May TASK: Beyond the Horizon: Bridging Today's Security with Tomorrow's Quantum Threats / The End of Click-Ops: Securing Agent-Driven Applications
Live and in-person at TMU + Live-Streamed on Discord
Date: Wednesday, May 28
Time: 6:00 PM
In-Person Location: DCC 208 Classroom at TMU's Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex - 288 Church Street
Registration: Not required
Live-Stream: Although TASK is always best in-person, we will steam live again on Discord @ https://discord.gg/aXfY76xgVJ.
Topic: Beyond the Horizon: Bridging Today's Security with Tomorrow's Quantum Threats
Speaker: Simpy Parveen
As quantum computing rapidly advances, the cybersecurity landscape faces an unprecedented challenge. This presentation, "Beyond the Horizon: Bridging Today's Security with Tomorrow's Quantum Threats," explores the urgent need for organizations to prepare for the imminent quantum threat to current cryptographic systems.
We will discuss:
The current state of quantum computing and its potential to break widely-used encryption methods like RSA and ECC
The concept of "harvest now, decrypt later" and its implications for long-term data security
Recent developments in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), including NIST's approved algorithms
Strategies for organizations to assess their cryptographic inventory and develop transition plans
The importance of crypto agility and hybrid approaches in the transition period, like PQ-TLS and PQ-DTLS
Challenges and considerations in implementing PQC across various sectors, particularly in critical infrastructure and telecommunications
By providing a comprehensive overview of the quantum threat and actionable steps for PQC adoption, this presentation aims to equip decision-makers and cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge and strategies necessary to bridge the gap between current security measures and future quantum-resistant solutions. We will emphasize the critical importance of taking proactive measures now to safeguard sensitive data and systems against future quantum attacks.
Simpy Parveen is a Senior Security Engineer at Okta, specializing in Platform Security and Operations with a strong background in cryptography and research. Her innovative work on Post-quantum DTLS, published at IEEE Globecom 2021, highlights her forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity challenges. She has expertise in Identity and Access Management (IAM) and GraphQL Security, leveraging real-world attack simulations to help organizations strengthen defenses against emerging threats. Beyond her professional role, Simpy actively contributes to open-source projects and bug bounty programs, showcasing her commitment to enhancing the security landscape. With a unique blend of practical experience and academic research, she continues to make impactful contributions to the cybersecurity domain.
Topic: The End of Click-Ops: Securing Agent-Driven Applications
Speaker: Phimm Phonpaseuth
As AI agents replace traditional user interfaces, the way we build and secure applications is being fundamentally redefined. This talk dives into the emerging security challenges of agentic applications—where natural language, dynamic intent, and autonomous behavior replace buttons and forms. We’ll explore why conventional AppSec tools fall short and what’s needed to defend against adversarial prompts, agentic drift, and misuse in non-deterministic, API-first environments.
We look forward to see you all there!
The TASK Steering Committee