This week, Gov Eric Holcomb created a bill that imposed new information-sharing requirements. This bill is applicable to state agencies and local governments who experience cyberattacks. 

This bill means that the Indiana Office of Technology will soon play a larger role in how organizations not only respond to online threats but also how they plan for them in case they were to happen.

Other points of this bill entail that:

• State entities and local governments must report attacks within two business days of discovering them. This includes denial-of-service, ransomware, and website defacements.
• The Indiana Office of Technology will work closely with the organizations in question when it comes to third party vendors they will work with

The news of this new bill came through not long after the National Governors Association added Indiana to its cybersecurity policy academy. This is a program that sees government officials work together to develop new policies. 

State Chief Officer Tracey Barnes spoke of their plans to refine the tangible connection between the local government, the state government, and small businesses. He said that he plans on an aggressive stance when it comes to partnering with a handful of municipalities and entities in the utility sector too. He wants them to all share technologies and tools in order to have the most effective approach.

“We don’t have unlimited funds,” he said. “The first and foremost thing is strategy. It’s a recognition that the local government may not have a playbook or even know where to start.” This highlights their focus on ensuring the correct strategy as a way forward.

When it came to the timing of the law and the NGA policy academy, it was coincidental that they both happened at the same time, however, Barnes stipulates that it is a good thing. This is because they both work together to enhance a “whole-of-state” approach to infrastructure and cybersecurity.

He spoke of the fact that this collaborative approach is a priority to what is driving him forward and his confidence in that it is what is driving other states too. He sees it as his role “to protect all 6 million Indiana citizens at some level.”

The new information law comes into play on the first of July and he worked with both Accelerate Indiana Municipalities and the Association of Indiana Counties in order to ensure they were as correct as possible.

It is important to keep in mind that companies should do all they can in order to stay safe from any potential IT threats that may target them. Many businesses choose to work with a local Indianapolis IT company to ensure professional security solutions are put in place. You should keep all of your staff and employees up to date with the latest safety rules and regulations and make sure you have the proper protection on your devices.