As our nation works in the direction of a typical purpose of strengthening its essential infrastructure by deploying superior cybersecurity, federal grants are one of many sources accessible to state and native governments, Tribal nations, and electrical utilities to fund their planning and deployment priorities. In 2022, the federal authorities (Division of Homeland Safety) offered $1 billion in cybersecurity grants to state and native governments (and territories) by way of the State and Native Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). SLCGP funds cybersecurity planning, coaching, and mitigation initiatives, akin to implementing safety applied sciences, hiring cybersecurity professionals, and conducting vulnerability assessments. The primary spherical of SLCGP allocations to states in FY 2022, $185 million, has been distributed and states are approved to spend. Congress additionally appropriated $400 million for FY 23, $300 million for FY 2024, and $100 million for FY 2025. The deadline for States to use for FY 23 grant is October 6, 2023. A complete of $374,981,324 is out there for FY23 to 56 states and territories.
Use of funds
Software program, service, and gear prices are allowable if supposed for use to deal with cybersecurity dangers and threats. States could spend their portion of the funds on ransomware protections, knowledge backups, fundamental cybersecurity protections, threat administration frameworks in addition to coaching and consciousness. Along with eligible gear prices, funds could also be used to buy upkeep contracts or agreements, guarantee protection, licenses, and person charges in assist of a system or gear.
Eligibility
All the 56 states and territories are eligible for this system although Florida didn’t take part in FY 23. States are required to move down 80% of complete funding to native and tribal governments which is able to then apply on to their state’s Cybersecurity Planning Committee for funding.
Cybersecurity initiatives included
- Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Implementing enhanced logging
- Knowledge encryption for knowledge at relaxation and in transit
- Finish use of unsupported/end-of-life software program and {hardware} which might be accessible from the web
- Prohibiting the usage of recognized/fastened/default passwords and credentials
- Guaranteeing the power to reconstitute programs (backups).
A Cybersecurity Danger Evaluation is a prerequisite for a SLCGP grant as a result of threat evaluation remediation priorities are addressed in every entity’s  grant utility. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company (CISA) offers threat evaluation instruments and providers for free of charge and with out dedication to sharing outcomes.
Along with the above funding, The Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP) is a separate $30 million grant for Tribal nations. Below TCGP, federally acknowledged Tribal nations are the one eligible entities and don’t apply for funding by way of states. Particulars and utility dates haven’t but been introduced by the Division of Homeland Safety.
How will federal funds allotted to states be distributed to native governments and Tribal Nations?
SLCGP grants are funded from the Division of Homeland Safety on to State Administrative Companies (SAAs), which are sometimes the businesses answerable for emergency providers and knowledge know-how. SAAs are the decision-makers on how 80% of the grants can be subgranted to native and rural governments. States could subgrant to native governments each cybersecurity services offered by or procured by way of the state.
State cybersecurity planning, advisory teams, and advisory conferences
Each state applicant of SLGCP funds is required to develop a statewide plan and a statewide advisory group. The advisory teams will even be influential within the collection of services procured by state and native governments.
Though a lot of the cybersecurity funding dialog is going on on the federal and state degree, native authorities and Tribal nation info safety leaders are additionally creating and implementing cybersecurity plans and convening official and advisory conferences.
Grants for rural and municipal electrical utilities cybersecurity
Cisco clients will quickly be apply and compete for $250 million in funding from the Rural and Municipal Utility Superior Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Help Program (RMUC). This funding is over 5 years to assist utilities enhance incident response, improve their workforce cybersecurity abilities, and strengthen their programs, belongings, and processes. The RMUC Program will provide technical and monetary assist to assist municipal and rural utilities improve operational capabilities, deploy cyber platforms, and improve their entry to cybersecurity assist providers. The Division of Power accomplished the Request for Info course of and a Discover of Funding Alternative is forthcoming at a date to be introduced.
Time to interact
Yr one among 4 years of grants for cybersecurity planning and mitigation is already within the fingers of states and can be subgranted to native governments, together with rural native governments and Tribal nations. In order that they’re already busy getting ready or competing for grants for planning, coaching, deployment, and operations. FY 2023 grant functions from states and territories are due October 6, 2023.
That’s why now could be the time to behave. Our public funding staff at Cisco is right here to assist state, native, and Tribal Nation governments perceive their ache factors and their plans. We encourage you to turn out to be an energetic a part of the end result dialog and interact your Cisco Public Funding Advisor for assist. The applying course of could be cumbersome, however we on the Cisco Public Funding Workplace are glad to assist.
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