US states begin moves to strengthen cyber security

On 6th January, at the Governor’s Summit on Cyber Security and Privacy held in Seattle, Washington state governor Jay Inslee announced two new programmes aimed at strengthening cyber security and privacy in his state. The move is designed to create templates that other states and local governments can use in the event of cyber security problems. Inslee revealed that Washington will partner with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen critical infrastructure and government services, and additionally, the state will also create a new Office of Privacy and Data Protection. The partnership with DHS is a pilot project designed to develop a ‘playbook’ of critical infrastructure defence strategies for use by other states. It is expected to include: proven cyber defence measures for government services and critical infrastructure; vulnerability identification and priorisation strategies to defend against cyber attack; and operational response and mitigation tools.

On Jan. 6 at the Governor's Summit on Cybersecurity and Privacy , Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced two new programs to strengthen cybersecurity and privacy in the state. Washington will partner with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen critical infrastructure and government services, and through the governor's executive order, the state will also create a new state Office of Privacy and Data Protection.“We are the world’s center for digital commerce. We know that in this digital era, good cybersecurity is essential to the continuity of global commerce and to a thriving economy,” Inslee said. “We’re excited that Washington’s work in this area is being recognized by the Department of Homeland Security. They’ve chosen our state for an innovative pilot program that will further strengthen our efforts to defend our critical infrastructure.”DHS and the state Office of Cyber Security will establish an advisory board to guide the development of a "playbook" of strategies to defend the state's critical infrastructure.The new Office of Privacy and Data Protection will be led by Alex Alben, who was hired last April as the state's first chief privacy officer. The office will train state agencies on best privacy practices, and serve residents through consumer outreach and education programs. The office will also be responsible for the administration of annual reviews of the state's privacy policies and practices.“Creation of this office affirms the state’s commitment to protecting digital privacy," Alben said, "and will help state agencies better keep pace with the evolution of technology."