About

Ashden Fein advises clients on cybersecurity and national security matters, including crisis management and incident response, risk management and governance, government and internal investigations, and…

For cybersecurity matters, Mr. Fein counsels clients on preparing for and responding to cyber-based attacks, assessing security controls and practices for the protection of data and systems, developing and implementing cybersecurity risk management and governance programs, and complying with federal and state regulatory requirements. Mr. Fein frequently supports clients as the lead investigator and crisis manager for global cyber and data security incidents, including data breaches involving personal data, advanced persistent threats targeting intellectual property across industries, state-sponsored theft of sensitive U.S. government information, and destructive attacks.

Additionally, Mr. Fein assists clients from across industries with leading internal investigations and responding to government inquiries related to the U.S. national security. He also advises aerospace, defense, and intelligence contractors on security compliance under U.S. national security laws and regulations including, among others, the National Industrial Security Program (NISPOM), U.S. government cybersecurity regulations, and requirements related to supply chain security.

Before joining Covington, Mr. Fein served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Military Intelligence officer and prosecutor specializing in cybercrime and national security investigations and prosecutions -- to include serving as the lead trial lawyer in the prosecution of Private Chelsea (Bradley) Manning for the unlawful disclosure of classified information to Wikileaks.

Mr. Fein currently serves as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve.

NYDFS Issues Industry Guidance on Risks Arising from Artificial Intelligence

November 7, 2024

On October 16, 2024, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) issued an industry letter (the “Guidance”) highlighting the cybersecurity risks arising from the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and providing strategies to address these risks. While the Guidance “does not impose any new requirements,” it clarifies how Covered Entities should address AI-related risks as part of NYDFS’s landmark cybersecurity regulation, codified at 23 NYCRR Part 500 (“Cybersecurity Regulation”). The Cybersecurity Regulation, as revised in November 2023, requires Covered Entities to implement certain detailed cybersecurity controls, including governance and board oversight requirements. Covered Entities subject to the Cybersecurity Regulation should pay close attention to the new Guidance not only if they are using or planning on using AI, but also if they could be subject to any of the AI-related risks or attacks described below.