State of Illinois SLCGP Year One Plan

The SeCUR Illinois task force (Illinois Planning committee) submitted a plan and application to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to utilize the funds available through the State Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). Per the grant guidance, membership of the SeCUR Illinois task force is comprised of representatives from both rural and urban cities and counties, as well as public health, higher education, state government and the State Administrative Agency (SAA).

Illinois’ plan was approved by CISA and FEMA in early June. Illinois received approximately $4 million dollars to spend on initiatives for local cybersecurity improvements. 25% of all local spending and services are to be reserves for rural areas. Per the Homeland Security Act of 2002, a rural area is defined in 49 U.S.C. § 5302 as an area encompassing a population of less than 50,000 people that has not been designated in the most recent decennial census as an “urbanized area” by the Secretary of Commerce. Illinois is focusing the funding on initiatives that local entities can take advantage of to help build basic cyber maturity versus direct subgrants to local entities. These initiatives are:

1. A unified information sharing and analysis center (ISAC) and a joint security operations center will be created for local governments and rural entities to receive actionable information and share best practices across the state.  Funding will be focused on the platform instead of personnel, as Illinois has already funded personnel through state appropriations to assist local entities.
2. Expansion of the existing Cyber Navigator program to provide more risk assessments and share information on platforms and tools that locals can access. Again, funding is based on tools and software versus personnel.
3. End point detection for 24/7 continuous monitoring and alerting and access to a full-time SOC. Funding goes to software and not personnel.
4. Basic cyber security training materials. 

As these SLCGP require a certain percentage match in funding, Illinois has proactively passed a budget to include this funding which will make the above services no charge to locals. The state will also handle all reporting and administrative overhead of these grants to use all funding for locally facing initiatives.

There will be more information to come on the status of the initiatives, how to access these services, and a point of contact as the program evolves. Currently, end point detection is available for local governments. If you are already engaged with a local Cyber Navigator, feel free to contact them to get started. Otherwise, contact SLCGP@illinois.gov mailbox.