When hackers made off with sensitive data from the Office of Personnel Management, they put new stress on a creaky approach to security clearances. Too often, the federal system freezes out individuals with critical language skills, cultural acumen, and strong ties to sensitive regions; at the same time, it failed to counter the insider threat posed by leakers like Edward Snowden.

In this event, five intelligence experts discuss how to bring security clearance into a new, data-driven century.