By Stephen Cox

Not all superheroes wear suits.

A hero to you may be someone's neighbor from down the street, or it may be a firefighter or police officer who you see often in your area. In fact, someone you may not even know is working hard for you right now to keep you and your loved ones safe.

While we know help will come if we call 911, Hoosiers from all works of life continue to work behind the scenes to protect the state from cyberattacks, volunteering their time and expertise to make Indiana stronger. The members of the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity (IECC) have propelled Indiana to be a leader in cybersecurity, and today -- National Superhero Day -- it seems appropriate we recognize the work of these selfless men and women and how it has contributed to our safety every day.

For the past four years, the IECC has worked to insulate government, businesses, and individuals from cyberattacks by identifying gaps and implementing strategies. And these are not just government employees paid by the state to do the job. The council is comprised of 35 members and more than 250 advisory members who donate their time and energy to support this effort, and in the process protecting you and me.

Since my appointment as Executive Director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, I joined many of the IECC members in immersing myself in not only the threat of cyberattacks, but also the safeguards necessary to prevent them from occurring. This is complex work that has required the members to set time aside -- above and beyond their everyday careers -- to work hard, learn quickly, and produce results related to the Indiana Cybersecurity Strategic Plan. It is an impressive level of commitment that has had an enormous impact on our state.

With all this progress made, cybersecurity remains a growing threat to the public and private sector. Our efforts as a state will have to grow alongside this threat. The IECC and its diverse makeup is built for this challenge, and Indiana continues to make cybersecurity a priority across the board. The state has some of the smartest minds and top talent working toward a safer future.

If you were to learn more about the makeup of the IECC, you will see that "behind the masks" are dedicated individuals who are great Hoosiers. I am thankful to have them in our corner.