Chairman Chris Tully (D-Bergen, Passaic) issued the following statement regarding the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee hearing on Monday regarding cybersecurity for state and local governments and small businesses:
“Effective cybersecurity is absolutely essential in a time when more and more small businesses and governments are becoming the targets of cyberattacks. Unlike large corporations and federal agencies, however, mom-and-pop businesses and state and local governments often do not have adequate funding and resources to easily protect their data.
“This hearing highlighted the critical need for more attainable technology, personnel training and policy changes that can prevent cybercriminals from obtaining and misusing the digital information of New Jersey’s governmental and business organizations, placing consumers at risk.
“Today’s testimony yielded productive conversations about potential options that our committee will continue to pursue during this session.”