Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, along with Lt. Governor Jon Husted, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing cybersecurity measures across local governments within the state. This effort is facilitated through the introduction of the CyberOhio Local Government Grant Program, which allocates $7 million to help municipalities enhance their cyber defenses.
Boosting Cyber Resilience in Local Government
Governor DeWine emphasized the urgency and necessity of this initiative, stating, “Today we are taking another crucial step to ensuring our local government partners are protected against cyber threats from around the world. These threats are constantly changing, and we must help Ohio stay ahead.” This program marks a significant commitment by the state government to ensure that local entities are not only prepared but resilient against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Lt. Governor Husted highlighted the critical need for robust cybersecurity as technology becomes more embedded in government operations. He noted, “Technology is infused into almost all government services because it improves the way we serve our customers and saves money, but that also means we need to protect those services from bad actors. It’s vital that local government partners across Ohio have the resources they need to protect our citizens and show companies across the country that Ohio is a safe and secure environment to bring their business.”
Eligibility and Implementation
The grant funding is accessible for a variety of cybersecurity measures including endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication, secure mail, vulnerability management, and migration to a dot gov internet domain. Further, it supports services from renowned organizations such as the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Center for Internet Security. Local governments in Ohio are encouraged to apply starting July 22, 2024, by visiting cyberohio.gov.
Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor, explained the strategic importance of this funding: “This grant funding is another tool in our collective defense toolbox. Our local government partners’ cybersecurity is key to protecting Ohio. This grant funding will aid our partners in anticipating attacks and evolving quickly to protect critical government systems and citizen data.”
Collaborative Efforts and Funding Sources
The development of this grant program was a collaborative effort involving the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio Adjutant General’s Office, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, the Ohio Department of Higher Education, local government entities, public sector partners, and cybersecurity experts. This wide-ranging collaboration underscores the comprehensive approach Ohio is taking to safeguard its cyber infrastructure.
The funding for the $7 million cybersecurity grant comes from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), which is supported by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This financial backing is part of a broader federal initiative to enhance cybersecurity defenses across state and local levels.
A Longstanding Commitment to Cybersecurity
Governor DeWine created CyberOhio during his tenure as Ohio’s attorney general. The program has been a cornerstone in coordinating the state’s cybersecurity efforts across all state executive branch agencies. It plays a crucial role in streamlining collaborations with various state offices, local governments, academic institutions, and critical infrastructure partners to secure Ohio’s information technology infrastructure and sensitive data.
This new grant initiative is a continuation of Ohio’s proactive measures to ensure that its public sector entities remain at the forefront of cybersecurity, ready to face the challenges of the digital age.
