Sustaining Cybersecurity Gains Becomes the Next Challenge
Sustaining Cybersecurity Gains Becomes the Next Challenge
https://www.govtech.com/security/sustaining-cybersecurity-gains-becomes-the-next-challenge
Publish Date: 2026-06-26 18:05:00
Source Domain: www.govtech.com
Federal cybersecurity grants have helped state and local governments build stronger cyber defenses in recent years, but state leaders say the next challenge is keeping those capabilities in place as the money runs out.
The issue surfaced in a panel discussion during this week’s ISAC Annual Summit,* as state cybersecurity leaders from Kansas, Minnesota and Tennessee reflected on lessons learned as the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) winds down.
Agencies and municipalities continue to spend awards from multiple funding rounds, including some of the earliest grants. However, states are focusing on how to sustain the cybersecurity capabilities built through the program as they look beyond the existing federal funding. Some are spreading grant funding over longer periods, shifting toward shared-service models and planning for the day when federal dollars run out.
Meanwhile, associations including the National Association of State Chief Information Officers are urging Congress to provide another $300 million for SLCGP, saying continued federal support will be needed to sustain local and rural cybersecurity capabilities. The push for continued funding and long-term authorization has gained momentum as lawmakers consider proposals such as the PILLAR Act and the SLCGP Reauthorization Act.
Panelists said the grants helped states expand services but also revealed how difficult those services may be to maintain once federal support ends.
They pointed to several examples of how grants have been used. In Tennessee, they helped expand managed detection and response tools across the state, giving officials a more centralized way to track and monitor ransomware threats, Tennessee Deputy CISO Aimé Nsengiyumva said. The state also used the program to strengthen state-local partnerships and provide maturity assessments alongside cybersecurity tools.
The question now facing leaders is whether…
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