According to the center’s website, “The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber Florida, was created by the Florida State Legislature in 2014 to help Florida become a national leader in cybersecurity education, academic and practical research and community outreach and engagement.”
The University of South Florida in Tampa is the host institution for Cyber Florida and provides administrative, budgetary and oversight support.
If enacted, HB 1555 would make the following changes to Cyber Florida:
- The center would be tasked with conducting, funding and facilitating research and applied science to create new technologies and software packages that have military and civilian applications that can be transferred for military and homeland defense purposes or for sale or use in the private sector.
- The center would be authorized to conduct, consult on or assist any state-funded initiatives related to cybersecurity training, professional development and education for state and local government employees, including school districts and the judicial branch, along with increasing the cybersecurity effectiveness of the state’s and local governments’ technology platforms and infrastructure, including school districts and the judicial branch.
