Wyoming's Approach to Cybersecurity

At the annual NASCIO conference in Austin earlier this month, Wyoming Chief Information Officer Tony Young addressed the most pressing issue on his mind and on the minds of his peers. Recent breaches in the news, most notably Equifax, have helped make the case for more focused efforts around cybersecurity. 

"We're also going to ask for some additional funding for training and some tools to help us in that area," Young said, "but it [the Equifax breach] definitely stresses the fact that we need to remain on top of this at all times, particularly for the data of our constituents, the data for agencies and personal data throughout the state."

Fletcher named new state CISO

Part of the state's cybersecurity plans, as Young alludes to in the video, include the recent hire of a new chief information security officer. Incoming CISO Arlen Fletcher, former director of information security and compliance with Gonzaga University, will assume the role on Nov. 1. He will work with Young in the Wyoming Department of Enterprise Technology Services.

Fletcher comes to state government following a nearly five-year stint at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash. Fletcher brings almost two decades of experience in information security to the role, with stints in both higher education and the private sector. In addition to his time at Gonzaga, Fletcher has previously helmed information security for the University of Denver.