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This Week: Cyber Framework, Incentives, NASCIO E-Rate Submission

By Mitch Herckis posted Apr 02,2014 08:55 AM

  

Key Takeaway State and Local Cyber Framework Kickoff and Incentives

On Thursday, March 27, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosted a State and Local Government Cybersecurity Kick-off Event.  The event, which hosted a cross-section of state and local officials both in person and via webcast, provided an overview of the framework, incentives available to the state and local governments, and action being taken by stakeholder groups such as the National Governors Association (NGA) and NASCIO.  NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson presented on current trends in state cybersecurity and NASCIO activity around the framework as part of the event.  A number State CIOs and CISOs attended the event in person.


Also of interest are the details on the Managed Security Services (MSS) that DHS will provide to states if they intend to implement the NIST Framework. Through the new Critical Infrastructure Cyber Community Voluntary Program, or C-Cubed, DHS will provide states MSS on up to three systems through an agreement with the Center for Internet Security (CIS).  According to DHS, “the goal of this initiative is to take the Framework and convert it into implementable actions addressing the most critical areas that State and Territorial governments should prioritize.”  Many questions about the program are still not determined, such as how long DHS intends to fund MSS services and what is considered implementing the framework. NASCIO is continuing to work with members, DHS, and stakeholders on the C-Cubed program, as well as to identify future incentives for state adoption.


Other Buzz NASCIO Submits Focused E-Rate Comments to FCC

On Tuesday, April 1, NASCIO submitted additional comments on the FCC’s efforts to reform the E-Rate broadband for schools and libraries program.  NASCIO’s comments, a response to a public notice on March 6, focused on promoting state or regional collaborative approaches to purchasing broadband equipment and services.  NASCIO provided examples of state efforts that resulted in reduced broadband costs to end users.  NASCIO’s comments can be found here.


The E-Rate program, focused on making broadband affordable for schools and libraries, was created as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, only 14 percent of classrooms had Internet; today it's near 100%. While 97% of U.S. schools and libraries to the Internet, many thanks to E-Rate, broadband capacity is not up to par with what most Americans expect and many schools lack internal connections for widespread utilization of computers by students.  Through reforms, the FCC hopes to create administrative efficiencies in the program, prioritize broadband capacity and better internal connections, such as modern Wi-Fi.  It is also possible that they will phase out support for traditional voice services in order to focus more funding on broadband.


Delaware CISO Testifies before Senate

Elayne Starkey, Chief Security Officer for the Delaware Department of Technology and Information, testified before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on March 26 (hearing available here). She spoke about Delaware’s experiences leveraging public-private partnerships to reduce cyber risks. In her testimony, she discussed both intergovernmental and private sector partnerships that have improved cyber security in the state, including those with MS-ISAC and NASCIO. Starkey emphasized that both the public sector and private sector benefit and become stronger when they work together to reduce cyber risk.


Your Weekly Techbytes:


Implementing the Cybersecurity Framework within State and Local Governments


States Look to Data Sharing to Reduce Recidivism


Cyberattacks: Too much How, Not enough Why


Wi-Fi is About to Get Faster


Fire in your Data Center: No Power, No Access, Now What?

Cloud’s Potential Depends on Interoperability


Who’s Making Innovation Official (Interactive Map)

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