According to a press release from the department, the cyber unit falls under the state’s Office of Homeland Security and will act as a “centralized cybersecurity threat information, mitigation, and incident reporting and response center.”
“Cyber threats are rapidly increasing across the globe. Mississippi takes these threats seriously and recognizes that there’s never been a more important time to ensure that our state and her people are protected,” said Gov. Tate Reeves in a release. “The creation of the Mississippi cyber unit is another major step forward in our state’s ongoing effort to counter these emerging threats. Director Freeman and the new unit are well positioned to strengthen our state’s cybersecurity.”
Members of the new unit would include preparedness and response specialists led by the state’s first Cyber Director Bobby Freeman.
Freeman brings over 20 years of military experience in information technology and security to the role, most recently having served as a cyber operations officer for the Mississippi Army National Guard.
“I am looking forward to serving the people of Mississippi as the cyber director for the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security and working with local, state, and federal partners to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of our community to combat the threats that exist within the cyber domain,” Freeman said in the release.
The unit will also focus on monitoring and identifying threats to the state’s networks, share real-time threat intelligence and offer support to cyber incidents within the state.
