It’s like a convergence of the biggest cybersecurity stories in the last four years: Ex-CISA chief Chris Krebs and ex-Facebook security boss Alex Stamos are now advising software supplier SolarWinds on how to recover from a sweeping Russian hack. The two men also formed a cybersecurity consultancy, KSG. We can envision the memes already: "KSG vs. SVR." Sean Lyngaas has context.

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Automated tool sped up response time

A pilot project testing an automated data feed of potential network compromises cut down the time needed to take defensive measures from days to a few minutes in the state and local governments that participated in the program. Through the Indicators of Compromise Automation Pilot — conducted by the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and a Johns Hopkins University research lab, with the backing of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — participating agencies saw their response times following the detection of potential malicious activity drop from several days to just a few minutes, according to the Center for Internet Security, the nonprofit that operates the MS-ISAC. Benjamin Freed has the latest.

Pandemic was 'stress test' for data office, says Kansas City official

The value of data was made clear last year as cities fought to slow the spread of the coronavirus, forcing offices like Kansas City, Missouri’s, DataKC to endure a 10-month “stress test” of its ability to analyze and visualize data for residents and policymakers. The result, said Kate Bender, Kansas City’s deputy performance officer, was a resounding confirmation of the good that data analysis can do for a city’s economy and public health. Ryan Johnston broke it down.

'Mental health first aid' training coming to North Carolina college

Students at College of the Albemarle, a community college in the northeast corner of North Carolina, will now be able to get a certification in mental health first aid, the university announced Thursday, as the need for mental health experts has grown during the pandemic, especially among students who are isolated at home. Beginning in the spring 2021 semester, students in the university’s human services technology program will be able to enroll in an eight-hour course that will teach them how to look for signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to initiate difficult conversations, assess situations and help to refer people in need to a health professional. Betsy Foresman has more.

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