Earlier this week, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul made a clear announcement in the vein of amping up cybersecurity measures: As of this news, New York’s statewide Cybersecurity Strategy is now being directly aimed at protecting New York’s digital infrastructure from mounting cyber threats.

In the Cybersecurity Strategy’s foreword by Hochul, she stated:

“Cybersecurity and resilience are not just technical issues; they’ve become essential to public safety and economic security.”

While New York State’s Chief Cyber Officer– a position Hochul herself created in 2022 – oversees its implementation, the Cybersecurity Strategy is expected to unify the state’s cybersecurity services, functions and operations to better protect critical infrastructure, personal information, and digital assets from bad actors. It will also provide framework for aligning actions and resources of both public and private stakeholders so everyone can collectively work toward one shared, protective vision.

New Yorkers currently face an array of malicious cyber activities; exposure to extortion attacks and ransomware, state-sponsored and industrial espionage, an increase in DoS and DDoS attacks, and intellectual property theft. While these attacks are sometimes slow nuisances, many others disrupt vital services; none can be allowed to slip by.

Hochul’s Cybersecurity Strategy goes on to detail:

• Current cyber threats marked by a convergence of criminal and nation-state actors
• The need for modern cyber guidance and preparedness
• New York expanding the scope of future regulations and requirements

Additionally, it clarifies agency roles and outlines how these initiatives and investments knit together strategic pillars: Operate, Collaborate, Regulate, Communicate, and Grow.

"Our interconnected world demands an interconnected defense leveraging every resource available," said Hochul. "This strategy sets forth a nation-leading blueprint to ensure New York State stands ready and resilient in the face of cyber threats."

New York’s SOC will collect data from agencies and other participating partners, thus operating statewide monitoring and suspicious activity investigation. Going forward, goals include modernizing state networks according to ZTNA principles, upgrading cybersecurity policies, and much more to build a statewide picture of cyber threats, defending and educating citizens.

“Cyber threats are more prevalent than ever as the world relies on digital technology,” stated Jackie Bray, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner. “New York’s strategy positions us strongly in preparing for and responding to attacks. Thanks to Gov. Hochul’s vision and historic investment in cybersecurity, New York continues to lead the way.”

Read the Cybersecurity Strategy briefing in full here.