CONCORD – Continuing efforts to maintain public safety and protect private information and data by strengthening cybersecurity, Gov. Maggie Hassan on Friday issued an Executive Order establishing the New Hampshire Cybersecurity Integration Center (NHCIC) within the Department of Information Technology.
Located at the State’s Incident Planning and Operations Center, the NHCIC will serve as the unified state center for coordinating cybersecurity monitoring, sharing information, performing cybersecurity threat analysis, and promoting shared and real-time situational awareness between and among executive branch agencies and departments.
“The increasing number and complexity of cyberattacks pose a threat to public safety, our economy, our privacy and our security,” Governor Hassan said. “As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, the Cybersecurity Integration Center will provide the State with a centralized body and space to coordinate the State’s response, mitigation, and recovery efforts to protect against cyberattacks and secure private personal information.”
The Governor’s Executive Order also establishes the NHCIC Executive Oversight Committee to oversee the operations of the NHCIC and the implementation of its strategic plan. The oversight committee will be chaired by the commissioner of DoIT and include the commissioners of the departments of Administrative Services, Employment Security, Environmental Services, Health and Human Services, Revenue Administration, Safety, and Transportation; the executive director of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; the Adjutant General; the Attorney General; and the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, representing the Governor’s Office.
“Our ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity require increased coordination and information sharing across state agencies, and the creation of Cybersecurity Integration Center will help us bring that sole focus and commitment to bear,” said DoIT Commissioner Denis Goulet.
“With cyber technology and the internet as constant fixtures in our daily lives at home, at work, at school and everywhere in between, the Cybersecurity Integration Center will play a critical role in fulfilling our responsibility to protect against cyberattacks,” Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Perry Plummer said.
Governor Hassan and state agencies have undertaken a wide range of initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity, including replacing outdated and less secure computers and computer systems, updating security software, and implementing cybersecurity training for state employees. October is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the Governor’s proclamation is available here.