#173: Governor Doug Ducey on How Arizona Became a National Leader in Cybersecurity

Former Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona (2015-2023), Current CEO of Citizens for Free Enterprise

• How Arizona reduced phishing vulnerability from 14% to 4% and improved its cybersecurity score from 550 to 775 through innovative training programs
• Why transitioning from a data center to Google G-Suite and cloud technologies modernized Arizona's digital infrastructure
• How the $10 million "Whole of State" implementation provides cybersecurity tools to local governments
• The transformation of Arizona's cybersecurity team from 16 dedicated employees to 35,000 state workers engaged in security
• How bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to government can drive cultural change and innovation

Timestamps

(2:00) Introduction: Governor Doug Ducey's background and current role at Citizens for Free Enterprise

(4:45) Prioritizing cybersecurity as homeland security and taking a proactive approach to protect Arizona

(7:56) Strengthening the "human firewall" through monthly cybersecurity awareness training and phishing simulations

(12:15) Measuring the success of cybersecurity initiatives and the importance of driving out fear to encourage open communication

(14:08) Bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to the role of governor and implementing the Arizona Management System

(18:26) Overcoming cultural challenges when launching new processes and driving change in state government

(23:38) Building strong relationships with state agencies and collaborating to modernize government services

(26:22) Transforming Arizona's Department of Child Services from the nation's most broken agency to a national model

(28:03) Lasting legacy: Whole of State initiative and the Cyber Command Center

(29:19) The potential of mobile device management to save taxpayer money and improve efficiency

(30:21) Rapid-fire round: Favorite Cold Stone flavor, sports teams, and comparing legendary athletes