Lawmakers are increasingly concerned with cyber threats. This growing concern has even led the state of Texas to pursue laws such as “The Texas Cybersecurity Act” and the “Texas Cybercrime Act” that better define what cybercrimes are as well as set in place plans of action to combat such threats.
Whereas if both of these bills are signed into law they may effectively fight cyber attacks in Texas, as cyber security has proven to be an issue on a broader international scale, to ensure national security, nations may need to collaborate. Russian cybersecurity expert Eugene Kaspersky, emphasized to the Times of Israel, “Cooperation is absolutely vital to tackle cybercrime. It’s very hard to find the perpetrators of cyberattacks because of the nature of cyberspace. And a lack of international cooperation makes it extremely difficult to do, if not impossible.”
Israel, as the 2nd greatest exporter of cyber security goods and services in the world, is a leader in this area and the United States recognizes it as such. In fact, on January 31, the U.S. House passed the United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2017. According to Congress’ official website, the act requires the Department of Homeland Security to make a grant program to support cybersecurity research & development and the commercialization of cyber security technology, “in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Homeland Security Matters, dated May 29, 2008.”
As the Congressional bill still awaits passage from the Senate, Texas should as well consider ways in which it can invest in Israeli companies and R&D to best fight cyber attacks through a more collaborative approach.
Sources:
· https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/612
· http://www.timesofisrael.com/hacking-threat-soaring-as-countries-fail-to-unite-cybersecurity-leader-warns/
· http://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article134827609.html