Former White House cyber lead discusses security threats at Ariz. Cyber Summit

At the recent State of Arizona Cyber Summit, the former acting head of the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director emphasized how investments in cybersecurity infrastructure are important for protecting Arizona’s school districts, water utilities, and economy, while showing the need for better systems to allocate funding effectively.

Jake Braun, who delivered keynote remarks, talked about some critical cybersecurity challenges, emerging threats, and solutions tailored to local communities. 

The White House and cybersecurity

“The White House sees things uniquely,” Braun said. “Things that other organizations might not have visibility into. One of the things we’re mandated by Congress to do is to create the National Cyber Posture Report, which helps us identify where threats are coming from and what we can do about them.”

Challenges such as AI

Braun talked about how artificial intelligence is becoming a surprising cybersecurity concern. “You wouldn’t normally think of AI as a cybersecurity issue,” he explained. “But if the algorithms banks or utilities rely on are manipulated, the impacts can be huge.”

The risks are most significant for critical infrastructure, where small disruptions can create ripple effects across entire communities.

Impacts on local communities

One of the takeaways was how cybersecurity failures can affect day-to-day life, especially in a state like Arizona. Braun discussed the vulnerability of school districts and utilities:

“When a school district goes offline, it’s not just about students losing access to classes. For some kids, that’s the only place where they get lunch for the day or the only place they have access to electricity,” he said. “In a state like Arizona, where air conditioning during the summer is critical, these impacts are even more dangerous.”

Water utilities were also a focus. Braun referenced smaller communities where resources are scarce. “We’re talking about rural counties with no cyber budgets. Sometimes, they haven’t even changed default passwords on critical systems, and those are the first things attackers exploit.”

Investments in local cybersecurity

Braun emphasized the importance of using federal and private investments to improve cybersecurity in states like Arizona. He discussed initiatives like the CHIPS and Science Act, which have brought significant funding to Arizona’s technology sector. “Arizona has already seen major investments, but we need to make sure those investments also support local cybersecurity efforts, whether that’s school districts, small businesses, or utilities.”

By strengthening cyber defenses, Braun argued, the state not only protects its infrastructure but also enhances economic stability. “Cybersecurity isn’t just about defense, it’s about economic security,” he noted. “If businesses can trust their systems, if schools can stay online, and if utilities remain resilient, the entire economy benefits.”

The need for improved funding

One challenge Braun discussed was the complexity of allocating funds for cybersecurity improvements. “There are grants from all kinds of federal agencies, but local governments often struggle to navigate them,” he said. “We need to make it easier for funding to flow to where it’s needed most.”

Braun called for a more improved process that ensures critical resources reach smaller communities that tend to lack the capacity to apply for complex grants or implement solutions.

Solutions for utilities

Braun shared an inspiring pilot program where volunteer cybersecurity experts partnered with small water utilities to resolve basic security issues. “We put a call out to volunteers, grad students, professionals, you name it, and we had so many sign up, we had to shut down the form after two weeks,” he said.

Though Arizona utilities were not part of the pilot, Braun expressed his hope to bring the program to the state. “We want to make sure small utilities here in Arizona are equipped to handle these challenges,” he said.

To address ongoing resource gaps, Braun introduced the idea of “universal basic cybersecurity.” He explained, “Foundational cybersecurity protections need to be accessible and free. There’s no point where we say, ‘You’ve used too much support, now you have to pay us.’ Cybersecurity has to be universal.”

A path forward for Arizona

Braun concluded the discussion by encouraging Arizona leaders to prioritize local investments and partnerships. Governments, businesses, schools, and individuals, need to work together to address this problem. If smart investments are made now, Arizona can lead the way in cybersecurity innovation and infrastructure.