Capitol Hill at sunset

Industry Groups Push For More Cybersecurity Funding In Future COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation

With high numbers of ransomware attacks and increased threats due to teleworking, advocacy groups want Congress to prioritize cybersecurity funds to local and state governments.

Major technology advocacy groups, including The Cyber Threat Alliance, The Cybersecurity Coalition and The Global Cyber Alliance, have partnered up to push Congress to allocate cybersecurity funding for states and local governments in the next COVID-19 stimulus package.

Representing tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe, McAfee and several cybersecurity companies, the organizations sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday requesting that cybersecurity be a priority in future stimulus bills, The Hill reported.

The advocacy groups, which also included BSA, the Information Technology Industry Council and more, cited increased cybersecurity threats as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those threats come from a wider attack landscape with teleworking and increased ransomware attacks on local governments.

“The rise in malicious cyberattacks targeting State and local entities, combined with the chronic lack of workforce, patchwork legacy systems, under-resourced cybersecurity and IT services, and uneven federal assistance creates a greater risk of system failures that interrupts services on which State and local populations depend,” the groups wrote.

Cybersecurity and IT workers themselves are facing several obstacles despite higher demand for their services, including the proliferation of work-from-home policies and the additional vulnerabilities that come with using IoT devices on different wireless networks.

“Their limited resources risk being overwhelmed by the substantial increase in demand for online services, and the sizable increase in malicious cyber activities as reported by both State and local officials, as well as private sector threat intelligence organizations,” the letter reads.

Other issues include the increase in use of “unvetted personal devices” to access government networks and an increase in the costs associated with providing monitoring of those devices along with IT help.

Industry advocates are also concerned that states and local governments will be unprepared to deal with ransomware and other malware attacks on hospital systems, which could cost lives if networks go down and doctors cannot access patient information or coordinate patient care technologically.

Cybersecurity firms have reported higher rates of coronavirus-related phishing attacks on organizations large and small over the past few months, making the potential for a successful cyber attack on public health systems more likely.

“Healthcare facilities like these, which make up nearly 20% of the United States’ community hospitals, have been targeted by malicious cyber attacks at a time when disrupted service is intolerable,” the letter reads.

In turn, the industry organizations would like to see more prioritization of cybersecurity funding in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation. The previous $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill included some funding for IT modernization and $9.1 million for CISA, the Department of Homeland Security’s cyber agency, according to The Hill.

“We urge addressing this important problem in the next available vehicle for COVID-19 response and recovery,” the groups wrote. “We firmly believe that these measures are necessary to support the vital role that State and local entities play in public health operations during this public health emergency.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.