Cybersecurity has long been the turf of tech engineers and IT managers. However, recent developments indicate that key policy makers are beginning to focus on the field as well.

In his State of the Union address earlier this month, President Barack Obama became the first president to mention cybersecurity as a priority for the country. While Obama’s mention has been the most high profile and public statement on the subject, it is just one of many others in the field of politics.

New York Attorney General outlines plan for broad legislation
New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman recently announced that he plans to propose a bill in Albany that would restructure and fortify the state’s current bill on data center security. New York does not currently have a law in place that mandates these types of measures for consumer information.

“With some of the largest ever data breaches occurring in just the last year, it’s long past time we updated our data security laws and expanded protections for consumers,” Schneiderman said. “We must also remind ourselves that companies can be victims and that those who take responsible steps to safeguard customer data deserve recognition and protection.”

A federal cybersecurity bill could be in the offing
FCW reported that representatives of Congress seem to have found common ground on a federal bill that would establish national standards for cybersecurity. At this time, there are 47 state laws that oversee data breaches.

“A single requirement across the states would give companies some confidence that their methods are sound in handling electronic data, an inherently interstate activity,” said Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, according to the news outlet.

The next step could be in biometrics
As these politicians dig deeper into the many layers of cybersecurity, they will likely begin to talk publicly about biometric data centers for information storage. These high-tech security systems call for unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints that can safeguard valuable company information. This breed of data center ensures that only the right people, not hackers, will get their hands on important, private data.

Research shows that entities with biometric data centers can take the next step with their storage security measures by implementing dual access systems. This technology requires separate identification from two people simultaneously. When it comes to biometrics, the dual access system is the most surefire way to ensure comprehensive access control.