State Governments Court Cybersecurity Industry

Marketing via headlines

As data dragnets and information breaches dominate the news, states are scrambling to cash in on a rapidly expanding business sector by offering tax incentives to firms that protect sensitive information from outside attacks.

While ordinary Americans wonder if their private phone calls and emails are being monitored by their government, businesses are concerned that proprietary and sensitive business information could be stolen by competitors — at home and from overseas. State and local governments also are working to tighten safeguards to prevent outsiders from hacking into their information.

"It's the new global threat, not only to our state and nation, but to the whole world," said Mark A. Vulcan, program manager at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.