Christie signs cybersecurity executive order

HAMILTON, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie has sign an executive order aimed at better protecting the state from cybersecurity threats.

The order, signed Wednesday afternoon at the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness in Hamilton, establishes the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell.

The new organization is intended to improve information sharing between the public and private sectors and serve as a hub for analyzing potential threats and coordinating with federal law enforcement officials. It will also provide support and recommend best practices.

Christie, who is considering a run for the Republican nomination for president, has stressed the threat of cyberterrorism to national security.

He said Wednesday that local governments also need to be prepared, especially in "digitally-dense" states like New Jersey.

"Our interconnectivity is one of our state's strengths, but it's also increasingly a threat for those who would seek to disrupt or harm people in our state," he said in a statement. "Through the NJCCIC, we're working to protect our citizens' privacy and ensure the public and private sector are prepared to manage their cyber risks."
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