For Immediate Release
Contact:Laura Withers, 703-351-2087, [email protected]
Arlington, Va. (November 20, 2017)—NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association has joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in celebrating Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month to focus on the importance of our nation’s critical infrastructure and ensuring the resiliency and reliability of telecommunications networks in our most sparsely populated communities.
Observed during the month of November, Critical Infrastructure month builds awareness and appreciation of the importance of critical infrastructure and reaffirms the nationwide commitment to keeping it safe.
“As the national trade association for nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies, we understand the importance of securing our critical infrastructure,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “We take very seriously the need for education among our small business members about cybersecurity best practices so that they can be better equipped to identify and respond to challenges. To that end, we were pleased to host NTCA’s second Cybersecurity Summit in October, and we’re building on that momentum with the recent release of our Cyber Source publication and participation in Critical Infrastructure month.”
Consistent with ongoing efforts to educate small, rural broadband providers about cybersecurity, NTCA has made the following resources available to members:
- NTCA Cyber Bundle: The bundle is a comprehensive guide that includes three key components: a risk-management primer, an operational template and industry resources. All three of these components are designed to work together to help telco executives, board officers and operational staff develop a risk-management approach to cybersecurity.
- NTCA Cyber Source: The source provides timely news articles related to cybersecurity operational, technical and policy issues, in addition to highlighting resources that may assist companies with protection of their networks, infrastructure and assets. This publication is produced on a bi-annual basis in October and April and released online.
- NTCA Cybersecurity Summit: The 2018 Cybersecurity Summit will take place October 21–23, 2018, in Dallas, Texas.
About Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month
Our nation relies on critical infrastructure for how we travel; communicate with our friends, family, coworkers, and customers; conduct business; handle money; obtain clean, safe food and water; and conduct additional important daily functions. Managing risks to critical infrastructure involves preparing for all hazards, reinforcing the resilience of our assets and networks, and staying ever-vigilant and informed.
America’s national security and economic prosperity are increasingly dependent upon critical infrastructure that is at risk from a variety of hazards, including cyberattacks. Critical infrastructure security and resilience requires a clear understanding of the risks we face and a whole‐of‐community effort that involves partnership between public, private, and non‐profit sectors. Just as we all rely on critical infrastructure, we all play a role in keeping it strong, secure, and resilient.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/cisr-month.
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NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing more than 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. NTCA advocates on behalf of its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas, and it provides training and development; publications and industry events; and an array of employee benefit programs. In an era of rapidly progressing technology, regulatory changes and marketplace competition, NTCA’s members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering networks and services that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development and commerce, education, health care, government services, security and smart energy use. Visit us at www.ntca.org.