Washington state is one of four states nationally selected by the National Governors Association (NGA) to work on policies to advance whole-of-state cybersecurity postures. The NGA made the announcement today.
"I am proud that Washington was one of only four states selected by the National Governor's Association (NGA) to help advance the whole-of-state cybersecurity model," Gov. Jay Inslee said. "As a leader in the innovation economy, Washington state recognizes its future is not just based on new digital technologies, but also trust in robust cybersecurity and strong collaboration between all levels of government. I believe this is a great opportunity to help our state improve its security posture."
This is the latest in a series of collaborations between NGA and states on cybersecurity. The NGA Center for Best Practices selected Washington, Missouri, Montana and Kansas for its 2021 Policy Academy to Advance Whole-of-State Cybersecurity. The academy is part of an ongoing effort by the NGA, going back to 2016, to help states and territories develop, refine and share best practices in cybersecurity governance, workforce development, critical infrastructure security, and local engagement and partnership.
Representatives of the four states will convene in-state workshops to create action plans for strengthening state cybersecurity; participate in regularly scheduled convenings with NGA staff on their progress and plans; and build relationships with and learn from peers in other states facing similar challenges.
The intent is for the selected states to serve as pilots through which best practices relevant for all state and territorial governments are developed. The NGA uses outcomes, promising practices, and lessons learned from Policy Academies as the basis for the promulgation of promising practices to all 55 state, commonwealth, and territorial governors across the country, featuring the work of these states in its national technical assistance efforts.
"I'm excited by the opportunity to collaborate with the NGA to help advance the whole-of-state cybersecurity model. Working with our Chief Information Security Officer, Vinod Brahmapuram, and Chief Privacy Officer, Katy Ruckle, I am sure we can leverage the NGA Center's expertise to assist and strengthen local government's cyber profile, and therefore the whole state's wellbeing," said Mark Quimby, the state's acting chief information officer and director of WaTech.