Aiming to enhance the state’s resilience against cyber threats, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) today announced $22,663,470 in cybersecurity grant funding to protect local governments, school districts, special districts, and federally recognized tribes from cybersecurity risks.
In coordination with the California Department of Technology (CDT) and the California Government Operations Agency (GovOps), Cal OES will disperse the grant to 113 awardees including:
- 16 state agencies will receive $3,578,443
- 32 rural local/tribal governments will receive $6,009,711
- 65 non-rural local/tribal governments will receive $13,075,316
“These resources will support state, local and tribal government entities to strengthen their defenses and protect the people of California and their data against cyber threats.”
Nancy Ward, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
The State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program comes through funding available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The grant programs provide critical funding to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems and improve the security of critical infrastructure and resilience of the services these entities provide to their communities.
“Our local and state partners can now rely on this critical funding to help protect their IT infrastructure. With it, the state is continuing its commitment to keeping our local communities safe, while making sure they know we are reliable partners,” said Amy Tong, Secretary of the California Government Operations Agency.
The grant funding supports implementing cyber governance and planning, assessing and evaluating systems and capabilities, mitigating prioritized issues, and enhancing California’s cybersecurity workforce.
“Partnership and coordination are critical to our safety as cyber threats continue to evolve,” said State Chief Information Officer and Department of Technology Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins. “This funding for tribes, cities, counties, and state entities will only enhance our preparedness and vigilance in safeguarding ourselves from cyber threats.”
Enhancing California’s cyber resilience
California has taken steps to increase California’s cybersecurity resiliency. This includes the development of CAL-SECURE, California’s first multi-year cybersecurity roadmap which strengthens the state’s cybersecurity measures and prioritizes the resources to manage the most significant cyber risks and safeguard those services.
Since its establishment in 2018, the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC), a Cal OES program, has responded to cyber threats and attacks against critical infrastructure or computer networks in the state. The Cal-CSIC strengthens public and private sector networks through recommendations and advisories of cyber threats. The Cal-CSIC also oversees the California Cybersecurity Task Force, an advisory body with subject matter experts from federal, state, local, and tribal government, private industry, academia, and law enforcement in California. This body plays a key role in Cal-CSIC’s improvement of California’s cyber defense posture.
Governor Newsom, in partnership with the legislature, has advanced $260 million to bolster the state’s ability to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. The FY21-22 state budget also included $38.8 million ongoing to mature the state’s overall security posture, improve statewide information security initiatives, analyze cyber threat intelligence and mitigate potential threats.