NOVI – Just as a fire department might recruit volunteer fire fighters to train and prepare for an emergency, the State of Michigan announced that it would be creating a Cyber Civilian Militia.

During the sold out 2013 Michigan Cyber Summit, themed around the growing risk of cyber attacks, Gov. Rick Snyder made the formal announcement of this new task force. The new Cyber Civilian Corp will include volunteers from government, education, and business. This rapid response team would assist the state and industries across Michigan during a major cyber attack.

The innovative program will offer many benefits to those involved. It allows for people across a variety of organizations and backgrounds to network and better understand the current threat landscape. This will benefit individuals and organizations who need to protect aspects of everyday digital life. In the case of an emergency, the Corp would backup first responders. Information technology professionals interested in participating would be able to improve their skills by taking advantage of training through the Michigan Cyber Range hosted in Ann Arbor by Merit Networks.

According to the Michigan Cyber Range website, the program “prepares cyber-security professionals for detecting, preventing, and thwarting cyber attacks in a real-world setting. Like a test track or a firing range, the Michigan Cyber Range enables individuals and organizations to conduct ?live fire? exercises, simulations that will test the detection and reaction skills of participants in a variety of situations.” Collaboration with Merit and the Range will be a key component of the Corp.

David Behan, State of Michigan CIO, is a champion of the new Cyber Civilian Corp program and speaks to the overall investment of the State to Cyber Security initiatives both internally and within the community.

?Michigan?s cyber initiative is aimed at defending the state against cyberattacks,? Behen said. ?Focusing on cybersecurity will help position Michigan to take advantage of opportunities in this growing and fast-paced and ever-changing industry.?

Michigan is nationally recognized for their focus on the importance of cyber-security. Traditionally, warfare is commonly waged by traditional sea, air, or land attacks, but there is a new attack mode added to the list – cyber. In fact, the State of Michigan blocked 568,724 cyber attacks daily from January to August this year. Attacks ranged from spam to web browser attacks to network intrusions. Data theft and breaches from cybercrime globally cost businesses as much as $1 trillion.

Snyder demonstrated commitment to cybersecurity throughout his keynote speech.

?Michigan?s leadership in the area of cybersecurity continues through this summit and our innovative action plan,? Snyder said. ?Cyber threats are real and we must stay vigilant and proactive to help protect Michigan families and businesses from those who would use technology to do harm. By joining forces, public and private entities can address these threats and ensure a safer, stronger cyber environment.?

The Summit was co-hosted by Snyder and the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. It brought officials from the public and private sectors together to focus on the emerging issue of cyber security. The buzz at the event proved that cyber security is now a a priority and not an afterthought. The State now seems dedicated to strong community partnerships and knowledge sharing to make Michigan businesses and organizations more aware of the dangers in hopes of creating a safer state in the digital age.

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