeasures immediately, and in
the long run, inform the framework we need to build to address a range of threats.
About the Author
Brian currently serves as the SVP for Babel Street’s Federal Civil
business, where he is responsible for Babel Street customer
engagements spanning the Executive and Legislative Branches, to
include the Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security.
Prior to this position, Brian served as the Current Operations officer
at Marine Forces Cyberspace Command and Global Plans lead at
Joint Task Force Ares, where he was responsible for planning and
executing full spectrum, global cyberspace operations. In this
capacity, he also ran several 24/7 operations centers responsible for
crisis planning and crisis response. Brian is a graduate of
Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and several
advanced military courses. He is a member of the SANS GIAC
Advisory Board and a board member of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.
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