The National Guard Bureau is deploying teams to help state governors address cases of malicious cyber activity including ransomware, Fifth Domain reported Tuesday. The force’s domestic mission against ransomware has attained a new level of significance due to the series of attacks last year, the report noted.
Gen. Paul Nakasone, who leads U.S. Cyber Command and is a 2019 Wash100 Award winner, said in September that Louisiana, Texas and Montana have experienced ransomware attacks last year.
Two ransomware attacks hit information technology systems in Texas within that period. These incidents involved background checks in Jackson County and networks across 22 counties.
USCYBERCOM, the National Guard and other federal organizations receive ransomware information from states to observe increased situational awareness, according to officials.