"US to Award $1B to State, Local, and Territorial Governments to Improve Cyber Resilience"
The US government will provide $1 billion in grants to assist State, Local, and Territorial (SLT) governments in addressing cybersecurity risks, strengthening the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, and ensuring cyber resilience in the face of persistent cyber threats. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated in the announcement that applicants have 60 days to apply for a grant that can be used to fund new or existing cybersecurity programs. When it comes to defending against cyber threats, particularly ransomware attacks, SLT governments face numerous challenges, one of which is a lack of resources. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the funds can be used to develop and implement a suitable cybersecurity plan, purchase equipment and software, and hire personnel, but not for building physical facilities or paying cyberattackers a ransom, or purchasing cybersecurity insurance. Grantees are not required to use a specific cybersecurity framework, but their plan must include how they intend to implement multi-factor authentication, enhanced logging, data encryption, and other security measures. This article continues to discuss the US awarding $1 billion to SLT governments to improve cyber resiliency.