US report outlines guidance for cyber collaboration

The US National Governors Association (NGA) and the US National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) have released a report outlining guidance for state and local government cyber collaboration.

The report — Stronger Together: State and Local Cybersecurity Collaboration — details efforts US states are making to boost collaboration with local government counterparts in order to increase cyber resilience.

In addition, it outlines high-level recommendations for state officials seeking to reinforce partnerships with local government officials on cybersecurity matters.

The report is timely, considering the significant rise in the number of ransomware attacks across the United States.

“Governors and states are at the forefront of cybersecurity, which is a collective responsibility and one of their most important priorities when it comes to protecting people and systems,” said Jeff McLeod, Director of NGA’s Homeland Security & Public Safety team.

“We know that effective strategies to prevent and recover from cyber attacks involve all levels of government, including local partners, as well as partners in the private sector.”

“More and more states are adopting a whole-of-state approach,” added Doug Robinson, NASCIO Executive Director.

“State CIOs know that cybersecurity is a team sport and local governments are important to everyone’s shared success.”

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