Author Archives: Tessa Zavala

What’s happening? The Department of State is establishing a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. Supporters are bipartisan including Mike McCaul (R-Texas), Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.)  Why is this important? The DOJ gave the Senate the power to confirm the head of the his Bureau. How will this be important? The bureau will focus on […]

What’s happening? The Department of Justice will use the False Claims Act to impose penalties upon recipients of government contracts and grants that fail to follow required cybersecurity standards. Why is this important? To be penalized a contractor had to knowingly fail to comply. How will this be important? They want to take a stand […]

What’s happening? 2020 saw $3.3 billion in losses to cybercrime. That’s double the 2010 numbers. 4.7 million reports of cybercrime in 2020, that’s a 300% increase from 2010. Any drops in cybercrime during COVID were modest. Why is this important? Lets look at where cybercrime hits the most and the least: The MOST hit by […]

What’s happening? Politicians are touting it, and cryptocurrency miners see the lone star state and its low-cost energy as an appealing location. Why is this important? A research associate at the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas at Austin says that “Because Texas has some of the lowest cost electricity in the world, […]

What’s happening? State Information Officers have been primarily focused on cybersecurity. Thanks to the pandemic, states #2 priority is improving digital services. Why is this important? Streaming state services for functional and efficient digital services is good for state operations and good for state citizens. Connecticut says it thinks  it has saved aspiring entrepreneurs 38,000 […]

What’s happening? White hat hackers, like academics or the press, discovered a flaw in the Missouri Department of Education’s website that exposed the social security numbers of teachers. They notified the state to not draw attention. In turn, the Governor attacked the white hat hackers who were trying to do a good. Why is this […]

What’s happening? Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texas to be the center of the semi conductor world. (sssh! Don’t tell Austin it isn’t the center of the world). Why is this important? The Gov. is assembling a task force in hopes of bringing the National Semiconductor Technology Center to the state. How will this be important? […]

What’s happening? Rackspace conducted a survey of 1,420 government IT decision-makers and learned: 52% expressed significant concerns over recruiting and retaining cybersecurity talent 84% said they lack the expertise to meet current cybersecurity and compliance challenge 73% time constraint problems 59% lack of training challenges Why is this important? 58% were concerned about attacks of […]

What is happening? Massachusetts Legislature is consider S48 (2021 | MA) , An Act to ensure a free and open internet in the commonwealth, to keep providers from  blocking, throttling or engaging in the paid prioritization of providing Internet service. Why is this important? Net neutrality is moving to a state to state issue How […]

What’s happening? Halloween candy manufacturer was hit by a ransomware attack. We’re talking core Halloween candy on the US: Everlasting Gobstoppers, Lemonheads, Now and Later, Nerds, SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Red Hots, Pixy Stix, Atomic Fireballs, Boston Baked Beans. Why is this important? Ransomware attacks are up and here we have an attack that could impact […]