Governor Ivey Attends Unveiling of State Security Operations Center and Cybersecurity Website

MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey joined the state of Alabama’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) Monday to unveil its new Security Operations Center (SOC) and cybersecurity website. Gov. Ivey also declared October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The SOC is Alabama’s first ever centralized security operation. It monitors the state’s use of electronic resources, including what is being attacked and where the attacks are coming from. To date, the SOC has provided 800 million blocks on the state’s firewalls, preventing unauthorized users from accessing the network, as well as four million antivirus blocks to servers and personal computers.
“Cybersecurity is a priority of my Administration, and today, I was proud to officially open our state’s first Security Operations Center,” Governor Ivey said. “There is such a wide range of uses for our technology in today’s world, which means we must do our part to ensure cybersecurity, especially on our state’s technology system.”
OIT also launched its new cybersecurity website, http://cybersecurity.alabama.gov. With cyber threats on the rise, this website helps all citizens to be aware of potential dangers and provides resources to keep themselves, their families and their businesses safe.
“Gov. Ivey understands the importance of protecting Alabama from cyberattacks that threaten the security and economy of the state. OIT is proud of the role CISO Ryan Allen, and the entire cybersecurity team, play in keeping the state’s government, as well as Alabama citizens, safe from potential threats,” says OIT Acting Secretary Jim Purcell.
The Alabama Office of Information Technology was created in 2013 to consolidate IT services across the state. OIT focuses on IT Strategic Planning, IT Governance and IT Resource Utilization.
###