As many of you may now know, the Department of Homeland Security is making a significant investment to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, state, local and territorial governments.
Last week, the federal government advanced further, announcing the appropriation of $1 billion pool of grant money for state, local and territorial governments to defend themselves against cyber intruders. Municipalities, state departments of education, state university systems and local town-level governments, typically lack the necessary resources to fully combat cybercrime and are prime targets for hackers in extortion plots to steal money and exfiltrate data. The new funding, is intended to assist state, local and territorial governments to enact plans and programs tailored to their own needs.
This $1 billion will be allocated over four years, with $185 million reserved for 2022 with more allocated during each of the next three years during what is called the performance period.
Now, here is the key. This program helps the eligible entities address cybersecurity risks and threats for systems owned or operated on behalf of state,…
