The Indiana Office of Technology is partnering with the state’s two largest public universities – Purdue and Indiana University (IU) – to provide cybersecurity assessments to local governments across the state. Plans are in place to conduct at least 342 assessments over the next four years.
Purdue’s cyberTAP and IU’s Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research (CACR) will analyze the cybersecurity situation of local governments and provide a blueprint on how they can further secure their environments.
“Indiana is fortunate to have a robust higher education system that is focused on research, practical application and education. This project is a first-of-its-kind partnership and is a tremendous benefit to local government and the state as a whole,” IOT CIO Tracy Barnes said. “Local governments collaborate with the state in various ways, and the computer systems are intertwined. A vulnerability on either side leaves the other at risk. We have invested heavily in protecting state systems, and now this is an opportunity for local government to see definitive steps toward improvement for its systems.”
The agreement funds both universities to develop and conduct a cybersecurity assessment methodology for local government that incorporates evaluations from the Trusted CI, CIS and NIST frameworks. The project is expected to accomplish three primary goals: 1) inform the state’s local government cybersecurity policy and strategy, 2) inform local cybersecurity priorities, and 3) improve the overall security posture of Indiana.
“Indiana is home to some of the most highly-regarded universities in the world and through a partnership we will be able to utilize their skills and talent to assess and secure potential vulnerabilities across all sections of government,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “This is a collaboration that brings together research, technologies and the experts necessary to quickly assess and adapt necessary cybersecurity measures for a safer tomorrow.”
“We know we won’t have the answer for everything for everyone,” Barnes said. “So that’s why it’s a good three-way partnership between us to find the right approach and the right team to address this problem a lot more directly and ultimately get our jurisdictions across the state to see that.”