By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner has unveiled a new cybersecurity plan for the state.

Rauner said Illinois is behind the times when it comes to technology and security, and notes that one of the biggest risks right now is cyber attacks.

“Because we are entrusted with billions of confidential records of the people of Illinois, we have sensitive confidential information on the people of our state with regard to health care with financial information, with personal information and it’s not as safe as it really needs to be,” Rauner said.

The plan includes modernizing the state’s computer infrastructure, and defending against the very real threat of cyber attacks said state Department of Innovation and Technology’s Kirk Lonbom.

“One single identity theft could cost one of our citizens anywhere between $1,300 and $7,000 and the risk to the state in terms of breach response, breach costs and breach notification are things that we have to protect,” Lonbom said.

Lonbom said they will be working to prevent attacks and raise awareness among end users on what they can do to keep information secure.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza is criticizing state money being spent on this when other bills aren’t being paid, but Rauner said cybersecurity needs to be a priority even in tough fiscal times.