Cybersecurity was a hot term yesterday as Gov. O’Malley released a new Cyber Security report for Maryland entitled “CyberMaryland” (see below for the link). The report was promoted as the first comprehensive inventory of any state’s cybersecurity assets. The report was put together by the Dept. of Business and Economic Development. I credit DBED Secretary Johansson whose agency interviewed 50 Maryland-based Cybersecurity stakeholders to assess how to best participate in national cyber security opportunities while simultaneously developing an infrastrucuture that would create and nuture job growth in this sector and specifically in Maryland. 

Innovation and investment in R&D is key to significant job growth. In this economy many people look to save money but if we really want to dig ourselves out, 1 element that can certainly help is not to save but to invest. Remember the 60’s and the launching of our Space program – millions of jobs were created- – remember when we invested in R&D for this little thing we call the internet today — which has created too many jobs to count – so whats next? We wont know if we dont put the R&D dollars into the ideas that are circulating in Baltimore and throughout MD. We have the strongest brainpower in the country, access to resources and federal agencies and an incredible startup community just to name a few reasons.

For those of you unaware of the depth of CyberSecurity – the attacks are real — so Cybersecurity has become increasingly important as computer hackers attempt to steal money, information and intellectual property or damage important services through computer attack. These attacks can range from the typical identity theft to shutting down power grids, transit or even traffic-control — the list goes on.

For a wakeup call here are some recent stats:

- the number of computers infected by Malware rose 600% in 2009

- the US ranks 9th in Global PC infection report (according to PandaLabs research)

- and The Dept of Defense logged (get this) an incredible 360 MILLION hacking attempts in 2008!!!

Cybersecurity is not going away it will only significantly increase and many call it the next battlelfield.  So it absoutely makes sense for Maryland to demonstrate its ability to lead in this space. Lets take a look at a local example of a Columbia, MD-based Cyber Security company called Sourcefire. Founded in 2001 and now has over 275 employees and on their website right now are openings for another 20 positions. Ohh and the most common job title ends with the word engineer which by the way comes with a great salary attached to it. They have over 2,300 commercial customers, with 7 patents awarded and 38 patents pending.

So the CyberSecurity focus becomes pretty obvious: innovation will increase job growth!

BUT R&D wont be enough, the way I see it, its a 3-legged stool. 1. Do we have the assets? 2. Is the R&D there? and 3. What about the educational pipeline? It won’t do us any good to ramp up R&D if we have not spent dedicated time increasing students interest to pursue STEM (Sci, Tech, Engineering, Math)-related careers.

I am excited about Marylands STEM Task Force, I think it took too long to create! It was launched in Sept 2008 BUT I am excited about their 7 recommendations especialy the idea to Triple the number of teachers in STEM shortage areas. I just hope that our State can also leverage the Cyber Security focus to also benefit education. For example there is an amazing opportunity for our State. The Dept. of Education is conducting a national competition among states for a $4.35 billion state incentive fund to improve education quality for which states demonstrate “strong commitments and progress in math and science education and “improve the use of science and technology in the classroom.” I hope we are in the running for this?

MY bottom line: –  Maryland is poised phenomenally well to leverage our statewide and nearby assets, we have the concentrated brainpower an awesome startup community and incredible incubators, if we can create the Cyber Security pipeline then we certainly can be the role model for the country and as Governor O’Malley puts it “the national epicenter” for cybersecurity innovation.

Do you think MD is well poised? What do you feel needs to haapen to take this from plan to action? Where do you think the $ will come from. Let us know in the comments!

LINKS:

Cyber Maryland report- http://issuu.com/cybermaryland/docs/cyberreport

Press release- http://www.gov.state.md.us/pressreleases/090806b.asp

Natl STEM competition- http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/implementation.html

Pres. Obama R&D funding comments- http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Obama-research-spending-042709.aspx