- Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Media Contact
Christopher Smith, Director of Legislative and External Affairs
Amherst — On October 1st, the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (TSS) hosted its third annual Cyber351 forum at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, bringing together attendees from public-sector organizations across Massachusetts to share resources and best practices on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital accessibility, and emerging technology.
Held on October 1, and coinciding with the first day of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, this year’s forum, titled “Building Digital Resilience: Securing the Future with AI, Cybersecurity, and Accessible Technology,” marked continued growth for the annual event. Attendance has increased from 70 participants at the inaugural Cyber351 forum in 2024 to over 200 attendees this year.
“It is clear today that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and the growth of Cyber351 reflects the strong commitment across Massachusetts to working together to protect the public services our residents rely on,” said Technology Services and Security Secretary Jason Snyder. Forums like today’s help ensure our state and local partners have the knowledge, resources, and relationships they need to build a more resilient Massachusetts.”
Hosted at the UMass Amherst Lincoln Campus Center, the forum began with welcoming remarks from Thomas Bernardin, UMass Amherst Associate Chief Information Officer for AI and Executive Director of the Center for Data Science and AI. Michelle Vaughn, TSS Assistant Secretary of Strategy and Planning and Chief of Staff, delivered opening remarks, with comments from Secretary Snyder. UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes also joined attendees for an executive briefing.
Morning sessions focused on practical steps public-sector organizations can take to improve their cyber resilience. City of Lowell Deputy CIO John Meyers discussed identifying and securing internet-facing assets, while TSS’ Office of Municipal and School Technology highlighted the state’s Cybersecurity Health Check Program alongside municipal and school participants who shared their experiences using the program to identify risks and strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
The program also addressed the rapidly changing technology and threat landscape. Kerry Tomlinson, Editor in Chief of Ampyx News, and Clyde Hunt, Municipal Cybersecurity Consultant with Bloomberg Associates, presented on the rise of AI-generated deepfakes and strategies for identifying and defending against them.
TSS cybersecurity leaders from the state’s Security Operations Center and Enterprise Risk Management team led discussions on cyber incident reporting and the importance of carefully evaluating managed service providers and other third-party vendors.
“Cyber351 is about giving municipal and school technology leaders practical information they can bring back to their organizations, while creating opportunities to learn from colleagues facing many of the same challenges,” said Susan Noyes, Director of the Office of Municipal and School Technology. “Seeing this forum grow so significantly in the past three years shows the value of bringing this community together and strengthening the partnerships that help communities prepare for and respond to today’s IT challenges.”
The afternoon program featured a video examining the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company’s (MMWEC) response to a 2025 ransomware attack, followed by breakout sessions focused on critical infrastructure threats, digital accessibility, and networking and collaboration. The critical infrastructure session brought together experts from the Massachusetts National Guard and Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Fusion Center with representatives from MMWEC and the private sector to discuss current threats, preparedness, and resources available to organizations responsible for critical infrastructure.
A separate session led by TSS’ digital accessibility team provided attendees with guidance, tools, and best practices for creating accessible digital services and complying with state and federal accessibility requirements. Attendees also had an opportunity to connect with representatives from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
The Cyber351 forum was established in 2024 to bring together municipal technology leaders and state cybersecurity experts to strengthen collaboration, share resources, and improve preparedness for cybersecurity incidents. The inaugural event at UMass Lowell drew more than 70 attendees representing 27 municipal organizations. Now in its third year, Cyber351 has expanded its programming to address the emerging technologies, threats, and digital services shaping the work of public-sector organizations across Massachusetts.
###
Media Contact
