Missouri needs to continue investing in STEM education and workforce development, according to the Missouri Cybersecurity Task Force's Action Plan submitted to Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday.
The report includes various actions steps to improve cybersecurity throughout public and private sectors in the state.
"It is important that the state continue its investments in education and workforce development to ensure there are qualified men and women trained in this fast growing field," Nixon said in a news release. "The latest programs and hardware can be purchased immediately when needed, but maintaining a skilled workforce requires a long-term vision and commitment across all levels of government."
Nixon formed the Missouri Cybersecurity Task Force earlier this year to bolster the state's efforts to strengthen cybersecurity. He hosted the first ever Missouri Governor's Cybersecurity Summit last August, gathering stakeholders from across the state to share best practices and raise awareness of potential cyber threats.
A survey completed by 48 agencies ranging from government and law enforcement to health care and education fueled understanding of industry awareness of cybersecurity topics.
The report says progress has been made in cybersecurity at many organizations across the state, challenges remain, especially for smaller organizations in the areas of funding and personnel.
"Small governments and school districts across the state are struggling to find the budget and workforce capable of mitigating the threats they face on a daily basis," the report says. "Multiple times throughout 2016, we have seen small city and county governments fall victim to either cybersecurity attacks or poor cybersecurity hygiene, which costs local taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars and delays services."
The action plan recommends centralizing higher education regarding cybersecurity - and better preparing the future workforce - by creating a state cybersecurity institute.
"While there are some great higher education programs across the state, they vary in focus. This can be confusing for students who want to choose cybersecurity as a career, as well as for businesses in Missouri that hire cybersecurity professionals directly out of college," according to the report.
The proposed cybersecurity institute would facilitate cybersecurity-related educational and workforce development efforts such as research funding, coordinating academic accreditations and career services, among others.
The action plan also recommends modifying high school curriculum, offering incentives for private-sector cybersecurity internships, better publicizing current cybersecurity threats, providing guidance for communication during a cybersecurity incident, and protecting critical infrastructure to ensure safety and continuity of government during a cybersecurity incident.
The full State of Missouri Cybersecurity Task Force Action Plan is available online at cybersecurity.mo.gov.