PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island officials on Monday unveiled a new team of law enforcement, emergency planners, academics and private businesses aimed at taking down threats to cyber security and tackling cyber attacks when they happen.
Members of the new Rhode Island Cyber Disruption Team said the partnership is a model for other states trying to pool resources from inside and outside of government to address cyber-security problems.
"Rhode Island is really leading the country," said J. David Smith, executive director of the state Emergency Management Agency. "Cyber is just one of those elements of the state's emergency operations plan that we can't ignore. It has to be a high-profile focus."
U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin unveiled the team for the first time at a press conference at Dell SecureWorks in Providence. Langevin is co-founder of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus. Dell SecureWorks is also a member of the disruption team.
The eight people named to the team include four state and local police officers, two academics and representatives from the state Emergency Management Agency and Providence's Information Technology Department. State police Lt. Nick Tella is the team's commander.
The team has financial support from the state police and state emergency management officials, but no money has been set aside specifically for this effort, said state police Col. Steven G. O'Donnell.
The team is tasked with evaluating the state's cyber infrastructure, identifying weaknesses and proposing solutions to problems. It also will act as a resource for officials in the event of a cyber-security crisis.
Last month, the state announced it finalized a plan for responding to cyber problems caused by a natural disaster or widespread virus. A separate effort paid for by U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant money allowed officials to assess the state's cyber infrastructure, said Theresa C. Murray, a regional catastrophe response planner for the state.
It's kind of an understatement to say how critical it is that every state have a solid plan and test that cyber plan that is in place," said Maj. Alan J. White, Dell SecureWorks' director of security and risk consulting and leader of the Rhode Island Army National Guard's Computer Emergency Response Team.
Dell SecureWorks processes about 15 billion cyber-security events daily to protect customers, White said. The company is also hiring for 50 new positions working on cyber security.
Langevin highlighted cyber security as potential source for job growth. The Central Intelligence Agency estimates there are about 1,000 people nationwide who are qualified to work on cyber-security issues at a "world-class level." He said 20,000 to 30,000 cyber-security experts are needed.
"Government alone cannot provide the necessary protection that we need," Langevin said.
Officials have already discussed their cyber-security priorities with local emergency managers and NorthEast Disaster Recovery X-Change, Murray said. She added they plan to approach area chambers of commerce next.
"When your whole life, your schedule how to get to this building today is all on one device and that device stops working, what do you do?" asked Doug White, a member of the team and director of the Forensics Applied Networking and Security Center at Roger Williams University. White is not related to Alan J. White.
"Every day that gets more ingrained in our basic ideology," he said.
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