Funding a Complete of State Strategy to your Neighborhood

Have you ever heard concerning the State and Native Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP)? It’s a part of the federal authorities’s broader effort to reinforce the cybersecurity capabilities of state and native governments. The nascent “complete of state” strategy to cybersecurity that’s changing into a key subject in authorities is being fueled by this system’s $1 Billion/4-years of “free cash” from the Federal authorities.

The funds are incentivizing states to supply cybersecurity companies to native governments fairly than the same old methodology (passing-through money). At current, not less than thirty states are offering cybersecurity companies to native and Tribal governments with extra states anticipated to announce the rollout of complete of state cybersecurity.

As you think about methods to leverage SLCGP grants for a complete of state strategy, there are 5 issues I counsel Cisco account managers and companions ought to concentrate on.

1. Understanding SLCGP funding: Cisco clients, account managers, and companions ought to be aware of how the SLCGP allocates funding to states and the way states distribute funds or companies to native governments. The “complete of state” strategy goals to make sure that cybersecurity funding isn’t just allotted to states for state use; as a substitute, not less than 80% of funds should profit native governments and rural communities. Native authorities cost-share or matching funds start at 10% in 12 months one and rises to 40% in 12 months 4. SLCGP funds should complement current cybersecurity expenditures and should by no means supplant or substitute permitted and budgeted expenditures.
2. States choose the distributors and cybersecurity companies offered to native governments: Cisco account managers and companions ought to talk to state clients why Cisco services should be obtainable to native and rural governments. If a state creates a listing of SLCGP-funded services for native governments, Cisco clients profit most if Cisco services are on the record. States will not be publishing the names of native governments awarded subgrants, nor particulars of cybersecurity companies offered to named native governments.
3. Buyer Cybersecurity Planning and Technique: Improvement of complete cybersecurity plans that embody threat assessments, useful resource allocation, and incident response methods is an eligible expense for state and native governments. Cisco account managers and companions ought to be ready to contribute to those plans by providing their experience in cybersecurity and by understanding the particular wants and challenges confronted by their public sector shoppers.
4. Compliance and Greatest Practices: Recipients of SLCGP funds will probably be required to stick to specified cybersecurity finest practices and requirements. Cisco account managers and companions have to be well-versed in these necessities, which can embody frameworks like NIST (Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Know-how), to make sure that the options they’re providing are compliant and will be funded by the grant.
5. Instructional and Workforce Improvement: A portion of the grants could also be allotted to cybersecurity schooling of the client’s workforce. Cisco account managers and companions ought to concentrate on Cisco’s personal coaching and certification packages, such because the Cisco Networking Academy, which will be built-in into broader instructional initiatives.

As you analysis funding for complete of state and different wants, it’s additionally essential to remain up to date on the most recent bulletins by state governments of state grant packages, aggressive subgrants, and utility deadlines. For essentially the most present info, Cisco account managers and companions ought to attain out to your Cisco Public Funding Advisor. They’ll be glad to assist reply any questions you’ll have about complete of state or different funding alternatives.

Extra sources for complete of state and public funding

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