May 16, 2019
Cybersecurity Event Offers Learning Opportunities for All–Citizens, IT Professionals, Business Managers, Educators, and More!
Thursday, May 16, 2019
The New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) today announced that registration is open for the 22nd Annual New York State Cybersecurity Conference. The conference, which takes place on June 4-5, 2019, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, is focused on boosting cybersecurity awareness and empowering state and local governments, academia, organizations and citizens to take better control of their digital security. The conference is free to government and public sector employees, as well as students.
"In this age of ubiquitous computing, it is more important than ever that we are prepared to protect ourselves from and respond to today's cyber challenges," said New York State Chief Information Officer Robert H. Samson. "We all have a role to play in keeping our critical personal and organizational assets secure. New York State is a leader in cyber security, and this conference is a key part of our efforts to build cyber awareness and to collaborate with many stakeholders on innovative cyber strategies."
The event, which spans two days, is hosted by ITS, the University at Albany's School of Business, and The New York State Forum, Inc. More than 50 sessions, including interactive discussions led by subject matter experts in both government and commercial sectors will be offered. Michael Aiello, product management director for Google, will deliver the keynote address.
"Education and awareness, in government, the private sector, and the community at large, are essential to address today's constantly evolving cyber threats," said New York State Chief Information Security Officer Deborah Snyder. "The 22nd Annual Conference continues our efforts to provide individuals across a broad range of disciplines opportunities to learn from leading experts in the field and discuss effective cybersecurity strategies and best practices."
The New York State Cybersecurity Conference is another measure undertaken by New York to improve the State's cybersecurity posture. The annual Cybersecurity Conference brings attention to these important cyber initiatives by calling for active participation from individuals and organizations from across the State.
"Technological advances continue to improve government's ability to serve people across New York State and the nation," Executive Director of The NYS Forum Mario Musolino said. "All of our lives are made better as technology simplifies and enriches our lives. But as the pace of innovation continues to accelerate, we face new risks every day. For over twenty years, this conference has provided leaders in business, academia, state and local government as well as technologists and private citizens with the knowledge that is critical to understand and address the cybersecurity challenges confronting us all. The New York State Forum is happy to work with ITS and all of our partners to present this vital information."
"The future of our economy and society is clearly linked to the existence of a safe and secure Internet," said Dr. Sanjay Goel, School of Business at the University at Albany. "The major innovations of the last decade include the Smart Grid, connected vehicles, Smart cities and implantable medical devices; security breaches on these devices can be catastrophic, impacting both property and lives. This conference, which brings together academics and practitioners, will help academics to better understand current security problems and practitioners to learn about emerging technologies. Such synergies are essential to move the security envelope forward."
"We believe education and awareness are critical to address today's ever-increasing cyber threats, and for that reason it is a focus of our cybersecurity outreach to local governments," said Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Patrick Murphy. "The 22nd Annual Conference will address these efforts and other important initiatives. This annual event underscores the importance that stakeholders from across government, the private sector and academia must continue to work together to combat the increasing amount of cyber threats facing the public, business and government."
"With emerging technologies, law enforcement is constantly challenged by criminals online," said New York State Police Acting Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said. "Through this conference, we can boost cybersecurity awareness and collaborate with public and private partners, sharing information and strategies to help protect New Yorkers and meet new threats head-on."
"The New York State Board of Elections has worked collaboratively with federal, state and local partners to elevate the cybersecurity posture of the State's election infrastructure," said Robert A. Brehm, Co-Executive Director of the New York State Board of Elections. "The exchange of information and collaborative effort, which can occur at conferences such as the NYS Cybersecurity Conference, by all levels of government and academia, has greatly assisted New York State to become a national leader in election security."
For more information, and to register for the 22nd Annual New York State Cybersecurity Conference, visit the conference website at https://its.ny.gov/2019-nyscsc. For highlights of the event, follow us on Twitter @NYSITS.
About ITS
The New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) was created in 2012 to transform IT services in an effort to make New York State government work smarter for its citizens and enable the state to be accessible for businesses through the use of technology. ITS provides statewide IT strategic direction, directs IT policy and delivers centralized IT products and services that support the mission of the State. ITS operates data centers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support statewide mission-critical applications for over 50 Agencies, over 17 million citizen accounts, 120,000 employee accounts, 60,000 phones, 99,000 desktops and laptops, and 3,433 Virtual Desktop remote connections. ITS operates a secure network of over 1,600 miles of fiber to deliver telecommunications, Internet and Intranet services, enterprise email systems and support, IT training, networking, data storage and processing to State government entities in addition to developing new services in support of citizens, businesses and State Agencies.
For more information, visit https://its.ny.gov and follow us on Twitter @nysits.