Senate passes cybersecurity bolstering measure

A group of lawmakers are espousing the benefits of the Senate’s recent passage of a FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment designed to bolster cybersecurity.

Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Gary Peters (D-MI) said the amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. The measure now needs to be conferenced with the version passed by the House of Representatives, they added.

“Cybersecurity for state and local governments is just as important as efforts at the federal level, and frequently, they lack the resources, technical know-how, and situational awareness to secure their systems, or respond in the event of an attack,” Portman said. “I’m pleased that the Senate included this bipartisan proposal in the NDAA because it will strengthen the cybersecurity relationship between the federal government and state and local governments. This amendment is based on our bipartisan bill, the Cybersecurity State Coordinator Act.”

Hassan said since the start of the pandemic hospital systems have seen an increase in cyberattacks threatening their ability to respond to the circumstances and keep patients safe.

“Cybersecurity Coordinators will serve as a bridge between the federal government and state and local entities,” she said. “Establishing a Cybersecurity Coordinator position in every state will help protect our public health infrastructure and our communities by strengthening cybersecurity preparedness.”

Each state would have its own federally funded Cybersecurity Coordinator, per the bill. The coordinator would be responsible for helping to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local governments, as well as schools, hospitals and other entities.