On October 18, 2022, the State of Alabama Office of Information Technology (OIT) and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (EMA) partnered with the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to hold a statewide training exercise focused on cybersecurity readiness and response. The event took place at EMA’s Emergency Operations Center in Clanton and was attended by representatives from approximately twenty (20) state agencies, local municipalities, and other organizations from across Alabama.

Throughout the daylong exercise, information was presented by CISA, OIT, and EMA on a wide range of cybersecurity topics and issues. Participants took part in facilitated roundtable discussions centered around the various security processes and protocols in place at their individual organizations. Attendees were also presented with a cyber incident scenario in which they were asked to describe the steps and actions that such an occurrence would trigger within their respective offices.

In addition to the important subject matter covered during October’s statewide cyber exercise, another significant benefit was the opportunity this event provided to enhance collaboration and information sharing across the state. Any time state agencies and local municipalities are able to partner together and work as a collective unit, the State of Alabama and its citizens are the true beneficiaries. Exercises like this help to prepare Alabama to respond quickly and effectively in the event that a statewide cyber incident occurs in the future.

View images from the Statewide Cyber Exercise below: