Governor Hochul Announces 24th Annual Cybersecurity Conference at Empire State Plaza in Albany
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the 24th annual Cybersecurity Conference, New York's premier cybersecurity event, begins today, June 7, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The event runs through tomorrow, June 8, and brings together more than 1,000 cybersecurity professionals from state and local government, academia, and the private sector to discuss emerging developments in the industry and best practices designed to improve the security of New York State.
"Maintaining a robust cybersecurity infrastructure is critically important to protecting New Yorkers and our state's businesses and institutions," Governor Hochul said. "The annual cybersecurity conference brings together the brightest minds to explore groundbreaking innovations and novel strategies for keeping New Yorkers safe, and I look forward to exploring new opportunities that arise to invest in our state's cybersecurity infrastructure."
The conference aligns with the Governor Hochul's longstanding commitment to protecting New Yorkers and businesses from cyber threats and improving the overall safety and security of the State.
Earlier this year, the Governor announced the creation of a Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn, which will serve as the nerve center for joint local, state and federal cyber efforts, including data collection, response efforts and information sharing.
New York State Information Technology Services Chief Information Office Angelo 'Tony' Riddick said, "We recognize the importance of cybersecurity and continuing to work to do everything we can to combat cyber threats in New York. The annual NYS Cybersecurity Conference brings thousands of experts and professionals in the field to the Albany area to discuss best practices to improve security across the state. By bringing together the best and the brightest, we are fostering innovative solutions to ensure all New Yorkers' personal information is protected and kept safe."
State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "Our state faces an accelerating cyber security threat that demands greater collaboration across all our sectors. This conference gives our partners across the state an opportunity to coordinate and share information essential to protecting New Yorkers from growing cyber risks."
New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, "As attacks to our information technology become more frequent, we need to be proactive in protecting that infrastructure. This conference brings together experts to discuss emerging threats and strategize how to protect our citizens, businesses and government institutions. Working together, we can prevent future cyber related crimes."
The annual Conference is hosted by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), in partnership with the University at Albany School of Business and the New York State Forum, Inc.
Mario Musolino, Executive Director of The NYS Forum, Inc., said, "In order to protect all New Yorkers, cybersecurity has to be the highest priority for IT professionals and users alike. The widespread use of virtual meetings and hybrid workplaces has added to the challenges we all face. It is critical that we understand the level of threat and make sure that we are protecting our valuable assets. This conference is a unique opportunity to learn from each other regardless of our level of expertise."
University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, "Cybersecurity is one of the University at Albany's signature research strengths, and UAlbany is proud that its School of Business is a longstanding supporter the NYS Cybersecurity Conference and Annual Symposium on Information Assurance. The New York State Office of Information Technology Services is a valued partner, and this event is a prime example of how academia and government can collaborate to make our cyber infrastructure more secure and more resilient."
New York State Board of Elections Co-Executive Director Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky said, "New York State's Annual Cybersecurity Conference has given our agency a greater insight into emerging technology and trends so we can continue to keep our statewide elections infrastructure secure. Education and information sharing by all levels of government and academia has increased our awareness of potential cyber threats and helped us to enhance our cyber risk remediation planning."
In the Enacted Fiscal Year 2023 budget, Governor Hochul secured $61.9 million for cybersecurity, doubling the previous investment. These investments will fund critical protections, including the expansion of the state's cyber Red Team program to provide additional penetration testing, an expanded phishing exercise program, vulnerability scanning and additional cyber incident response services. These investments help ensure that if one part of the network is attacked, the state can isolate and protect the rest of the system.
Also, as part of these investments, the Governor included a $30 million "shared services" program to help local governments and other regional partners acquire and deploy high quality cybersecurity services to bolster their cyber defenses. The interconnected nature of the state's networks and IT programs means that attacks can quickly spread across the state. Many government entities often do not have the funding or resources necessary to protect their systems, some which provide critical services like healthcare, law enforcement, emergency management, water treatment, and unemployment insurance, to name a few.
For more information on the 24th Annual New York State Cybersecurity Conference, visit the conference website at https://its.ny.gov/2022-nyscsc.
For highlights of the event, follow us on Twitter @NYSITS #nyscyber.
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