Général Didier Tisseyre, COMCYBER - A Cyber Hero by CaptainCyber

Who are you?

I am General Didier Tisseyre and I command the cyber defense of the armed forces. It's an exciting mission, essential today.

In France, are we good or not in cyber?

Of course, we continue to develop because this is a field where the threat and risks are constantly evolving. Attackers are very strong. Sometimes they are one step ahead. So we too must be able to anticipate as much as possible. So, it's a continuous work. We develop our capabilities, we train our personnel, we train, we train, we train to be seasoned, to be reactive.

In fact, we ensure the cyber defense of our networks, our systems, the Ministry of the Armed Forces. We have to be resilient, strong, because the armed forces are essential to the survival of the nation.

How do you protect your soldiers?

Indeed, we have several missions to protect our systems and also to protect our soldiers. So we have a lot of work to do to raise awareness about computer hygiene. This is essential. Be careful, when you receive an email, whether it's personal or under your information systems, don't click just any way. Make sure that it is an official email and not an attacker who has taken advantage of an interconnection between networks to attempt an attack. So, this work of training, awareness for everyone so that the citizen who is a military is protected and being protected, he will be more effective in his operational missions for the benefit of the missions of the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

We must rely on technology. But the human being must remain at the center. Technology must be there to help in the decision making process, but in no case must it decide automatically over the human being. The human being is essential and it is he who will be able to analyze the information. He is the one who will be able to decide. So, it is essential. And whatever the technology, artificial intelligence. The quantum, all these elements must not make us forget that there must always be a human in the loop. But this human must be able to understand what it is. In fact, we have to train the human being.

Do you talk about cyber in your family?

Today, this is something that needs to be taught just about everywhere. And of course, I let my family benefit from this experience. But I also benefit a lot from it in human terms, because the job stops at some point. You have to know how to take advantage of your own to be fully fulfilled.

What makes a good cyber-combatant?

The issue of recruitment is essential for us. To be a good cyber fighter, you have to be motivated, you have to want to give meaning to your commitment, to your skills, to your knowledge of digital and cyber issues. You have to be the same, you have to have the most versatile team possible to be able to fight and win the battle.