U.S. Sen. Gary Peters touts importance of cybersecurity at UM-Flint visit

FLINT, MI -- U.S. Sen. Gary Peters was trained by cybersecurity experts at the University of Michigan-Flint Monday morning as he promotes legislation that would require critical infrastructure businesses to report cyber attacks in an attempt to increase cybersecurity.

The senator participated in a training exercise Feb. 14 used by students to hack a virtual city called “Alphaville” at the Northbank Center on UM-Flint’s campus in downtown Flint.

The user-friendly program is used to practice breaking basic online defenses in the classroom.

Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, along with three UM-Flint students, participated in the exercise following a discussion with UM-Flint Chancellor Deba Dutta and other university leaders.

The legislation Peters introduced last week, called the “Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act,” currently sits on the Senate floor.

It would allow the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to track cybersecurity attacks across the country, combat ongoing attacks and prepare for potential future attacks.

Businesses like banks, electric grids, water networks and transportation systems would be required to report to the CISA within 72 hours if they are experiencing a cyberattack, and within 24 hours if they make a ransomware payment, according to a news release from the senator’s office.

The legislation would also update current federal government cybersecurity laws to increase collaboration between federal agencies.

As chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters thought it was important to come to UM-Flint to learn about the education programs available to the public in this industry.

Many critical infrastructure companies choose not to share information about cyberattacks to the federal government because they are afraid of the response from the public, Peters said. This legislation would force those businesses to report attacks.

“In order to truly protect ourselves from these cyberattacks, we need highly trained professionals,” Peters said. “I am just so proud of the work being done here at the University of Michigan-Flint to train generations of cybersecurity professionals.”

UM-Flint Chancellor Deba Dutta announced that the university is adding a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and an adult degree completion plan focused on cybersecurity in the Fall 2022 semester.