Texas to launch cyber command center, Gov. Abbott declares in State of State address

Texas will soon launch a command center to strengthen the state’s ability to anticipate, detect and prevent cyberattacks, Gov. Greg Abbott announced in his State of the State address at the state capitol building in Austin on Sunday.

Abbott said the state will partner with the University of San Antonio to create the Texas Cyber Command, taking advantage of the school’s resources to deploy “cutting edge capabilities to better secure our state.”

In 2022, the University of San Antonio was selected to join the United States Cyber Command Academic Engagement Network, which works with the U.S. Department of Defense on cyberspace operations and capabilities, cyber expertise and cyber warfare.

“San Antonio is the home to one of the world’s largest concentration of cybersecurity experts,” Abbott said in his address. “We must harness those assets to protect against threats from China, Iran, Russia and other foreign enemies. They could cripple our power, our water and our communications with cyberattacks.”

According to a press release issued Sunday by the governor’s office, the Texas Cyber Command will provide state and local agencies cybersecurity resources and support services, such as professional development, post-attack investigations and incident response planning.

The move to launch the statewide cybersecurity command center comes after a Texas county suffered a cyberattack last week.

On Jan. 27, the Matagorda County municipal government, which serves about 37,000 residents roughly 90 miles south of Houston, suffered a cyberattack that forced officials from the Emergency Operation Center to declare a disaster.

“We cannot let any more time go by without strongly, robustly addressing this problem,” Abbott said in his address.

In December, the state awarded a $170.9 million contract to technology integrator Science Applications International Corporation, to provide the state and its agency network with cybersecurity services.

Texas’s upcoming cyber command center is one of seven emergency items the Texas governor is focusing on this legislative session. The others are teacher pay, bail reform, school choice, expanded career training, increased investment in water and property tax relief.