Massachusetts

Funding from the Massachusetts Department of Education will help the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Springfield Union Station to provide professional opportunities and hands-on training to students.

In a succinct farewell address, Gov. Charlie Baker offered his thank you as he rattled off his administration’s accomplishments over the last eight years, including bridging the digital divide in Western Massachusetts.

Jason Snyder is no newcomer to government, having served previously as the chief technology officer under former Gov. Deval Patrick. The appointment comes a day before the retirement of current Secretary Curtis Wood.

Gov. Charlie Baker has created the Cyber Incident Response Team in a Dec. 14 executive order. The group will be comprised of members from state government public safety and cybersecurity organizations.

After serving the commonwealth in various capacities for decades, Massachusetts CIO Curtis Wood has announced his forthcoming departure from his role as a new governor is set to take the reins.

In legal matters like eviction appeals, people often defend themselves. But this can be a confusing process for a layperson. A technology lab and court collaboration brings a new tool aimed at making the process more accessible.

State and local efforts to expand residential broadband to 53 un- and underserved communities have now brought full service to 44 of them and partial services to the others. The state also announced several new initiatives.

The $50 million in ARPA funding, which is exclusively for digital equity activities, is meant to help address those issues. The funding has to be fully committed by the end of 2024 and fully spent by the end of 2026.

The moves aim to bolster higher ed cyber training, narrow workforce gaps and open access to services for municipalities, small businesses and nonprofits. Two campuses will open SOCs and cyber ranges in 2023 and 2024.

A consortium of Western Massachusetts colleges and universities has received a $1.46 million state grant to establish a security operations center and cyber range at Springfield's Union Station.

A new program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus will make certain courses and faculty available to high school students, and Fitchburg State University has a new degree program in digital media innovation.

As commonwealth CISO and chief risk officer, Anthony O’Neill leads Massachusetts’ cybersecurity efforts, which are framed within the broader context of risk management.

The state plans to open cyber ranges and security operations centers at state colleges and universities. Students would get hands-on training and a career start, while the operations would provide localities with cyber analysis.

The construction of the new facility, a 90,000-square-foot building, was prompted by the growth in the computer and information sciences program at the University of Massachusetts over the last few years.

The mother of a 17-year-old student at a statewide online public school is suing the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association over its policy barring students in virtual schools from interscholastic athletics.

The editorial board of The Republican praises Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s $15 million investment in workforce training grants for community colleges, arguing these programs are imperative for the state's economy.

The state Legislature in Massachusetts is expected to extend the provision that allows remote access and participation within municipal meetings, with the provision set to expire this coming Friday.