Epicenter of Cyber Security
Christian Johansson, secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, John Osterholz, Vice President of BAE Systems, FMA President Rosemary Budd, executive advisor at Booz Allen Hamilton, Gov. Martin O’Malley and Sen. Barbara Mikulski at the launch of state’s CyberMaryland initiative in January 2010. Photo by NIST. In January 2010, Gov. Martin O’Malley released CyberMaryland, an aggressive policy report that calls for establishing Maryland as the nation’s epicenter for cyber security. FMA President Rosemary Budd supported the governor for this launch and participated in a panel that discussed the impact of cyber to Maryland, and the business community, as well as opportunities and the need for a skilled workforce.
Developed with guidance from more than 50 public and private sector information technology and security experts, CyberMaryland highlights the State’s key role in supporting President Barack Obama’s national cyber initiative and is the first comprehensive inventory of any state’s cyber security assets.
“Cyber security touches everything we do – from grocery shopping to banking, to heating our homes and talking on cell phones,” said Gov. O’Malley, who serves as co-Lead on Homeland Security for the National Governors’ Association Public Safety Task Force and sits on the U.S. Homeland Security Advisory Council. “With 50,000 new computer viruses emerging every day and hackers becoming increasingly advanced, the need to protect our country, our companies and our families has never been more urgent.”
“The economic well being and safety of our nation in the global environment requires comprehensive cyber security approaches that address policy, operations, technology, leadership, workforce and budget,” said Rosemary Budd, Booz Allen Hamilton Principal and President of the Fort Meade Alliance.
Cyber threats have surged in the last year, with significant jumps in the number of consumers reporting financial fraud, malware infection and password detection, according to the 2009 CSI Computer Crime and Security Survey, which surveyed more than 400 organizations in July 2009. On average, identity theft cost each organization surveyed more than $700,000, while losses from financial fraud cost $450,000.
“Our nation is at risk. Cyber raids and cyber attackers are at work every day and everywhere trying to steal our secrets and bring down our systems,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. “The good news is Maryland has the knowledge, know-how, and can-do spirit to lead the way in cyber security. Our world-class facilities - NIST, NASA and soon-to-be DISA - combined with our vibrant and growing private sector and talented universities uniquely position Maryland to lead the way in cybersecurity.”
Maryland has more than 50 key federal facilities and 12 major military installations, including the National Security Agency and the Defense Information Systems Agency, which is moving to Fort Meade in 2011.
FMA President Rosemary Budd at the CyberMaryland launch. Photo by Maryland Governor’s Press Office. Most recently, Fort Meade has also been designated the home of the newly created U.S. Cyber Command, which will be responsible for the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity.
There are more than 200,0000 well-educated, highly-skilled government employees and contractors in cutting-edge research and development and scientific, medical and technological innovations working at these facilities and institutions. That does not include the estimated 60,000 jobs coming to Maryland as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure process and the 20,000 more jobs for Cyber Command.
Maryland is also home to many of the nation’s top defense contractors and has a growing cluster of private sector companies specializing in cyber security. In total, Maryland has one of the highest concentrations of technology jobs in the nation, with 10 percent of jobs classified as technology-related and led the nation in 2009 with the largest growth in computer systems design jobs.
