In prepared remarks delivered Tuesday morning at a meeting of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Deal noted the growing threat of cyber crime, which he said is “now bigger than the global black market in marijuana, cocaine and heroin combined.” To counter that threat, Georgia has been growing its cybersecurity arsenal, particularly with the Army moving its cyber command to the fort, which already houses part of the National Security Agency and a Cyber Center of Excellence, he said.
“And soon, we will begin construction on another tool in our arsenal for security and economic development in the form of the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center,” Deal said. “This will be a state-owned facility designed to promote modernization in cybersecurity technology for both private and public industries. In conjunction with the Department of Defense and NSA, this invaluable resource will put Georgia at the pinnacle of efforts to enhance American cybersecurity in the public and private arenas.”
In a statement, Keel said Deal’s “vision for the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Augusta is truly transformational. Augusta is already home to a number of cybersecurity assets including U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, and a growing number of cybersecurity education and training programs. We are excited about the future and are grateful to Gov. Deal for his investment in our state and local community.”
©2017 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
