PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo has joined Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and 36 other U.S. governors in pledging to improve state cybersecurity under an initiative of the National Governors Association.
The initiative – “Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge” – is headed by NGA Chair Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who lauded the initiative’s achievements during a July 14 discussion at the 2017 NGA Summer Meeting in Providence.
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Since “Meet the Threat” launched last summer, McAuliffe said, more than 30 governors have signed an executive order or legislation regarding cybersecurity, or announced a state-specific cybersecurity program. In total, McAuliffe cited “a dozen executive orders, 14 signed bills and 17 initiatives” as successes of the “Meet the Threat” initiative.
In May, Raimondo established a Homeland Security Advisory Board to advise her on matters of cybersecurity alongside Mike Steinmetz, who was appointed the state’s first cybersecurity officer in April.
In addition, 38 governors across the country – including Raimondo and Baker – have signed a pledge to strengthen state cybersecurity by enhancing cybersecurity governance, preparing and defending their states against cyberthreats, and helping to grow the nation’s cyber workforce.
“The goal of my initiative as NGA chair was to elevate the importance of cybersecurity on every governor’s agenda,” said McAuliffe. “To do that, we had to highlight why cybersecurity was more than just an information-technology issue. I am proud that, throughout the last year, we have successfully engaged governors and their states on strengthening their cyber protocols and recognizing that cybersecurity is a technology issue, but it’s also a health issue, an education issue, a public-safety issue, an economic issue and a democracy issue.”
Among the speakers joining McAuliffe at the July 14 session were Matt Spence, partner at venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz; Chris Bream, chief technology officer at IT company Tanium Inc.; and Wes Kremer, vice president of defense contractor Raytheon Co. and president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.
The “Meet the Threat” initiative has now concluded its yearlong campaign but will continue to support state efforts through the NGA Governors Guide to Cybersecurity, a comprehensive resource for state policymakers that outlines concrete steps to bolster cybersecurity practices.
For more information, visit the NGA’s Resource Center for State Cybersecurity.
Kaylen Auer is a PBN contributing writer.
