87:60 by Virtuoso Cyber, AI, & Connecticut’s Defense Edge with Justin Orcutt
Nov 18, 2025
Justin Orcutt, Microsoft’s defense and cybersecurity lead, dives into the intricacies of protecting critical systems in an ever-evolving threat landscape. He discusses the concept of 'unknown unknowns' and the necessity of zero trust in cybersecurity. Highlighting Connecticut’s pivotal role as a defense and cyber hub, Orcutt emphasizes the importance of education and partnerships in building a robust talent pipeline. He also explores how AI can enhance security measures while advocating for community involvement in shaping the future workforce.
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Positive Regulation Beats Heavy-Handed Rules
- Connecticut uses positive regulation: indemnity for firms that implement security and tax incentives for data centers.
- Incentives can nudge good practices without stifling innovation.
Use Data Centers To Seed Tech Growth
- Build data center capacity to attract tech investment, jobs, and a tech ecosystem.
- Use infrastructure wins to seed broader regional tech growth and future industries.
Train Locally To Close The Skills Gap
- Employer-school partnerships let high schools train job-ready students so companies 'cherry pick' qualified hires.
- Investing time with local schools reduces hiring friction and ramp cost.