In a fireside event moderated by the State of Michigan’s Chief Information Officer Laura Clark at the annual Michigan Cyber Summit, guests U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly discussed intergovernmental collaborations focused on cybersecurity threats.
“Our nation continues to face significant cybersecurity threats, and today’s discussion with Director Easterly and CIO Clark was an important opportunity to highlight the need for a comprehensive strategy to strengthen our online defenses,” Peters, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a statement. “While Michigan continues to be a leader in these efforts, it’s clear that the state and local governments, as well as other organizations across our state, need more help from the federal government to protect important networks. That is why I have worked to ensure CISA has more tools and resources to assist state and local governments, critical infrastructure, and K-12 schools who are working to safeguard against cyber-attacks that can shut down essential services and compromise sensitive information.”
The effects of cyberattacks have been driven home in recent years, with high-profile attacks such as the Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident of 2021, which ultimately led to the Colonial Pipeline Company halting all pipeline operations to contain an attack and led to regional emergency declarations for 17 eastern states due to resulting fuel shortages. The company paid the ransomers, in that case, though the Department of Justice later announced it had recovered more than half of the payment – approximately $2.3 million.
Peters used the opportunity of the fireside chat to discuss the effects such attacks can have, and he and Easterly discussed laws and other efforts to improve U.S. cybersecurity. These included requirements for critical infrastructure owners and operators to report substantial cyberattacks or ransomware payments to CISA, $100 million in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help affected victims recover, cybersecurity assistance for K-12 schools, and more.
“It was an honor to welcome Sen. Peters and Director Easterly to the Michigan Cyber Summit and provide insights into cybersecurity from a national perspective,” Clark said. “The action they have taken to provide guidance and resources has been critical in our fight against cybercriminals. Collaboration has proven to be the most effective measure to stay ahead [of] cybercriminals, and our relationships with our federal partners are key in keeping Michiganders safe online.”