DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Alejandra Lopez
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
Briefing by CyberSecurity San Antonio on the organization’s progress and plans for FY2020.
SUMMARY:
Amanda Keammerer, Director for CyberSecurity San Antonio, will provide a briefing on CyberSecurity San Antonio’s efforts and accomplishments in FY2019, and the organization’s plans for FY2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Established in 2015, CyberSecurity San Antonio (CSSA) is a collaborative, public-private program created to accelerate the growth of San Antonio’s cybersecurity industry. The program was implemented following a two-year study of San Antonio’s cybersecurity industry, and the development of a San Antonio-specific cybersecurity growth strategy. The program is led by Amanda Keammerer through the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce’s Cybersecurity Industry Council, with funding support from the Chamber, the City, and private sector contributors.
With the second highest concentration of cybersecurity professionals in the country, CSSA is uniquely positioned to engage with and impact everyone from students to business and military leaders in the cybersecurity industry. San Antonio is home to the 24th Air Force and 25th Air Force divisions, several leading cybersecurity businesses and private industry assets, five National Centers for Academic Excellence in cybersecurity, and a wealth of education programs, public-private partnerships, and competitive resources from UTSA’s National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC) and the Cyber Innovation and Research Consortium (CIRC). San Antonio also proudly has the largest number of registered teams for the national CyberPatriot competition.
Since its inception in 2015, the program has grown the Chamber’s Cybersecurity Industry Council to over 350 members, who represent interests and entities from private industry, government, military, and intelligence communities, as well as academic institutions, training providers, startups, and entrepreneurial organizations. CSSA supports the growth and development of the local cybersecurity industry by convening local industry members, connecting local industry to resources and opportunities, and supporting ongoing branding efforts. CSSA has also organized four industry focus areas - Global Engagement, Military & Government Affairs, Innovation & Economic Development, and Talent & Workforce Development - to further its mission and support industry growth, all of which are led by members of the Industry Council.
CSSA has worked diligently to further industry and public sector collaboration, local relationships, and growth opportunities, and is planning to expand its support and impact as it moves into its fifth year of operations in FY2020.
ISSUE:
CSSA is San Antonio’s community facing industry liaison, and is charged with connecting, convening, and managing San Antonio’s brand as “Cyber City USA”.
Collaborating with partners, such as the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF), Geekdom, Tech Bloc, and others, CSSA works to further develop San Antonio’s cybersecurity environment, by solidifying the city’s place as a key destination for cybersecurity projects and initiatives. Additionally, because of San Antonio’s large concentration of cybersecurity professionals and interest, CSSA has worked to leverage that advantage into promoting K-12 STEM focused projects and workforce development initiatives.
CSSA’s framework also aligns with the community’s current economic development strategy, Forefront SA, by supporting special initiatives, business recruitment opportunities, as well as retention and expansion efforts, entrepreneurial development, workforce development initiatives, and ongoing collaboration with key partners. In addition, as the SAEDF undertakes a regional planning initiative and the Forefront SA framework adjusts and adapts to the changing economic development landscape, CSSA will improve its integration with and support for the broader community and industry efforts led by SAEDF.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
This briefing is for information purposes only and no action is necessary.