CenturyLink has named Chris Betz as its chief security officer.

Betz previously led security for Apple products and development for parts of Apple operating systems. He also held senior roles in information security, security operations and response, and security intelligence at Microsoft, CBS Corp., and the National Security Agency (NSA).

In his new role, Betz leads CenturyLink’s information and IT risk and compliance functions, physical security and product security development teams, as well as oversees government programs and anti-fraud, according to his LinkedIn profile.

 

“Customers rely on CenturyLink to help them protect their homes, their businesses, and global critical infrastructure,” says Aamir Hussain, executive vice president and chief technology officer for CenturyLink, in a statement. “Chris brings a wealth of knowledge informed by the right mix of experience, from his service in the United States Air Force to overseeing product security for one of the world’s foremost brands.”

CenturyLink on Tuesday, also announced an expanded relationship with the state of Utah that makes the operator’s cloud solutions and managed services available to state and local government agencies as part of the NASPO (National Association of State Procurement Officials) ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Master Agreement.

“With government agencies increasingly hosting highly sensitive information in the cloud today, maintaining a secure and reliable environment is more critical than ever,” notes Gray Sigler, director of State, Local Government and Education (SLED) at CenturyLink, in a press release. “Through this NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Master Agreement, state and local government organizations can utilize CenturyLink’s innovative, secure, and reliable cloud infrastructure for a wide variety of cloud solutions.”

Through the agreement, CenturyLink says it can provide Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).