Simon confident in state’s election cyber defenses

Sec. of State visited Pipestone last week to share his office’s business resources with Pipestone Chamber members

Minnesota Sec. of State Steve Simon said he felt good about Minnesota’s defenses for the upcoming 2018 election, despite his office not receiving access to more than $6 million that Minnesota received from the federal government for enhanced cyber security for Minnesota elections.
Simon shared his thoughts while in Pipestone at the Hiawatha Lodge on Tuesday, May 29, to discuss with Pipestone Chamber members the economic and business reports offered through his office. Approximately 15 Pipestone chamber members attended the event.
Following the presentation, Simon took a few moments to discuss cyber defense with the Pipestone County Star. About $6 million was allocated to the state from the federal government for election cyber security but it requires legislative action to release the funds. That action was included in the omnibus supplemental budget bill that was recently vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton.
“It’s really a big disappointment and it didn’t have to happen,” Simon said. “This was an issue that had widespread, total agreement.”
In the 2016 election Minnesota was one of 21 states that were targeted by forces affiliated with the Russian government, Simon said.
“The good news is, nobody got in,” Simon said.
However, he described cyber security as staying one step ahead of the bad guys, which can be difficult when they are funded by foreign governments with deep pockets.
“There are always risks,” he said. “And I fear that failure to get this money to us has magnified the risk. That said, I feel good about the defenses we’ve put up. We’re working very closely with the Department of Homeland Security. They sent a team to our office for an entire week to give us suggestions and recommendations.”
His office has also received recommendations from a private consultant regarding cyber security for the upcoming 2018 election.
Enhancing cyber security for state elections is a four-year project, Simon said, that will now not begin until at least 2019. Had they received access to the funding for this year, Simon said he would have used $1.5 million to modernize and secure the statewide voter registration database originally built in 2004.
Earlier while speaking with Pipestone business leaders, Simon shared that the economic reports available from his office featured six different regions in the state. His office also offers a tool added in December 2016 called “Business Snapshot.” When businesses file for registration or renewal, they have the option of answering a five-question survey: what type of business is it; does the business owner self-identify as a veteran, woman, community of color, disability or immigrant business owner; how many full time employees the business has; yearly revenue; and whether the business is full-time or part-time.
The data Simon’s office collects from the survey is then available for purchase. For all information across the state it costs $100. If someone wanted partial information, such as women-owned businesses in a region, or all businesses in 10 zip codes, the cost is $35.
Simon, a Democrat, first took office in 2014. He is running for re-election this year against Republican candidate John Howe.