The $2.5 million grant program kicks off as worries rise about digital threats amid the war with Iran.
An announcement earlier this week from Gov. Kathy Hochul did not mention the war.
But it was clear about the stakes involved, calling out the need for better protection “against increasingly sophisticated and dangerous cyber threats while strengthening services that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day.”
Last summer, Hochul announced her intention of building better cyber protections for state water and wastewater operations, and this new announcement advances that goal and offers more specifics.
The new announcement highlights such tasks as mandatory cybersecurity training for certified operators along with cybersecurity incident reporting requirements.
“Larger drinking water systems” must designate a “cybersecurity lead role,” according to the statement, while the state envisions using “risk-based tiered standards to protect critical operations and sensitive information.”
Agencies receiving grants through the $2.5 million program can get up to $50,000 for cybersecurity assessments and $100,000 for cybersecurity upgrades.
“Effective cybersecurity is not a one-time fix; it is a sustained partnership between the state and our local operators,” New York State Acting Chief Cyber Officer Michaela Lee said in the statement. “By providing both the regulatory road map and the $2.5 million SECURE grant, we are ensuring that water and wastewater utilities have the guidance and resources they need to remain resilient in an increasingly digital world.”
