Supplying physical security or security guards to local businesses is very different than providing cybersecurity. That practice involves protecting information systems against criminal or unauthorized access.
But both physical and cybersecurity involve securing assets and providing protection for them. That’s why we wanted to write about a new initiative in our home city of Los Angeles.
Experts at Cybersecurity
The city is no stranger to cyber attacks. As SecurityInfoWatch.com reports, Los Angeles analyzes over 1 billion cyber related events every day! Of those, it blocks about 4 million attacks on its system daily.
As a result, cybersecurity professionals working for the city have become quite good at recognizing and blocking attackers. Now, Los Angeles wants to share that expertise with businesses in the Greater Metro area.
The Los Angeles Cyber Lab
To do that, Los Angeles has launched the first ever city-based resource in the U.S. that will pass along cybersecurity information and intelligence. It’s called the Los Angeles Cyber Lab and it is a public-private partnership between the city and Cisco Systems.
Guiding the venture will be board members from some of the largest tech companies in the world, including Amazon, Microsoft and Motorola.
Giving Back to Taxpayers
Los Angeles is making this Cyber Lab available because it is tax money that has paid for the protection of their information systems. L.A. CIO Ted Ross said, “It just seems like the right thing to do…If we can help small-, medium- and large-sized businesses protect themselves against cybercriminals, then I think we’re really helping move the needle, and I think our constituents are getting even more out of their government.”
The Lab will have three core functions: Cyber education, threat intelligence and providing an innovation incubator that will allow businesses to try security products before purchasing them.
The Next Phase
Starting in early 2018, the Cyber Lab will create an exchange of information by inviting members to share data.
For more information visit LACyberLab.org.
