Let's get together

Among the major recommendations of the CISOs who responded to the NASCIO survey was a call for a closer working relationship between the DHS and state and local governments, compared with the more "detached" relationship that now exists, Moore said.

The CISOs also called for the DHS to add a cybersecurity assessment component to the State Homeland Security Assessment and Strategy Proc-ess that the agency conducts, according to Moore, who added that such an assessment is important to ensuring that state and local governments pay enough attention to online security.

Resources such as the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and regional Infragard chapters -- which are information-sharing partnerships between the FBI and IT professionals -- also need to be better used to promote DHS programs and to develop and promulgate cybersecurity best practices, tools and methodologies, according to Moore.

"I wouldn't say the DHS has dropped the ball as much as it has neglected to make [cybersecurity] a priority," she said.