State awards $9M cybersecurity grants to 161 counties, school districts

ALBANY | Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced $9 million from the federal State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program will support the delivery of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) hard tokens to 161 counties, municipalities, school districts and public authorities throughout the state. MFA requires two or more proofs of identity, making it more difficult for cyberattackers to gain access to private accounts. "Cyber threats are everywhere and with the important role technology plays in our day-to-day lives, it is crucial that organizations have the resources they need to keep themselves safe," Gov. Hochul said. "These tokens will go a long way in supporting our partners and making our state safer overall. We will not wait for an attack to expose vulnerabilities – we are acting now to strengthen our defenses across the state." Funding for this initiative is made through the Combined FY2022 and FY2023 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, a federal program jointly administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency aimed at strengthening cybersecurity practices and the resilience of state, local, and territorial governments. The state Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), the New York State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Planning Committee, and the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services coordinated the initiative. ITS will administer the program. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O'Leary said, "As cyber threats continue to grow, it's critical that organizations at the county and local levels have the resources they need to keep their IT infrastructure safe. Multi-factor authentication is a foundational element of strong cyber defenses, and thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, we have been able to utilize this federal funding to deliver this critical security measure to 161 partners across the state." Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, "This cybersecurity investment is a major step forward in protecting New York. As cyber threats continue to grow, it is critical that New Yorkers are prepared and that organizations across our state, including school districts and public authorities, have the resources they need to protect themselves. I am grateful for Governor Hochul's work to keep New Yorkers safe, and I will continue fighting to bring home resources to strengthen our security." In The Sun's North Country readership area, the following will receive multi-factor authentication hard tokens: Clinton County: Beekmantown Central School District, Northeastern Clinton Central School, Northern Adirondack Central School District, Clinton County and the Village of Champlain Essex County: Keene Central School, Moriah Central School District

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State awards $9M cybersecurity grants to 161 counties, school districts

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