Texas Cybersecurity: A look at the future
This is a preview of our Texas 2036 newsletter recapping what you need to know about Texas’ efforts to improve cybersecurity. To receive this weekly look at our work, sign up here.
Texas Faces Growing Cyberthreats. Are We Ready?
With Texas at the forefront of technology and innovation, it’s no surprise that connectivity has put our state at greater risk.
Today, cybercriminals are targeting our water systems, hospitals, power grids, businesses and government agencies at an alarming rate.
That’s why this session, Gov. Greg Abbott and state lawmakers have been discussing how to strategically approach these key cybersecurity challenges.
Cyberattacks: These Crimes Impacted Texans
Here are five recent high-profile incidents that illustrate why cyber should be monitored:
- TXTAG: In February 2025, the Texas Department of Transportation warned customers of texting scams targeting TXTag drivers claiming to have outstanding toll charges.
- Local Government: In January 2025, a cyberattack on the Matagorda County government’s computer system led the county government to issue a disaster declaration.
- Health Care: A September 2024 data breach at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso compromised personal information for 1.4 million people.
- Water: In January 2024, cyberattacks on municipal water systems in Hale Center and Muleshoe underscored the vulnerabilities of public utilities to this form of attack.
- Oil and gas: In 2021, hackers attacked the Colonial Pipeline in Houston with ransomware, causing a days-long shutdown to the major fuel supply line. That breach led to a spike in gasoline prices, panic buying and localized fuel shortages.
Cybercrimes are on the Rise. So are the Costs.
Texas Cybercrime Victims and Financial Losses (2019-2023)
(Chart source: 2023 report from FBI Internet Crime)
- Texans lost over $1 billion to cybercrime in 2023 alone.
- AI-driven cyberattacks increased by 135% in 2024.
- 80% of bank security executives fear AI-powered cybercriminals are outpacing their ability to defend against attacks.
- Cybercrime victims 60 years and older accounted for more cybercrime victim complaints and financial losses than any other age group in 2023. With nearly 4.3 million residents aged 65 and over in Texas, this age group could be most at risk to cyber attacks.
Steps Texas Has Taken to Address Cybersecurity
The Texas Department of Information Resources has directed Texas’ cybersecurity efforts since the early 2010s. Here are some noteworthy efforts:
- Texas Cybersecurity Council: The agency began work in the early 2010s and works to strengthen the state’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
- Texas Cybersecurity Framework: DIR has worked with governmental entities and the private sector to formulate a framework to help organizations manage cybersecurity risks.
- Chief Information Security Officer: In 2023, state lawmakers created this position to improve agency data infrastructure and ensure state-held data is protected and private. Tony Sauerhoff currently serves in this role.
🔍 Want to be cyber aware? DIR also publishes a list of best practices for all Texans to understand what steps they can take to protect personal information.
What’s Next for Texas Cybersecurity
Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott announced in his State of the State Address that cybersecurity is a high-profile priority for the Legislature this year — identifying his interest in the creation of a Texas Cyber Command as an emergency legislative item.
This week, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Sen. Tan Parker filed legislation in the House (HB 150) and the Senate (SB 2176) to establish the Texas Cyber Command as a component institution at the University of Texas System.
What to know: So far, legislators have filed over 20 bills centering around AI and data modernization for state and local agencies and more.
“Our state’s growing population and economy depend on a robust and efficient digital infrastructure to deliver services to Texans while protecting state-held data against cyberattacks.”
– Rahul Sreenivasan, Director of Government Performance and Fiscal Policy
📺 Watch: Rahul testify before the Texas Legislature on the need to support funding for the Department of Information Resources.
Texas Cyber Command: What It Would Do
According to the governor’s office, the Texas Cyber Command would create a robust strategy for the state of Texas to:
✅ Anticipate and detect potential cyber threats
✅ Promote cybersecurity awareness, professional training and other workforce-oriented measures
✅ Defend against, respond effectively to and mitigate against the effects of cyberattacks when they occur, working across the state and with relevant partners
✅ Provide subject matter expertise, forensic analysis, and other support to conduct post-attack investigations and recovery efforts
Cyber Command would also work in partnership and collaborate with all state universities and regional Security Operation Centers, as well as local, state and federal agencies to strengthen the state’s cybersecurity mission.
(Source: UT San Antonio Website)
Where would it be located? According to HB 150/SB 2176, the Texas Cyber Command would be headquartered at UT-San Antonio where it would draw on the already robust cybersecurity and IT infrastructure built up in the Alamo City over decades.
UT-San Antonio is already prominent in the cybersecurity field through its first-of-its-kind School of Data Science and the soon-to-be-launched College of AI, Cyber and Computing.
The San Antonio Express-News wrote last month that the Alamo City has more than 17,000 people working in those fields, making it the No. 2 city in the nation for cybersecurity experts, just behind Washington, D.C.
Does the U.S. Have Its Own Cyber Command? Yes.
(Photo source: U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew McGovern [U.S. Cyber Command])
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Maryland, USCYBERCOM helps meet threats to the nation’s defense systems and to critical infrastructure.
- Offensive Cyber Operations: Disrupted ISIS’s online operations in 2016.
- Election Security: Conducted operations to protect U.S. elections, including actions against Russian interference.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborated with companies like Microsoft to disrupt cybercriminal networks.
- Defending Critical Infrastructure: Conducted “hunt forward” missions in allied countries to expose malware threats before they reached U.S. networks.
Both Cyber Commands Agree: A unified, collaborative approach is the best defense at the national, state and individual agency and business level. Working together, we’re stronger and better protected.
A Look at Texas’ Cyber Workforce
Texas, like the rest of the nation, faces a significant global cybersecurity talent shortage, with projections showing a need for millions more cybersecurity professionals in the coming years to fill open positions around the world.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 33% increase in cyber-related jobs between 2023 and 2033.
Texas Cybersecurity Ed and Training Programs
Cybersecurity Supply/Demand Heat Map
There are nearly 40,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in Texas in 2025. At this time, Texas has 103,752 total employed cybersecurity workers. (Source: www.cyberseek.org/heatmap)
To address the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, community colleges and universities have been expanding their educational offerings. In addition to the cybersecurity program at UTSA, here are three other examples from across the state:
- Austin Community College (ACC): Austin Community College offers BAS and AAS degrees in Cybersecurity, equipping students with technical skills in network security, ethical hacking and threat prevention.
- Texas A&M University’s Cybersecurity Center: The center provides education, research and workforce development in cybersecurity.
- Angelo State University’s Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC): The center offers cybersecurity services to local, regional and state entities, aiming to enhance the region’s cybersecurity posture.
We want to hear from you.
Is cybersecurity a priority for you this legislative session?
Let us know your thoughts.