Indiana Establishes New Cybersecurity Office for State Government

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun recently signed an executive order that establishes the Office of Cybersecurity within the state’s Department of Homeland Security.

The new office is charged with serving as the “lead coordinating entity for Indiana’s cybersecurity activities, in order to protect the security and economy of the state,” the order read.

Per Braun’s directive, the newly created office will work with a number of Indiana state agencies to “bring a ‘whole of government approach’ to address cybersecurity risks in the state that pose the greatest threats to Indiana’s life and safety. These agencies include the Indiana Office of Technology, the Indiana National Guard, the Indiana State Police and the state’s Attorney General.

The Office of Cybersecurity will work with these and other entities within Indiana state government to “clearly define each agencies’ roles and responsibilities, within statutory authority, regarding prevention of and response to a cybersecurity incident affecting state government, local government or critical infrastructure in Indiana.”

Among other responsibilities, the office will also be accountable for streamlining and coordinating information sharing regarding cybersecurity incidents with appropriate local, state and federal partners, in addition to identifying ways to “appropriately share cyberthreat intelligence with government entities and public or private sector organizations,” the order noted.

“We are not going to sit around hoping a cyberattack doesn’t happen, Braun said, per WTHR in Indianapolis.

“My administration is working proactively with entities in which a cyberattack could have serious consequences to the daily lives of Hoosiers, especially critical infrastructure owners and operators. We want to be partners with them in this fight to make sure our communities stay safe and fully operational.”