Cybersecurity
Encryption needs balance between privacy and transparency, Virginia tech leader says
The recent “Signalgate” incident highlighted reliance on encrypted messaging apps and tools, even as state and local officials must be cautious to preserve the public’s right to see their communications.
Ken Paxton says Google will pay Texas $1.4B to settle privacy suit
The state attorney general sued Google in 2022, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data.
Building a pipeline of state and local tech workers
States continue to fret about the brain drain from a generation of retirees. But some are thinking hard about how to get the next generation in, whether they be early-career employees or existing ones in need of new skills.
States used cyber grants for ‘hundreds’ of key projects, report finds
The Government Accountability Office found that the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program was wildly popular, but state leaders are worried about sustained funding.
South Dakota CIO to become deputy director at CISA
Madhu Gottumukkala will take over a position that has remained vacant since Nitin Natarajan departed the agency in January.
Cyber info-sharing looks to ‘weather this storm’ of lost federal funding
The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center faces an uncertain future amid cuts in its federal funding. But for now, those involved pledged to keep the work going.
‘Living off the land’ a major cyber threat to critical infrastructure, report finds
A recent report found that 62% of critical infrastructure operators have been attacked, and more than half have had their operations disrupted.
Rhode Island College earns top federal marks for cybersecurity program
Rhode Island College earned federal recognition from the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, boosting its cybersecurity program's potential access to federal grant funding.
Trump is shifting cybersecurity to the states, but many aren’t prepared
Only 22 of 48 states in a Nationwide Cybersecurity Review met recommended security levels.
How cyber vulnerabilities and workforce cuts threaten the crisis lifeline program
A bipartisan, bicameral measure is hoping to prevent cyber incidents from limiting access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after a 2022 attack on a system operator disrupted calls to the hotline.
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Cyber insecurity: Shields down?
COMMENTARY | Federal funding cuts and the end of the cyber grant program, combined with growing threats from nation-states, has made our cybersecurity posture weaker.
The ‘mutual benefit’ of student-run cyber centers on campus
A number of universities are opening security operations centers to deal with cybersecurity incidents and monitoring, and have students help run them alongside full-time staff.
After RIBridges breach, R.I. state agencies share high tech wish lists at budget hearing
Nearly four months after a cyberattack shut down a public benefits system in Rhode Island, it is fully operational again. State officials now face new challenges, including upgrading aging tech and navigating uncertain federal funding.
Cyber grant funding lapses soon and state leaders want it renewed
The $1 billion State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program runs out of money in September.
State and local leaders look to FedRAMP changes as potential inspiration
The federal government is looking to cut red tape around its security assessment program and embrace automation. State and local leaders believe they can learn a lot from the revamp.
GSA launches FedRAMP revamp
One major goal of the changes is to speed up the timeframe for agencies to get access to the latest technology quickly, “not months or years down the road,” the agency’s acting administrator said.
FedRAMP to announce major overhaul next week
The initiative would seek to automate much of the cloud security program’s approval workflow and shift more control to the private sector.
Trump order put states at the forefront of cyber and natural disaster response
The executive order signed this week is part of a wider push to put the onus on states and localities to prepare for disasters, rather than the federal government.
Texas mulls establishing new Cyber Command
Legislation would create the command and mandate that it set up a cybersecurity strategy. Gov. Greg Abbott said it is vital to protect the Lone Star State from bad actors.
What’s next for cybersecurity, election info sharing?
Federal funding has been slashed by $10 million for two information sharing centers, which both have tens of thousands of members. A more fragmented and expensive future could follow as states and others go it alone.
