Feds Step Up Cybersecurity Support for State Governments

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is establishing a network of the fifty states to enhance cybersecurity efforts. Each state will have one federal cybersecurity coordinator assigned. The coordinators will be tasked with providing resources to the state organizations to develop plans, and lead workshops with state and other local partners to increase cybersecurity best practice awareness.

Coordinators will also assist states with completing assessments required by the Homeland Security Grant Program to obtain federal funds for enhancing cybersecurity infrastructure. These funds were provided by the Infrastructure Bill recently signed into law. There will also be communication amongst the coordinators to share perspectives gained from working with the individual states to better monitor for unique solutions and consistency across the program. It will be especially helpful in understanding the challenges that the states face when it comes to combating cybersecurity risks, especially ransomware, a persistent threat to critical infrastructure across the country.

CISA has budgeted $5 million for the state cybersecurity coordinators program. As of today, 37 coordinators have been hired with another five going through selection processing. The eight states where CISA is still seeking candidates through USAJobs.gov are Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee.

More information can be found at: https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2022/01/feds-step-cybersecurity-support-state-governments/360323/