{"id":9349,"date":"2024-03-13T16:05:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/?p=9349"},"modified":"2024-04-11T18:31:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T18:31:08","slug":"md-military-department-task-force-established-to-counter-cyber-threats-in-the-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/2024\/03\/13\/md-military-department-task-force-established-to-counter-cyber-threats-in-the-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Md. Military Department task force established to counter cyber threats in the state"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by 2nd Lt. Enjoli Saunders<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"While
While visiting the Maryland Department of Information Technology, Governor Wes Moore met with Maryland Cybersecurity Task Force members from the Maryland Military Department currently serving on state active duty.<\/sup><\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On January 8th, Gov. Wes Moore announced the establishment of the Maryland Cybersecurity Task Force to counter the rising threats of cyberattacks within the state utilizing Maryland Military Department cyber professionals.

Members of the Maryland Air National Guard, Maryland Army National Guard, and Maryland Defense Force will fill a range of defensive cyber functions as part of the state\u2019s whole-of-government approach to addressing cyber threats.

\u201cThe Maryland Military Department has units and personnel that are trained in and specialize in defensive cyber operations,\u201d said Maryland Air National Guard Col. Thomas Herster, the J6 for Maryland National Guard Joint Staff. \u201cThe mission tasks of these units and the specialized skills of our service members directly correlate to the work tasks of the Maryland Cyber Task Force.\u201d

Maryland Military Department members on the cyber task force serve in a state active duty status. They will serve as cyber threat hunters, cyber attack analysts, cyber security engineers, or network and systems penetration testers.

“The state will be tapping into this unit to add personnel focused on system monitoring, incident response and vulnerability remediation efforts,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage at a press conference at the State House in Annapolis.

Maryland Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, adjutant general for Maryland, who was joined by other Maryland National Guard leaders there, committed to supporting state and local government organizations to mitigate the threat posed by increasingly dangerous cyber attacks.

Beyond the National Guard contribution, the task force encompasses a multidisciplinary team, including cybersecurity specialists, policymakers, and representatives from the Maryland Department of Information Technology and Maryland Department of Emergency Management in coordination with the Governor\u2019s Office of Homeland Security to foster a whole-of-government approach to proactive cybersecurity within the state.

“The Maryland Department of Emergency Management is proud to play a key role in fortifying our State’s defenses against cyber security threats,\u201d Russ Strickland, secretary of Emergency Management. \u201cThrough statewide coordination and support to local jurisdictions, MDEM ensures cyber preparedness, fostering a resilient network of stakeholders ready to respond to and recover from disruptions.”

The Governor\u2019s Office of Homeland Security assisted with developing the task force concept and bringing stakeholders together, while MDEM will take the lead in assisting organizations with identifying needs.

\u201cIn our first year, we learned that it isn\u2019t enough to rebuild state government\u2014we need to modernize state government too,\u201d said Moore. \u201cTogether, we will bolster cybersecurity across the public sector so we remain safe from cyberattacks. By modernizing state government, we will better address our community challenges and we will better assert Maryland\u2019s leadership in this decade.\u201d

State and local governments may request assistance through the Maryland Department of Information Technology and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management cyber preparedness unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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