The Public Sector Show by TechTables #173: Exclusive Interview with the 23rd Governor of Arizona, Doug Ducey
I recently had the incredible opportunity to sit down with former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey for an exclusive interview on The Public Sector Show by TechTables. Governor Ducey served as Arizona's 23rd governor from 2015 to 2023, during which time he transformed the state into a national leader in cybersecurity and technology modernization.
In this rare and candid conversation, Governor Ducey shares his firsthand experience prioritizing cybersecurity as Homeland Security. He discusses the innovative strategies his administration implemented to strengthen the "human firewall" and dramatically reduce the state's vulnerability to cyber threats.
But, in case you aren't watching the video, I wanted to pass along a couple of the main points.
Cybersecurity is Homeland Security
Under Governor Ducey's leadership, Arizona prioritized cybersecurity as a critical component of homeland security. The state invested resources to improve cyber resiliency, recognizing that protecting citizens' data is just as important as physical security.
Strengthening the "Human Firewall"
Governor Ducey recognized that 90% of cyber breaches were due to human error. To combat this, he focused on strengthening the "human firewall" by requiring monthly cybersecurity awareness training for state employees using realistic phishing simulations. This hands-on defensive training approach, similar to how sports teams practice, enabled Arizona to dramatically reduce the percentage of employees falling for phishing attempts from 14% to 4%.
Modernizing State Government through Technology Innovation
Arizona took a cloud-first approach, moving from outdated on-prem data centers to Google's secure cloud platform. The state also established a Cyber Command Center to monitor and defend against constant cyber threats in real-time. In his final year, Governor Ducey passed the Whole of State initiative, investing $10 million to provide cybersecurity tools to local governments, protecting them from rising cyberattacks.
Executive Leadership Strategies
In this exclusive interview, Governor Ducey shares his perspective on executive leadership strategies, such as the Arizona Management System for operating government like a lean business. He discusses the importance of metrics, strategic planning, selecting the right people, and driving cultural change when working to improve an organization.
Lessons from an Entrepreneurial Background
Governor Ducey also shares lessons from his entrepreneurial background, including scaling Cold Stone Creamery, which shaped his approach to expanding the ice cream franchise from one store to over 1,400. His experience in the private sector influenced his leadership style and strategies for driving innovation and efficiency in state government.
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🔖 Timestamps
(2:00) Introduction: Governor Doug Ducey's background and current role at Citizens for Free Enterprise
(4:45) Prioritizing cybersecurity as homeland security and taking a proactive approach to protect Arizona
(7:56) Strengthening the "human firewall" through monthly cybersecurity awareness training and phishing simulations
(12:15) Measuring the success of cybersecurity initiatives and the importance of driving out fear to encourage open communication
(14:08) Bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to the role of governor and implementing the Arizona Management System
(18:26) Overcoming cultural challenges when launching new processes and driving change in state government
(23:38) Building strong relationships with state agencies and collaborating to modernize government services
(26:22) Transforming Arizona's Department of Child Services from the nation's most broken agency to a national model
(28:03) Lasting legacy: Whole of State initiative and the Cyber Command Center
(29:19) The potential of mobile device management to save taxpayer money and improve efficiency
(30:21) Rapid-fire round: Favorite Cold Stone flavor, sports teams, and comparing legendary athletes
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