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Webinar Series regarding SB 820 and HB 3834 (86th)


DATE: August 15 2019
SUBJECT: Webinar Series regarding SB 820 and HB 3834 (86th)
CATEGORY: Cybersecurity Continued Education
NEXT STEPS: Share with interested staff

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) would like to inform school districts of an upcoming opportunity to participate in a series of webinars being conducted by TEA to provide school districts with guidance regarding the requirements of SB 820 and HB 3834 of the 86th Regular Legislative Session. (Open-enrollment charter schools are not required to comply with these two bills.)

SB 820, which adds Section 11.175 to the Texas Education Code (TEC), contains four major components for compliance:

  • each school district shall adopt a cybersecurity policy to secure the district infrastructure against cyber-attacks, determine cybersecurity risk and implement mitigation planning;
  • each superintendent shall designate a cybersecurity coordinator as a liaison between the district and TEA on cybersecurity matters;
  • the district’s cybersecurity coordinator shall report to TEA any cyber-attack or incident against the district’s infrastructure which constitutes a breach of security as defined in the statute; and
  • the district’s cybersecurity coordinator shall provide notice to a parent of an enrolled student in the district of the cyber-attack which required a report to be submitted to TEA.

    •  

    Under HB 3834, which amends Texas Government Code, Chapter 2054, Subchapter N-1, school districts are required to provide an annual cybersecurity training program which has been certified by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to all employees who have access to a computer or database. Verification of completion of the cybersecurity training program shall be reported to DIR. Periodic audits are required to ensure compliance. DIR is currently in the process of certifying cybersecurity training programs.

    The webinars, led by TEA's Chief Information Security Officer, Frosty Walker, in collaboration with the Data Security Advisory Committee (DSAC) will provide insight into these bills. A recording of these webinars and other educational cybersecurity resources can be accessed at the Cybersecurity Tips and Tools section of the

    Texas Gateway

    portal.

    Data Security Advisory Committee

    The Data Security Advisory Committee (DSAC), consisting of members of school districts and Education Service Centers (ESCs), provides guidance to Texas education communities on maximizing collaboration and communication regarding information security issues and resources. The DSAC has reviewed and recommended the Cybersecurity Tips and Tools, which have been shared on the portal.

    Date/Time Cybersecurity Tips and Tools – SB 820 and HB 3834 (86th) Impact and Requirements to Texas School Districts
    Wednesday, September 11, 2019

    1:00 pm –2:00 pm CDT

    Webinar Registration

    https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6410737030503214860

    		 The September 11th webinar provides information on SB 820 and HB 3834 and their potential impacts for Texas school districts. The presentation will include planned processes to address the requirements established by the bills’ amendments to the Texas Education Code and Government Code.

    Superintendents, cybersecurity coordinators and representatives interested in cybersecurity issues and resources, which can be utilized within the education communities, are encouraged to attend.

     

    Date/Time Cybersecurity Tips and Tools – Simplifying the Texas Cybersecurity

    Framework
    Wednesday, October 2, 2019

    1:00 pm –2:00 pm CDT

    Webinar Registration

    https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8734738474448037131

    		 The October 2nd webinar will cover the Texas Cybersecurity Framework (TCF) and its primary function. This presentation provides information on the fundamental categories of Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover, which are incorporated into the TCF. The TCF meets the requirements for the cybersecurity policy in SB 820. Understanding the categories and the objectives for each can be beneficial to your end users and assist your organization in complying with SB 820.

    Cybersecurity coordinators and representatives interested in information security issues and resources, which can be utilized within the education communities, are encouraged to attend.

     

     

    Date/Time Cybersecurity Tips and Tools – Basic Incident Response
    Wednesday, November 6, 2019

    1:00 pm –2:00 pm CST

    Webinar Registration

    https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6955238278520376331

    		 The November 6th webinar provides information regarding Basic Incident Response and the impact of a cybersecurity incident for your organization. This presentation will cover fundamental steps your organization will need to perform when a cyber event becomes an incident. Understanding the Basic Incident Response fundamentals with help cybersecurity coordinators being compliant with SB 820 requirements in reporting a breach of system security

    Cybersecurity coordinators and representatives interested in information security issues and resources, which can be utilized within the education communities, are encouraged to attend.

     

    Frosty Walker, CISSP
    Chief Information Security Officer
    Texas Education Agency
    Frosty.Walker@tea.texas.gov
    (512) 463-5095

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