Funding a Complete of State Strategy to your Group

Have you ever heard in regards to 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 “entire of state” method to cybersecurity that’s changing into a key matter 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 providers to native governments fairly than the standard technique (passing-through money). At current, at the least thirty states are offering cybersecurity providers to native and Tribal governments with extra states anticipated to announce the rollout of entire of state cybersecurity.

As you take into account easy methods to leverage SLCGP grants for an entire of state method, there are 5 issues I counsel Cisco account managers and companions ought to pay attention to.

1. Understanding SLCGP funding: Cisco prospects, account managers, and companions ought to be conversant in how the SLCGP allocates funding to states and the way states distribute funds or providers to native governments. The “entire of state” method goals to make sure that cybersecurity funding is not only allotted to states for state use; as an alternative, at the least 80% of funds should profit native governments and rural communities. Native authorities cost-share or matching funds start at 10% in yr one and rises to 40% in yr 4. SLCGP funds should complement present cybersecurity expenditures and will by no means supplant or change permitted and budgeted expenditures.
2. States choose the distributors and cybersecurity providers offered to native governments: Cisco account managers and companions ought to talk to state prospects why Cisco services and products should be accessible to native and rural governments. If a state creates an inventory of SLCGP-funded services and products for native governments, Cisco prospects profit most if Cisco services and products are on the checklist. States aren’t publishing the names of native governments awarded subgrants, nor particulars of cybersecurity providers offered to named native governments.
3. Buyer Cybersecurity Planning and Technique: Growth of complete cybersecurity plans that embrace 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 precise wants and challenges confronted by their public sector shoppers.
4. Compliance and Finest Practices: Recipients of SLCGP funds might be required to stick to specified cybersecurity greatest practices and requirements. Cisco account managers and companions must be well-versed in these necessities, which can embrace frameworks like NIST (Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Know-how), to make sure that the options they’re providing are compliant and might be funded by the grant.
5. Academic and Workforce Growth: A portion of the grants could also be allotted to cybersecurity schooling of the shopper’s workforce. Cisco account managers and companions ought to pay attention to Cisco’s personal coaching and certification packages, such because the Cisco Networking Academy, which might be built-in into broader academic initiatives.

As you analysis funding for entire of state and different wants, it’s additionally necessary to remain up to date on the most recent bulletins by state governments of state grant packages, aggressive subgrants, and utility deadlines. For probably the most present data, 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 might have about entire of state or different funding alternatives.

Further sources for entire of state and public funding

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