CHARLESTON, W.Va – The National Governors Association (NGA) Resource Center for State Cybersecurity recently announced that West Virginia was one of four states chosen to modernize its cybersecurity plans and infrastructure. This new initiative, Policy Academy on Implementing State Cybersecurity, offers these states the opportunity to defend themselves against increasingly advanced and globalized cyber threats. The other states selected were Indiana, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
“West Virginia understands the importance of addressing cybersecurity issues head on. And as such, early in my Administration, I issued Executive Order 3-17 to provide cyber risk management oversight in the identification, analysis and decision-making process to ensure we are protected,” said Governor Jim Justice. “I am excited about this opportunity for our state and the National Governors Association to collaborate on our cyber initiatives.”
West Virginia state government has assembled a multidisciplinary team of officials to work with NGA to gain the technical assistance to implement and operationalize cybersecurity planning. This team includes state and local officials, technical and policy experts, and members of the state Legislature. A list of the members is attached.
The Policy Academy will convene NGA, industry experts, federal officials, private sector experts, research organizations, and academia to advise the four state teams, each selected by their governor, to develop and share best practices in cybersecurity.
“Recognizing both the integration of technology into all aspects of our lives and the exponentially growing cyber threat, the state of West Virginia has enhanced our cybersecurity strategy to focus on cyber risk,” said Joshua Spence, state chief information security officer with the West Virginia Office of Technology. “The NGA Policy Academy serves as an excellent resource in accelerating the implementation of our strategy and ensuring that steps are taken to leverage cybersecurity best practices.”
For more information about NGA, contact Jeff McLeod, Director, Homeland Security & Public Safety Division, NGA Center for Best Practices, at jmcleod@nga.org or (202) 624-5311. To view a copy of the West Virginia NGA Policy Academy team members, click
here.