Law enforcement and public safety professionals are constantly challenged in responding to crises. Over the past two years the COVID pandemic has created opportunities for criminal organizations to exploit new vulnerabilities. At the same time, our law enforcement public safety agencies have gained new capabilities to work remotely. These experiences are accelerating a mobile workforce, which is enabling law enforcement and public safety to access information securely and reliably in new ways.

Meanwhile, law enforcement and public safety agencies manage a significant amount of data stored on-premises and in the cloud that flows from state, local, and federal law enforcement networks – data that must be always authenticated and accessible and meet security policy compliance regulations. To that end, agencies are investing in new security solutions and frameworks to secure infrastructure and data from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks and to address today’s modern digital transformation.

In this 14th annual LEAPS Technology Forum, AFCEA Bethesda will provide an opportunity for government and industry to share information about lessons learned and current challenges. Panel discussions and roundtables provide a forum for engaging and interactive dialog. Government participants will learn from their colleagues and industry partners. Industry participants will discover opportunities where they can introduce innovations to their government clients. The LEAPS Technology Forum will look at how federal, state and local agencies are working with industry partners to implement effective solutions with an emphasis on:

• Cybersecurity and Zero Trust – Securing remote workers and hybrid cloud environments, protecting data and users from ransomware threats, supply chain risks, credential theft
• Use of Biometrics – Emerging trends, integration with mobile devices, multi-factor authentication, surveillance
• Law Enforcement and Public Safety Use of Technology – Leveraging digital technology and innovation, data analytic tools, artificial intelligence, geospatial capabilities, and other emerging technology