Rep. Israel writes L.I. could lead the way in cyber defense

Bill San Antonio

U.S. Rep. Steve Israel wrote Thursday that even though America faces imminent threats online, Long Island may be uniquely positioned to come to the nation’s rescue.

The Democratic Congressman from Huntington wrote in an editorial for Newsday that the region should bridge Long Island’s economic past as a bastion for the defense industry with the current generation’s hotbed of tech companies to combat hackers and cyber terrorists alike.

The move, he said, could generate the economic relief and sense of industrial identity lacking across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“Nearly three years ago, I formed the Long Island Cyber Defense Consortium. I believed then that nobody on Long Island understood the magnitude of the threat or the opportunities to address it. Then I confirmed what we all know: On Long Island, everyone is doing something, but no one knows what anyone else is doing,” wrote Israel, whose 3rd Congressional District extends across parts of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

“We began breaking down barriers by meeting to discuss cooperation; we brought the secretary of Homeland Security and members of Congress with expertise in cyber intelligence to meet with local companies and institutions. We did a survey of the cyber defense competencies among Long Island companies,” he continued. 

“The result? We know just how well-positioned our region is. From small start-ups with exquisite encryption technologies to CA Technologies, from our colleagues and universities to The Morrelly Center on Homeland Security in Bethpage, Long Island is filled with many 21st century Leroy Grummans,” he wrote.

Israel wrote that while the recent hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment – which the Federal Bureau of Investigation has claimed was conducted by North Korea – has generated mainstream coverage, American citizens have face threats through data breaches of Target Corp. and the Home Depot.

President Obama, he wrote, is also likely to make cyber security a key component of his State of the Union address Tuesday.

“It’s no surprise then that as the federal budget shrinks, one area of growth will be in the field of cyber defense,” he said.

Long Island, he concluded, should lead the way.

“We need more connections between schools and businesses in the field of cyber defense,” he wrote. “The investment community should understand the massive economic opportunity in cyber technologies. Local governments and non-profits must build a plan to showcase our capabilities to the federal procurement community.”

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