How Emergency Response Agencies Prepare for and Respond to a Cyber Incident
This workshop was designed to help participants understand how their emergency response organizations should prepare for and respond to a cyber incident. The workshop consisted of instructional components, but, more importantly, it provided participants with an opportunity to apply learned concepts in an interactive and practical way. The workshop was facilitated by experienced cyber practitioners who guided participants through a hypothetical cyber incident, highlighting the necessary steps for effective organizational preparedness and response capabilities. The workshop offered a whole-of-organization approach to cyber incident preparedness and response. The goal of the workshop aimed to equip participants with knowledge and tools to help their organizations well beyond the workshop itself. Participants received worksheets and other takeaway materials so that they may continue their cyber incident preparedness and response efforts going forward.
Meet our workshop facilitators!
Markus Rauschecker, JD is the Cybersecurity Program Director at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS) and an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. In his role, Markus focuses on legal and policy issues in cybersecurity. He works with government agencies and the private sector to increase their understanding of the many legal and policy issues they face in cybersecurity. Through CHHS, Markus supports clients with planning, training, and exercises to enable them to better prepare and respond to cyber incidents.Ben Yelin, JD, is the Program Director for Public Policy
& External Affairs at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS), as well as an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Ben has been with CHHS since 2013. In his work at CHHS, Ben has consulted with state and local government entities on policies and best practices in preparing for, and responding to, natural and man-made disasters. Additionally, Ben in 2021 served as the co-chair of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council’s ad-hoc committee on State and Local Cybersecurity, and co-drafted a comprehensive report on Maryland’s cybersecurity posture, and a list of recommendations for policy changes. The report was submitted to the Maryland General Assembly and the Attorney General’s Office. Ben also co-designed academic courses, in coordination with the National Security Agency, for a publicly available nationwide virtual repository. The courses concerned law and policy issues in cybersecurity, national security, and data privacy. Ben is also the co-host of the Caveat podcast, part of the Cyberwire network, a weekly show on topics related to surveillance, cybersecurity, and digital privacy.
& External Affairs at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS), as well as an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Ben has been with CHHS since 2013. In his work at CHHS, Ben has consulted with state and local government entities on policies and best practices in preparing for, and responding to, natural and man-made disasters. Additionally, Ben in 2021 served as the co-chair of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council’s ad-hoc committee on State and Local Cybersecurity, and co-drafted a comprehensive report on Maryland’s cybersecurity posture, and a list of recommendations for policy changes. The report was submitted to the Maryland General Assembly and the Attorney General’s Office. Ben also co-designed academic courses, in coordination with the National Security Agency, for a publicly available nationwide virtual repository. The courses concerned law and policy issues in cybersecurity, national security, and data privacy. Ben is also the co-host of the Caveat podcast, part of the Cyberwire network, a weekly show on topics related to surveillance, cybersecurity, and digital privacy.Netta Squires JD, MSL, CEM, is a cybersecurity, 
emergency management, and legal practitioner and educator. Netta works as a Senior Law and Policy Analyst for the University of Maryland Baltimore Carey School of Law, Center for Health and Homeland Security. As a specialist in emergency preparedness and response, Netta is contracted out to Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS), where she specializes in emergency planning, training, and exercising for the County and the National Capital Region, and serves as a subject matter expert on cybersecurity planning. Netta is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus in the Cybersecurity Technology graduate program, and at the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management at FrederickCommunity College in the Emergency Management and Criminal Justice Programs. She is a Certified EmergencyManager by the International Association of Emergency Management. Netta strongly believes in bolstering cybersecurity preparedness through the integration of emergency management concepts, practices, and tools. As a practitioner, she emphasizes bridging the gap between IT and cybersecurity policymakers and is a proponent of teaching these concepts and methods early on in Emergency Management and Cybersecurity academic programs. Netta co-led writing Montgomery County’s Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan and leads the Cybersecurity consequence management planning for the office. In addition, she has worked on legislative efforts to secure cybersecurity measures for election security.
emergency management, and legal practitioner and educator. Netta works as a Senior Law and Policy Analyst for the University of Maryland Baltimore Carey School of Law, Center for Health and Homeland Security. As a specialist in emergency preparedness and response, Netta is contracted out to Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS), where she specializes in emergency planning, training, and exercising for the County and the National Capital Region, and serves as a subject matter expert on cybersecurity planning. Netta is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus in the Cybersecurity Technology graduate program, and at the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management at FrederickCommunity College in the Emergency Management and Criminal Justice Programs. She is a Certified EmergencyManager by the International Association of Emergency Management. Netta strongly believes in bolstering cybersecurity preparedness through the integration of emergency management concepts, practices, and tools. As a practitioner, she emphasizes bridging the gap between IT and cybersecurity policymakers and is a proponent of teaching these concepts and methods early on in Emergency Management and Cybersecurity academic programs. Netta co-led writing Montgomery County’s Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan and leads the Cybersecurity consequence management planning for the office. In addition, she has worked on legislative efforts to secure cybersecurity measures for election security.