Photo by Cristina Carter
“It's a scary time,” Rodgers said. “It seems like every other week, we're getting a federal briefing, a heads up from another state CISO or some combination in between.”
In the public sector, collaboration is about sharing and learning to strengthen our communities together. Unlike the private sector, where competition often hinders information sharing, the goal is to enhance everyone's experience.
“We want to learn from each other, not just ourselves, right? We want to secure our communities and give them the best experience possible ... whether it's through sharing knowledge regularly, attending local chapter meetings or participating in events like this one,” said Pearl.
Rodgers underlined the need to allocate resources based on current needs, even if they differ from previous plans. He highlighted the state's collaboration with Cyber Florida for cybersecurity assessments, recommending those working in the public sector to use this resource in order to improve their IT security.
When discussing critical infrastructure, Heary emphasized the evolving complexity of systems like SCADA, industrial control and operational technology since the National Infrastructure Protection Plan was devised in 2006.
“We're on a mission to get rid of passwords” said Heary.
With biometrics more accessible than ever, he wants to stop using passwords all together.
Heary's biggest takeaway was that preparation is key in safeguarding critical infrastructure.
“The best way to protect critical infrastructure is to have a plan in place before you need one,” he said.
*Note: The Florida Digital Government Summit is hosted by Government Technology. The Center for Digital Government, Government Technology and Industry Insider — Florida are all part of e.Republic.
