Data Security in New Hampshire

Identifying Targets, Vulnerabilities, and Best Practices
PRS Briefs
PRS Policy Brief 1617-12
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Tara
Burchmore
Ashley
DuPuis
Jay
Raju
Rachel
Scholz-Bright
Jeremy
Washam

As the world has become increasingly digital, New Hampshire has stored more information online. Many of the New Hampshire state databases contain sensitive information about individuals, businesses, and property within the state. This report seeks to answer the question posed by Representative Neal Kurk of the New Hampshire House Finance Committee: How secure is the data stored by the New Hampshire government? By analyzing the current state of data security nationwide, cataloguing the assets and vulnerabilities of key data-storing state agencies, and engaging in comparative analysis of state data security policy, we aim to understand better the current risks and present viable policy alternatives—if necessary—to mitigate those risks.