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Special Announcement Regarding the Launch of the Public Health Cybersecurity Readiness Survey

Dear Respected Colleagues,

On behalf of the Joint Public Health Cybersecurity Task Group, the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) and the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Joint Cyber Working Group, we are delighted to announce the initiation of the Public Health Cybersecurity Readiness Survey in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin. This vital initiative aims to assess the cybersecurity preparedness of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) public health agencies, their readiness to address cyber threats, and their specific needs for support. This voluntary research survey, developed through a collaboration between public and private sectors, presents a unique opportunity to evaluate the current state of readiness within this essential subsector and to identify avenues for enhancing its resilience against evolving cyber threats.

Participants can anticipate that the anonymous survey will require approximately 15 minutes to complete. The insights obtained from a diverse array of public health officials, decision-makers, practitioners, and information technology leaders across SLTT communities are crucial in informing our collective strategy for cybersecurity. The findings will inform recommendations for grant funding and shape significant policies within the public health sector.

Understanding that many SLTT communities may not have previously engaged with initiatives of this nature, we are reaching out to encourage widespread participation of the public health community. Your assistance in promoting this survey to public health leaders and practitioners at all levels will be instrumental in ensuring that their perspective is included, enabling us to capture a comprehensive overview of the public health cybersecurity environment.

We seek your support to further share this survey with your contacts in the public health community. The survey will remain open until Monday, December 2, 2024. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions that you may have.

Co-Chairs of the Joint Public Health Cybersecurity Task Group

Leanne H. Field, Ph.D.
Executive Committee Member,
Chair, Public Health Subsector, Health and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council, Cybersecurity Working Group,
Clinical Professor and Founding Director,
Public Health Program,
The University of Texas at Austin
(512) 422-2474, field@austin.utexas.edu

Bob Bastani
Senior Cybersecurity Advisor,
Critical Infrastructure Protection,
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response,
U.S. Department of Health, and Human Services
(202) 691-2080, Robert.Bastani@hhs.gov