County Leaders Explore Ways to Maximize #Cybersecurity Cash at #MACoCon

County leaders at the 2023 MACo Summer Conference discussed a number of state and federal opportunities for cybersecurity cash and maximizing resources.

Screen with a security alert messageBudgets are tight, but the ever-growing cyber threat landscape jeopardizes sensitive information, public safety, and the delivery of essential services. Now more than ever, counties must bolster cybersecurity and prioritize cyber resilience through collaborative efforts to identify, protect against, detect, and respond to malicious cyber threats. In the session, “Maximizing Your Cybersecurity Cash,” an expert panel discussed the current threat landscape, offered guidance on priority investments, explained how counties can leverage economies of scale to reduce costs, and shared best practices for maximizing the return on state and federal cybersecurity funding opportunities. 

Speakers:  

  • Netta Squires, Director of Local Cybersecurity, Maryland Department of Information Technology
  • Greg Rogers, Chief Information Security Officer, State of Maryland
  • Brigadier General Adam Flasch, Director, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security
  • Marcia Deppen, Director, Consequence Management Directorate, Maryland Department of Emergency Management

Moderator: Ben Yelin, Program Director, Public Policy & External Affairs, UMD Center for Health and Homeland Security

During the panel, the Maryland Department of Information Technology’s Director of Local Cybersecurity, Netta Squires, led a discussion on budgeting for cyber. According to the experts, 10-15 percent of a government’s budget should go to cyber. Gregory Rogers, State Chief Information Security Officer discussed the importance of evaluating an institution’s specific needs, what it has, and how to build a cybersecurity foundation.

The panel also discussed Cybersecurity resources open to counties, including:

  • The Security Operations Center (SOC);
  • The Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC);
  • The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (federal grant); and
  • The Local Cybersecurity Fun (state grant).

Bottom-line from the panel: counties and the state share mutual constituents, and we must work together to protect our cyberspace and share resources, ultimately to protect our mutual constituents.

More about MACo’s Winter Conference: