Kalamazoo senator pitches round-the-clock cybersecurity center for Michigan colleges

TLDR:

• Senator Sean McCann has introduced legislation to establish a 24/7 cybersecurity hub for Michigan universities to protect them from cyber threats.
• The Security Operations Center (SOC) will provide threat detection, prevention, and response capabilities funded by participating members.

A Kalamazoo lawmaker, Sen. Sean McCann, has introduced Senate Bill 737 aimed at creating a 24/7 security operation center (SOC) to protect Michigan universities from cyber threats. The SOC will provide cybersecurity threat detection, prevention, and response capabilities for organizations. The operational costs of the SOC are expected to be funded by dues from participating members, following initial implementation costs. The legislation comes in response to escalating cyber threats faced by higher education institutions, which can lead to costly and damaging consequences.

Several universities and companies in the area have experienced cyber attacks in recent years, prompting the need for a centralized hub to address these threats. The Michigan Security Operations Center, if the bill is signed into law, will work with Merit Network as the established network operator for higher education in the state. This partnership will enable the monitoring and response to network intrusions in effective and efficient ways. Overall, the proposed legislation aims to bolster cybersecurity measures and protect sensitive information held by public universities in Michigan.