"To think how vulnerable we are," McMaster said, "we probably don't even realize it."
Bad actors who are attempting to circumvent or breach computer security include nations such as Russia or Iran, said McMaster, whose comments came at the first-ever South Coast Cyber Summit at Tabby Place in downtown Beaufort.
Some 300 people in academia, private sector businesses, local and state government, law enforcement including the FBI and state Law Enforcement Division and the military have gathered to hear from cybersecurity experts from across the country about stopping cybercrime and phishing threats.
It's sponsored by the Beaufort-based South Coast Cyber Center, which was launched in 2019 to establish the educational infrastructure needed to groom a potential cybersecurity workforce, including those exiting the military. Cybersecurity experts are in great demand throughout the country, and the center is attempting to capitalize by helping to build a workforce to meet it.
"The intent of this summit is to show that Beaufort and the region is and will be a cyber hub, not only for our state, but can be a cyber hub for the country," said Warren Parker, chairman of the South Coast Cyber Center. "A hub of education, business, research, innovation for cyber security."
If a bad actor decided they were going to shut down the electrical grid or scramble communications at a hospital, emergency services or the military, said McMaster, Monday's keynote speaker, "We'd be in a real problem," McMaster said. "Now is the time to be doing exactly what we are doing."
McMaster said one of his first actions as governor was establishing the Cybersecurity Task Force to bridge gaps in cybersecurity infrastructure
South Carolina, McMaster said, is in a good position to become a leader in cybersecurity innovations.
One reason is its technical colleges, which the governor said are second to none. Those schools can be tapped to design programs to meet the needs of industry, but it will take collaboration, McMaster said.
Last year, the governor said, $27 million was put into technical colleges to train students for high demand jobs. He's asking for another $124 million, he said.
The state also has contributed $25 million to cybersecurity initiatives in north Augusta, Georgia and the University of South Carolina Aiken, McMaster said. He offered encouragement to the Beaufort initiative. Those "who want to destroy" us are sharpening their knives, McMaster said, "And somebody's got to stop them and that somebody is in this room."
The two-day summit, which concludes Tuesday, is being hosted by the local cybercenter in collaboration with the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Notre Dame University, the Technical College of the Lowcountry.
Nick Mesenburg, who is responsible for F-35 fighter jet support and pilot training at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, said threats from nation states to exploit the country's technology and intelligence is "constant and evolving." In the South Coast Cyber Center, Beaufort, Mesenburg said, has an opportunity to create a "shining new star" for South Carolina and the nation.
Mayor Stephen Murray said the center is a not-for-profit whose mission is to connect groups and people to build a talent pipeline in cybersecurity and defense jobs, and the summit was another way to bring people together. On the front end, Murray said, the mission involves educating kids and adults who want to get into the field. On the back end, it involves providing opportunities for entrepreneurs.
What was "super cool" about the summit, Murray said, was "it represents all sectors," from the military to education to local government.
© 2022 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.