NEWS ROOM | Press Releases
For immediate release: September 18, 2002
Contact: Beth Roszman
NASCIO Plays Key Role in National Cyberspace Strategy
(Lexington, KY) - NASCIO, representing chief information officers of the states, was recognized today by the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board (PCIPB) as a contributor to the Draft National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. The strategy is being unveiled today at an event in Stanford University's Kresge Auditorium in Palo Alto, California
"We are committed to serving as a key point of contact between the federal government and the states on these issues," said Matt DeZee, CIO for South Carolina and leader of NASCIO's Security and Reliability team, who spoke at the event. "NASCIO will continue to watch the evolution of federal cyberspace security strategy and ensure that we are addressing all of the critical elements of the national effort. We cannot allow any breaks in seams between the levels of government."
"NASCIO is honored that the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board recognized us and our goal to establish an Interstate Information Sharing and Analysis Center among the key programs and recommendations of the strategy. We look forward to working with our partners in the federal government, local government and at the National Governors Association to advance the cause of cyberspace security," said Rock Regan, CIO for Connecticut and NASCIO's president.
The national strategy cites nine state and local recommendations to foster intergovernmental and industry partnership, including the following:
- Create a State CIO advisory group to the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board
- Initiate an intergovernmental, cross-disciplinary architecture design guidance effort to support national information sharing
- Increase information sharing efforts such as the Interstate ISAC
- Assure the inclusion of local government representation on State cybersecurity boards so that local interests and needs are represented.
NASCIO has already begun working with the Office of Homeland Security and its CIO, Steve Cooper, on an architecture design effort for all facets of homeland security. NASCIO is also currently working with the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) and the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO) toward establishing a robust Interstate ISAC. More information about the role of the state CIO and IT in homeland security is available at NASCIO's new Homeland Security web page at http://www.nascio.org/hotissues/hs/index.cfm. The page, which will be launched immediately following the strategy rollout event, will serve as the primary site for updates on state CIO involvement in the nation's evolving homeland security efforts.
NASCIO (http://www.nascio.org) is the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and represents the state chief information officers from the 50 states, six U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. Other IT officials participate as associate members and private sector representatives may become corporate members. The mission of the association is to shape national IT policy through collaborative partnerships, information sharing and knowledge transfer across jurisdictional and functional boundaries. # # # #
For more information contact Chris Dixon at 859-514-9148.Association Management Resources, Inc. (AMR) provides NASCIO's executive staff. For more information visit the AMR website at http://www.amrinc.net.
