PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo recently announced members of the new Cybersecurity Commission, which is being chaired by Scott DePasquale, CEO of Utilidata Inc.
The 26-member commission will develop a strategy to make the Ocean State more secure against cyber threats and also create new jobs in the cybersecurity sector.
“Cyber attacks have the potential to impact everything we do, from protecting the health and safety of Rhode Islanders to growing our economy,” Raimondo said in a statement. “I am grateful to the new commission members for offering their time and expertise to ensure Rhode Island is secure from cyber threats and identify economic development opportunities in the cybersecurity field. I expect robust discussion and bold ideas that will demonstrate Rhode Island is a leader in this growing sector.”
DePasquale said that the commission members look forward to bringing their expertise together to “help build a path forward for Rhode Island in the cyber sector and serve as an example for other cities and states around the country on this important issue.”
Raimondo signed an executive order in May to establish the commission, which met for the first time last month.
DePasquale said the commission has to submit by Oct. 1 an action plan to the governor to establish a process in which cybersecurity infrastructure and activities will be regularly assessed within all executive branch agencies. Cybersecurity awareness training for state employees will be identified, he said.
The commission also will look at ways the public can protect themselves from cyber threats, and examine practices used around the country to determine if they should be used in Rhode Island, according to the order.
Then by Dec. 1, the commission will draft another action plan to the governor to address what steps the state should take to grow the cybersecurity workforce and industry. The commission will look at cyber-related research by local colleges and universities, and also inventory existing companies in the cybersecurity industry in the state. In addition, it will look at what other states are doing to expand their cybersecurity industries.
Cyber attacks are growing. DePasqaule cited several statistics highlighted recently by Booz Allen Hamilton, including an all-time high of $76.5 billion is expected to be spent globally on cybersecurity this year, along with an average of 1.7 successful cyber attacks happen per business per week and 42 percent of small- to medium-sized businesses reported a cyber attack in the past year.
In addition to DePasquale, the other members are:
