At Summit, Governor Says RI Could Make Cyberattacks a Job Generator

High ranking elected officials and defense and intelligence experts gathered this morning at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport to discuss the evolving threat of cyberattack and Rhode Island’s role.

Among the attendees was Governor Gina Raimondo, who said in a statement that she’s keenly aware that cybersecurity is a growing industry and the state might benefit from the ongoing defense against hackers, espionage and foreign attacks using the Internet and private networks.

“Defending against cyberattacks must be a key component of our state and our country’s national security strategy,” said Raimondo. “As we look to spark Rhode Island’s economic comeback, we need to support innovative, cutting-edge sectors like cybersecurity. Our state has the potential to create jobs, protect Rhode Islanders, and lead the charge in this industry.”

The Cybersecurity Summit included speakers from the national intelligence and counterintelligence community, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as private sector experts from RSA Security, National Grid, Fidelis and the Internet Security Alliance. Speakers presented an overview of evolving cyber threats, and the key areas in which government and the private sector must work together to prevent attacks.

Following the Cybersecurity Summit, the Rhode Island Cybersecurity Commission will meet for its second formal meeting at Salve Regina. The Commission will “continue its efforts to identify challenges and opportunities within agencies in Rhode Island and to build upon our unique strengths, including the Rhode Island National Guard’s and Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency’s cybersecurity expertise, the Rhode Island State Police’s forensics capabilities, and the state’s leadership in academia and the private sector,” a release stated.

The chairman of the commission, Scott DePasquale, is also the CEO of Utilidata, a Providence-based company. He said that not only are cyberattacks increasing in frequencey, they’re increasing in complexity. o much so that it’s “making cybersecurity one of the most complex national security issues our nation faces,” he said.

“”We must ensure that federal and state government, the private sector, law enforcement, and academia work together to strengthen the global market place. We are fortunate to have Governor Raimondo’s leadership on this issue as well as a very strong Cybersecurity Commission with global reach and experience,” DePasquale said.

Photo: Rear Adm. P. Gardner Howe III, president, U.S. Naval War College (NWC), welcomes Gina M. Raimondo, governor of Rhode Island, during an office call preceding the Rhode Island Cybersecurity Summit at NWC in Newport, Rhode Island. The Summit brings together experts from defense, intelligence and business communities as well as the state’s newly formed Cybersecurity Commission to discuss cyber threats, ways to coordinate solutions and ways to better protect the nation’s infrastructure and networks. (U.S. Navy photo by Ezra Bolender)