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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The head of South Carolina's information technology division says lawmakers should consider hiring two people to oversee agencies' cyber security.

Jim Earley of the Division of State Information Technology told senators Wednesday that statewide oversight of computer policies could be separated into two. While a chief information security officer would be responsible for protecting data, a statewide privacy officer would define exactly what should be protected.

Earley notes a national group of states' chief IT officers recommends the splitting of duties.

Earley and state Inspector General Patrick Maley testified Wednesday before a Senate panel that's looking into the hacking of millions of taxpayers' personal data. Stolen data includes unencrypted Social Security and bank account numbers.

Both advocate centralizing responsibility of computer security, but letting agencies handle operations.