While Federal and New York state cybersecurity efforts have made huge strides over the past several years, a report issued by the New York State Comptroller last October indicated cyberattacks are continuing at alarming rates, with attacks on critical infrastructure in New York almost doubling in the first half of 2023.

There are numerous reasons why New York businesses, infrastructure, individuals, and government operations are so attractive to cyber criminals who are constantly evolving their tactics and prompting an all-hands-on-board mentality at the Federal and state levels. Here are highlights of strategies, resources, and initiatives to strengthen and leverage cybersecurity across the country and New York.

• New York’s Joint Security Operations Center opened in February of 2022 to provide a statewide view of threats and better coordinate threat intelligence and incident response. A few months later, New York named the state’s first Chief Cyber Officer – Colin Ahern — to oversee cyber threat assessment, mitigation, and response efforts.
• The White House released the country’s first National Cybersecurity Strategy in March of 2023.
• New York Governor Hochul released the New York State Cybersecurity Strategy in August of 2023.
• In October 2023, the Office of the New York State Comptroller issued a Cyber Profile Report focusing on NY local government and school cybersecurity, challenges, and resources.
• Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced almost $6 million from the federal State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) will be used to support local governments by expanding access to cybersecurity information, tools, resources, and services. To help the local government build a baseline of security, the state will be offering shared services initiatives for multi-factor authentication (MFA); scholarships for cybersecurity certification; and employee cybersecurity awareness training. Eligible entities were invited to submit an interest form earlier this year and a Cybersecurity Grant Plan application is expected to be forthcoming.
• Last week, 68 of the worlds’ leading manufacturers of software committed to CISA’s Secure by Design Pledge to promote greater security built into products.
• On May 8, the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) released the 2024 Report on the Cybersecurity Posture of the United States, providing an update and identifying five trends driving change: risks to critical infrastructure; the continuing ransomware threat; supply chain exploitation; a growing market for commercial spyware; and the evolution of artificial intelligence.

If you’re looking to bolster your municipality’s cyber awareness and defenses, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), “offers a range of cyber and physical services to support the security and resilience of critical infrastructure owners and operators and state, local, tribal, and territorial partners.” You may also want to visit the NYS Office of Information Technology Services Local Government Cybersecurity webpage, which provides access to online training, information resources, cybersecurity awareness, and cybersecurity toolkits for local government.

If you need to free up time to focus on cybersecurity, RBT CPAs are available to support your accounting, audit, advisory, and tax needs. Let us know what you need so we can show you how we can be Remarkably Better Together.

RBT CPAs is proud to say 100% of its work is prepared in America. Our company does not offshore work, so you always know who is handling your confidential financial data.