Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico announced on Friday that she’d appointed Annie Winterfield Manriquez, to be the senior advisor for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. The new role will include making standards and processes to communicate about incidents while developing procedures to respond. 

In a news release, Grisham said “A robust cybersecurity framework has never been more important, and we are already seeing more sophisticated cyberattacks being carried out in New Mexico and the rest of the country”, and added, “It is critical that the state continue to take action to make sure we are as prepared and protected as possible, and Annie is the leader the state needs.”

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She also expressed that fear of a Russian cyberattack had prompted the move. Her press release details “As the current geopolitical situation in Ukraine devolves and state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure in the U.S. grow more sophisticated, the White House and federal agencies responsible for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection have called for states to take immediate steps to strengthen their defences against potentially crippling Russian cyberattacks”. 

Manriquez was previously with MITRE Corp. It manages federally funded research as well as development programs, even in the cybersecurity field. The news release outlines that New Mexico’s new cybersecurity advisor “led the Intelligence Analysis and Strategy Department and worked with agencies across the Executive Branch to overhaul and modernize multi-billion-dollar programs, including cyber systems”. 

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Notably, President Joe Biden also expressed concerns about Russia mounting a cyber-attack, asking businesses to protect themselves accordingly. He believes they may be a response to the sanctions on the nation due to President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. 

Anne Neuberger, Biden administration’s top cybersecurity advisor detailed how there’s a marked increase in preparatory activity which comes ahead of a cyberattack, and ensured “We are not looking for a conflict with Russia. If Russia initiates a cyberattack against the United States, we will respond”.