Wisconsin Homeland Security

2013 Wisconsin Cyber Security Summit

October 11, 2013

Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union, Monaghan Ballroom
1442 W. Wisconsin Avenue.
Milwaukee, WI 53233

To kick off Cyber Awareness Month in October, Wisconsin will be hosting a cyber security summit intended to link business leaders, state and federal partners, and industry experts together to discuss the state’s role in cyber security. The event will be held October 11, 2013 in Milwaukee at the Marquette University Ball Room.

“Cyber security is a pervasive threat to our nation; and the state of Wisconsin has a unique and important role to play in the national framework,” said Gov. Walker. “This Cyber Summit will bring together industry and government in a collaborative setting to discuss these threats and how we can work to improve cyber security at all levels.”

The state of Wisconsin has taken substantive steps over the past few years in its cyber posture. For example, Wisconsin places high emphasis on protecting the state’s computer systems, networks and data. Currently, the state blocks about six million cyber-attacks per day that target state agencies. In addition, the state receives about 3.5 million incoming e-mail messages per day. Officials say about 94% of those messages are filtered and blocked because they are malicious.

Major General Don Dunbar, Wisconsin’s Homeland Security Advisor, is heading up the summit. “The purpose of the summit is to take a strategic pause, assess the current cyber environment and ensure Wisconsin has a clear path,” said Maj. Gen. Dunbar. “We will consider a broad array of issues to guide our next steps to include a review of existing laws relating to cyber crimes and the role of the state in cyber emergency response, assuring continuity of operations/continuity of government in the cyber age and developing (if necessary) a specific state cyber strategy.” Read more