Ducey executive order establishes cybersecurity team for Arizona

PHOENIX — The state of Arizona will have its own cybersecurity team to protect against online threats after Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order Thursday start the plan.

“The creation of the Arizona Cybersecurity Team is another step we can take to enhance our cyber preparedness,” Ducey said in a statement.

Tim Roemer, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security and public-safety adviser to Ducey, said the diverse group will be able to make “good, informed decisions” to protect Arizonans’ data.

Russian hackers reportedly compromised systems in Arizona last year. The state’s voter registration database has been hit at least twice since 2016.

The partnerships will bring together experts from state offices and agencies, legislature, federal government, business and education, sharing data between public and private sectors.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Secretary of State Michele Reagan and representatives from the state Department of Public Safety and the state’s chief information officer and one person from the office of an Arizona member of Congress.

Co-chairs will be named at a later date.

Other goals for the group included improving the development of future information tech workers.

The state’s Department of Administration’s information staff already stops 35,000 malware attacks a month.

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a statement the team will “bring diverse expertise and experience to the table to enhance our cyber capabilities, educate the public, and train a capable workforce to combat this 21st century challenge.”

KTAR News’ Jeremy Foster contributed to this report.

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