Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently appointed Democrat Arthur H. House the state’s first cybersecurity czar. House moves into the role after serving as the chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for the past four years.

In that role, House has been involved in combating digital threats to the critical utilities of electricity, natural gas and water. “As technology expands into every segment of our lives and creates greater convenience and ease, it also brings a new set of challenges and risks, and that includes essential functions such as our public utility systems,” Malloy said. “This position of chief cybersecurity risk officer will serve as a leader for the state who will coordinate the work responsible for enhancing Connecticut’s cybersecurity posture, and safeguarding our cyber systems and critical infrastructure in an ever-evolving threat landscape.”

The appointment was prompted by increased computer hacking in the public and private sectors and is believed to be the first appointment at the state level. Connecticut continues to be a leader in combatting cyber-crime, including a cyber unit in the Attorney General’s Office, which also investigates data breaches.

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