Utah has always been a frontier state. Our pioneers built communities in harsh terrain through grit, faith and ingenuity. But today, we find ourselves on another frontier — a digital one.
Today, the networks that power our hospitals, schools, businesses and national security apparatus increasingly run through Utah’s technology corridor. Unfortunately, those networks are under relentless attack. That comes as no surprise considering Utah is home to Silicon Slopes, a Western epicenter for innovation in software and cloud computing.
Vast data centers line our Utah valleys, storing and moving information fueling the global economy. We are even home to a high-value NSA data facility, along with Hill Air Force Base, Dugway Proving Ground, and the Utah Test and Training Range, all of which play critical roles in America’s defense.
Because there are so many prime targets here, ransomware has already become a significant problem.
A Utah medical clinic network was hit with ransomware that threatened the personal data of more than 300,000 patients. The University of Utah, one of our state’s top research institutions, was attacked and forced to pay nearly half a million dollars to prevent disclosure of stolen records. Local governments here have also faced probes and attempted breaches of municipal systems. When I served as attorney general, my team and I worked constantly with government agencies at all levels, NGOs and private sector companies to combat online data threats to the privacy and security of Utah.
As Utahns, we cannot face this challenge piecemeal. We need a coordinated strategy.
I see three priorities.
While the Utah Legislature is one of the best in America, we must take even more proactive steps, such as requiring state agencies, local governments and critical infrastructure providers to buy only from vetted, trusted vendors. Having these standards here in Utah would not only protect our people but also send a clear message that we will neither risk nor tolerate Beijing gaining access to our networks.
Second, we must defend our local communities.
Utah cities, counties and school districts do not have the resources to fend off professional hackers — not like federal anti-hacking assets or private sector facilities I’ve used like the Microsoft or Walmart Cyber Security Centers. Stronger alliances with state and federal agencies along with trusted private actors to provide intelligence, training and resources for cyber defense are desperately needed.
Finally, we must be better prepared for unexpected catastrophes.
Utah knows the importance of self-reliance and emergency preparedness — tenets The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only teaches but also prioritizes. As a result, many homes have a cache of food and supplies in case of disaster.
But in many ways, a digital disaster can be even more devastating. We need to treat secure communications and backup systems like we do other emergency resources. We need to ensure that in the case of a ransomware hit or a shut-off by a foreign adversary, Utah’s essential services remain defended and functional.
The federal government has a role to play here too. That is why I welcomed a recent White House decision to approve the Hewlett Packard Enterprise–Juniper Networks telecommunications merger. By allowing these two companies to join forces, as requested by the U.S. intelligence community, these American companies can provide a complete tech stack and better compete with foreign-government-controlled digital infrastructure providers that the Department of Defense deems problematic, such as Huawei, while keeping the digital world safer for Utah, America and our allies.
Some state attorneys general are criticizing this merger under a misguided “big is always bad” philosophy. The reality, though, is that U.S.-based Cisco would still be larger than a combined HPE-Juniper, while foreign players like Huawei would dwarf them both. So, in the absence of competitive concerns, the safety benefits alone strongly favor this deal. With all due respect to my former colleagues, their opposition to this merger will hurt, not help, the network security of their states and mine. This merger creates another layer of protection against the existential threat of compromised networks while maintaining an appropriately competitive market environment.
The same spirit that helped early Utahns build irrigation ditches and railroads in harsh environments must guide us now. If we support strong American companies, set higher security standards and invest even more in fortifying our systems, Utah can show the rest of the country the way to a safer, more secure, tech-centered century.
Utah has a history of pioneering and thriving even in the most dangerous conditions. Let’s see that tradition continue.