Resource Center For State Cybersecurity

The significant and continued growth of cyber-attacks against the United States makes cybersecurity a critical issue for all Governors. To help states address the consequences of the rapidly evolving and expanding technological threats now faced by law enforcement agencies, public works and energy agencies, private financial and communications sectors and the general public, NGA launched a Resource Center for State Cybersecurity to provide Governors with resources, tools and recommendations to help craft and implement effective state cybersecurity policies and practices. To inform the work of the Resource Center, NGA is working with leading experts, practitioners, representatives from key state and federal agencies and representatives from private industry to develop resources and tools and to provide strategic recommendations on state cybersecurity issues.

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The 2023 Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network In-Person Convening was held on September 27-28th in Washington, DC. Hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA), the event convened the Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network, including Governors’ advisors and state chief information security officers and other state cybersecurity officials, as well as NGA corporate partners, to share best practices and discuss cybersecurity challenges and strategies across a range of topics.

The Cybersecurity Policy Advisors Network (CPAN) serves as a forum for Governors’ advisors and state chief information security officers to share ideas and troubleshoot challenges with colleagues from other states, connect advisors with valuable resources and materials, and provide opportunities to hear from subject-matter experts via periodic calls, webinars and workshops. Members of the network are identified by Governors’ offices to speak to their Governor’s cybersecurity priorities. 

More than 90 participants, including 39 state representatives from at least 28 states and the District of Columbia, attended this event.

Learn more about the Convening here.


Focus Areas

  • Governance
  • Response Planning
  • Critical Infrastructure
  • Workforce Development & Education
  • State & Local Partnerships

NGA Cybersecurity Library

Small Business and Cybersecurity

Virtually any small business relies on technology and an Internet connection to thrive in today’s hyper-competitive, digital economy. Consequently, small businesses across the United States, who store financial and personal ...

A Compact to Improve State Cybersecurity

The foremost duty of every governor is to safeguard the public safety and welfare of its residents; that includes protecting citizens from cybersecurity threats. Cyber threats pose serious risks to ...

Cybercrime: What Can A Governor Do?

The state and local officials that comprise the homeland security and public safety community must confront all hazards to the public, including cybercrime. Yet many of those charged with investigating ...

Building a Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline

States confront four interrelated challenges to building, recruiting, and retaining a cybersecurity workforce. First, many companies are unable to find or hire employees who possess the skills necessary for writing ...

Cybersecurity in the Education Sector

Although frequently omitted from conversations about cybersecurity, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education are under assault from so-called hacktivists, computer criminals, and nation-states alike. Educational institutions provide a perfect ...

Securing Election Infrastructure

The people of the United States are committed to free and fair elections. With the 2016 elections fast approaching, state and local officials are focused on fulfilling their legal responsibility ...

Cybersecurity in the Health Care Sector

The health care industry faces two major cybersecurity threats. First, the transition from paper record-keeping to electronic health records has exposed sensitive personal data previously locked away in cabinets to ...

Memo on State Cybersecurity Centers

Since 2015, seven states have publicly established or announced the creation of a state “cybersecurity center,” tasked with implementing key cybersecurity policies. Unlike state information technology (IT) security offices, these ...

Memo on State Cybersecurity Strategies

This memo provides an overview of state cybersecurity strategies, as well as information technology and homeland security strategies with cybersecurity components. Possessing and implementing a cybersecurity strategy is critical for ...

Topic Areas

State And Local Partnerships In Cybersecurity

“Cybersecurity is not just an ‘IT problem’ anymore. It is a critical business risk, homeland security and public safety threat, voter confidence issue and economic development opportunity. Cybersecurity requires commitment from state executives and officials to use all levers of state government to move forward.”

Read: STRONGER TOGETHER: State and Local Cybersecurity Collaboration


Additional Resources