The MIX survey shows that "there is a huge opportunity to improve collaborative cybersecurity efforts among local, state and federal government," said Janette Pell, CIO of California's San Luis Obispo County, in a statement.

Among the major recommendations of the CISOs surveyed was a call for a closer working relationship between the DHS and state and local governments, compared with the more "detached" relationship that currently exists, Moore said.

Also crucial is a cybersecurity assessment component that should be added to the State Homeland Security Assessment and Strategy processes conducted by the DHS, she said. Such an assessment is important to ensure that state and local governments pay adequate attention to securing cyberspace, she said.

Resources such as multistate information sharing and analysis centers and state Infragards also need to be better used to promote DHS programs and to develop and promulgate best practices and tools for cybersecurity, she said.

The DHS' role as a direct provider of alerting services also is duplicative and not very timely or effective, Moore said. While most state and local cybersecurity organizations are reasonably well-equipped to handle automated threats such as worms and viruses, there is a need for more information and specialized analysis for directed attacks and insider threats, she said.