Big Idea
- State Representative Shawnna Bolick introduces bills aimed at combatting security data breaches
- One bill prohibits ransomware payment
- Another requires that the Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to be informed of data security breaches
- Bolick says that Arizona should be recognized as a top leader in this country
- Read more...
It’s time to fight data security breaches and ransomware attacks
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Shawnna LM Bolick introduced two new bills today aimed at combatting security data breaches and ransomware attacks made against state entities.
“As more data security breaches and ransomware attacks are on the rise, we must ensure the bad actors are not receiving compensation for these breaches,” said Representative Bolick. “I have sponsored two bills to prohibit ransomware payment and to notify the Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security of data security breaches, so there can be a coordinated effort to push back against this malfeasance.”
HB 2145 bars the state or any political subdivision of the state, such as a county, city, town or school district from making ransomware payments to secure the release of data and requires the immediate notification of such an attack to the Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. HB 2146 requires the Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security shall be provided notification of a security system breach.
“The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack, neither should the State of Arizona. Paying a ransom doesn’t even guarantee an organization will get its data back – there have been cases in which organizations never received a decryption key after paying the ransom. Further, paying a ransom incentivizes and emboldens cyber criminals to target more organizations. Worse, ransom payments may be used to fund other illicit activity. With the additional policies and reporting requirements in place, Arizona can be recognized as a top leader in this country when it comes to responding and shutting down this criminal activity.”
Shawnna LM Bolick is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 20 in Maricopa County.
