BRUNSWICK – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, hosted state and local government, academic, and private sector leaders in a cybersecurity roundtable today to discuss emerging cyber threats, tools, and available federal resources.
Carter delivers virtual remarks on cybersecurity |
Carter was joined by panelists from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), Georgia Technology Authority (GTA), and private companies. Appearing virtually due to votes in the House of Representatives, Rep. Carter gave the following opening remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Jeff Johnson leads discussion on cyber hygiene |
“We are so grateful to the College of Coastal Georgia for letting us use this incredible space. So, thank you to school President, Michelle Johnston.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you today as I am stuck in Washington for votes. As you all know, this is an incredibly important topic, especially given the current global landscape.
“I can assure you we are working in Washington to secure our cyberspace and protect Americans from our adversaries. This critical roundtable comes as Cybersecurity Awareness Month wraps up.
“We each have a responsibility to educate ourselves and our colleagues about the dangers of cyber-attacks.
“This roundtable serves as a venue for this education. I am so impressed by the panelists here with us today…
“We are so lucky to have such an experienced lineup of experts – thank you all for your time and efforts.
“Today’s discussion will revolve around prevention, remediation, and response to cyber-attacks.
“We hope that you take something from this and forge connections that will be useful in the future as you navigate the world of cybersecurity.
“These attacks can happen in the blink of an eye and can happen to anyone.
“Our adversaries are getting more advanced by the minute and that’s why my colleagues and I in Washington will continue to collaborate and implement smart policy.
“We need to be constantly counteracting these threats and ensuring that we have the resources needed.
“That includes a healthy workforce and a talent pool from communities across America.”
Roundtable panelists included: Sara Lue, Special Agent in Charge, GBI Cyber Crime Center; Steve Hodges, GTA; Klint Walker, CISA; Jeff Johnson, Chief Information Security Officer, FLETC; Clayton Matthews, Oakbridge Insurance; Adam M. Casgar, Coastal Computer Consulting, LLC; and, Craig Stevenson, Threat Locker.
Panelists from left to right: Natalie Hellmann, Sara Lue, Steve Hodges, Klint Walker,
Jeff Johnson, Clayton Matthews, Adam Casgar, and Bill Fallon. |
“Cyber Security crimes continue to be a significant threat in our communities. Whether it is a simple phishing attempt or full scale ransomware attack, our citizens, agencies and businesses must always remain alert to the ever increasing cyber threats we face. Awareness events, such as this roundtable, are critical to that effort of remaining vigilant,” said William Fallon, County Manager for Glynn County, who moderated the event.
“FLETC equips its law enforcement professionals with the education, skills, and tools to tackle the evolving challenges in cyber security. Our graduates leave prepared and committed to do their part in the protection of information and information systems,” said Jeff Johnson.
“In 2022, Georgia ranked 6th in the nation for financial loss due to cyber-enabled crime. Georgia citizens, government agencies, and businesses suffered a loss of approximately $322 billion dollars. Incidents of cyber crime need to be immediately reported to local law enforcement authorities and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov) to ensure we are protecting our most valuable asset - our citizens, our economy, and our infrastructure," said Sara Lue.
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