Texas has made cybersecurity a strategic priority. The question now is whether the state can translate that commitment into real operational capability.

A recent convening at the University of Texas at Austin's Strauss Center brought together senior technology leaders from state and local governments, higher education institutions, and the Texas Cyber Command (TXCC) to discuss their priorities and how to work together to strengthen cyber resilience across the state. The message was clear: The challenge is no longer convincing organizations that cyber threats are real. It is ensuring they have the people, resources, partnerships, and support needed to respond effectively. 

The event, co-hosted by the Strauss Center, ON2IT Cybersecurity, and the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law, explored how to connect smaller public entities to shared services, coordinate incident response, and build trusted, human-to-human relationships. Participants also examined the growing role of artificial intelligence, the importance of workforce development, and how stronger collaboration among state government, higher education, and the private sector can help close Texas's cybersecurity capability gap.

As the Texas Cyber Command begins implementing its mission, the state has a unique opportunity to build a national model for cyber resilience that emphasizes coordination, shared capabilities, and practical support over isolated efforts.

The report offers a roadmap for how Texas can move from cybersecurity awareness to lasting resilience, while providing lessons for other state governments.