New Cybersecurity Initiative with Focus on Helping Small Businesses Seeking to Provide Cybersecurity Services Will Be Detailed at March 6 Event in Rockville

Per Montgomery County: As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of securing critical IT systems and infrastructure, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and partners are stepping up their collaborative approach to cybersecurity innovation. A new initiative with a focus on helping small businesses seeking to provide cybersecurity services will be detailed at an event in Rockville on Monday, March 6. The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) is launching the new Cybersecurity Connections initiative with a special emphasis on small businesses seeking to provide cybersecurity services or that want to connect with companies, government or academic organizations for cybersecurity support.

Some of the effort’s goals are to:

• Better address the cybersecurity-related needs of companies and institutions in the State and County.
• Help the NCCoE better understand the cybersecurity needs of companies.
• To expand collaborations with firms that can develop practical solutions.
• Spur economic development.

The special event will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, which is located at 9700 Great Seneca Highway in Rockville. The schedule for the day will include a panel discussion on “Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Approaches to Cybersecurity.”

The event also will be streamed live to the public. To attend in person, register by Friday, March 3. To attend virtually, use this link.
“I am looking forward to the launch of the new Cybersecurity Connections program and the ability for the 5,500 high tech businesses in Montgomery County to use NCCoE expertise as they develop new business and health solutions,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.

NCCoE was formed in 2012 as a partnership by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Maryland Department of Commerce and Montgomery County.  The March 6 event will feature remarks by County Executive Elrich, Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson and U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio.

“We value our partnership with Maryland and Montgomery County, which helps to make the NCCoE such a valuable resource for organizations of all sizes looking to improve their cybersecurity,” said Under Secretary Locascio. “We want to strengthen our engagement with small businesses and give them the opportunity to learn from our experts—and to lend their own expertise to the development of cybersecurity guidance that can help organizations across the country.”

MCEDC will continue coordinating the partnership intermediary agreement in conjunction with the County Executive Office.

“This renewed partnership and launch of the Cybersecurity Connections initiative will be instrumental in connecting companies to the wide range of expertise offered by the unmatched National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence,” said Bill Tompkins, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “We want to help cyber companies in Montgomery County, in Maryland, and beyond, draw on the capabilities of the NCCoE to ensure cyber safety and security.”

MCEDC is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County and is a strong supporter of initiatives such as this one.

“The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence has worked on some of the most pressing cyber challenges we face as a nation, and their critical efforts happen right here in Montgomery County,” said MCEDC Board Chair Kevin Beverly. “This partnership will lead to stronger cybersecurity advances and greater economic opportunities for our local cyber companies.”