State, Local Government Staff Must Be Trained In Cybersecurity By Mid-2020

The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) is leading the state’s effort to certify all state and local government employees and elected officials in cybersecurity training.

HB 3834 passed by the 86th Legislature requires all state and local employees and elected officials to annually complete the cybersecurity training.

Their first certification must occur by June 14, 2020.

At state agencies, employees who use a computer to complete at least 25 percent of their required duties and elected or appointed officers of the agency must complete the training. Local government employees, who have access to a local government computer system or database, and elected officials are required to be certified.

As part of the program, DIR officials will consult with the Texas Cybersecurity Council to certify at least five cybersecurity training programs. In order to be certified, a program must focus on forming information security habits and procedures that protect information resources and teach best practices for detecting, assessing, reporting, and addressing information security threats.

Local governments must use a certified training program unless the local government employs a dedicated information resources cybersecurity officer and has a cybersecurity training program that satisfies the requirements.

DIR is accepting applications now through October 4 from programs to be included on the initial list. After certifying the five programs, DIR will publish them on its website. Applications submitted after this date will be assessed on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

This article was originally published by Strategic Partnerships Inc.