CISA: $374.9 Million in Grants for State and Local Cybersecurity Enhancement

CISA: $374.9 Million in Grants for State and Local Cybersecurity Enhancement

Many local governments confront a critical challenge: securing their digital landscapes amidst resource constraints. Rapidly evolving cyber threats leave vulnerable systems susceptible. As these threats escalate in complexity, the chasm between risk exposure and readiness widens, necessitating prompt action and strategic investment in cybersecurity resilience. Through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, governments now have a pivotal opportunity to fortify their defenses and protect their communities.

Department of Homeland Security’s has announced the availability of an additional $379 million as part of Year 2 of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). This initiative underscores the Department of Homeland Security’s unwavering commitment and collaboration to empower our state, local, and territorial (SLT) government partners in fortifying their cyber capabilities.

Established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program allocates $1 billion in funding to SLT partners over four years. In its inaugural year, the program disbursed $185 million in August 2022. Through its partnership with FEMA, CISA plays a pivotal role in raising awareness of localized cyber threats nationwide and fostering alliances to mitigate cyber risks across the SLT community.

SLCGP maintains consistent program objectives while progressively enhancing capabilities throughout the four-year duration. In the previous fiscal year, states and territories concentrated on developing and implementing appropriate governance structures, refining cybersecurity plans, and bolstering incident response capabilities to ensure operational continuity. This year’s focal points encompass:

• Assessing current cybersecurity postures and pinpointing areas for enhancement through ongoing testing, evaluation, and structured assessments.
• Equipping organizational personnel with requisite cybersecurity training.
• Implementing security measures commensurate with identified risks.

A comprehensive overview of this year’s program changes is available in the FY23 SLCGP fact sheet, key changes document, and FAQs.

Furthermore, CISA remains accessible year-round to collaborate with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners across the nation. With 10 regions aligned with FEMA’s structure, CISA deploys cybersecurity advisors and technical experts to offer guidance, technical support, training, and more. For further details or to locate a regional contact, visit the State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Government page on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) website: https://www.cisa.gov/state-and-local-cybersecurity-grant-program

Program Funding:

In September 2022, the DHS introduced the SLCGP, allocating $1 billion over four years to enhance cybersecurity across state, local, and territorial governments.

Program Objectives:

The program aids these entities in managing cyber risks while encouraging the formulation and implementation of robust cybersecurity strategies.

Administrative Oversight:

CISA collaborates with FEMA to oversee the program, providing expertise and managing fund allocation through State Administrative Agencies.

Funding Mandates:

Recipients are required to develop Cybersecurity Plans, conduct assessments, and adopt best practices to fortify their cyber defenses.

Comprehensive Cybersecurity Training for SLCGP Compliance

Enterprise Training Solutions (ETS) delivers targeted training to meet SLCGP requirements, enhancing cybersecurity readiness across the public sector. With live virtual, private, and self-paced eLearning options ETS delivers customizable training programs addressing specific cybersecurity risks and threats, tailored to the needs of public sector information systems and cyber certification test prep. Learn more here: https://enterprisetraining.com/training-solutions/it-government-certification-prep/