The Biden administration has allocated $200 million to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to bolster the country’s defenses against cyber threats and ensure a safe and secure digital infrastructure. This comes as the U.S. continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, making it all the more important to invest in cybersecurity measures. The additional funds will be used to improve CISA’s capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital identity, and data security. Additionally, this will help create a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) position within CISA that will focus on protecting U.S. networks from evolving cyber threats. In this article, we will discuss how these initiatives could help protect us from cyber attacks as we face an uncertain future in the wake of COVID-19.
What is the CISA?
The CISA is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It’s a federal agency that’s responsible for protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats. The agency was created in 2018, in response to growing concerns about the vulnerability of the nation’s critical infrastructure to cyberattacks.
The CISA works with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector to identify and protect against cybersecurity threats. The agency also develops and implements policies and programs to reduce the risk of cyberattacks.
One of the CISA’s key initiatives is the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is held every October. During this month, the agency raises awareness about cybersecurity threats and provides tips on how to protect oneself from them.
What Does the CISA Do?
The first thing the CISA does is help with the coordination of information sharing between federal, state, and local governments. This is important because it helps ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to responding to a crisis like COVID-19. The CISA also provides guidance and support to private sector companies who may be impacted by a major cybersecurity event. This includes things like helping them recover from an attack or prevent one from happening in the first place. Finally, the CISA also conducts research into threats and vulnerabilities so that we can better understand and prepare for future attacks.
How Much Does the CISA Cost?
The CISA exam costs $725 for members and $950 for non-members. The CISSP exam, required for certification, costs $650 for members and $850 for non-members. There is also a yearly fee of $85 for members and $130 for non-members to maintain the certification.
Who Pays for the CISA?
The CISA, or Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, is a federal government agency charged with protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats. The agency is funded through a combination of congressional appropriations and fees assessed on the entities it regulates.
In FY 2020, Congress appropriated $2.15 billion for CISA, an increase of $340 million over the previous year. The majority of CISA’s funding comes from Homeland Security Appropriations, which totaled $1.93 billion in FY 2020. Other sources of funding include the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
CISA also assesses fees on the entities it regulates to cover the cost of its regulatory activities. These fees are collected through annual invoices sent to regulated entities and are generally used to fund cybersecurity risk assessments, audits, and other compliance-related activities. In FY 2020, CISA collected $27 million in regulatory fees.
How is the CISA Funded?
The CISA is funded through a variety of sources, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection program, the National Science Foundation, and private sector companies. The agency also relies on grants from other federal agencies to help support its work. In addition, the CISA has a small staff of paid employees who work on a volunteer basis.
What Happens if the CISA is Not Funded?
If the CISA is not funded, the country’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will not be able to operate at full capacity. This could lead to a decrease in the overall security of the United States’ critical infrastructure and an increased risk of cyberattacks. Additionally, CISA employees may not be able to receive adequate training and resources, which could further impact the agency’s ability to protect the country from cyber threats.
Conclusion
President Biden’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure is a welcome step forward. The CISA 200M CISO US program, which aims to create a network of security professionals and experts who can protect our digital assets and prevent cyberattacks, will go a long way towards helping make the United States safer from threats in cyberspace. This initiative highlights the importance of defending our nation’s critical infrastructure against attacks, and it sets an example for other countries on how they can improve their own cybersecurity efforts. With President Biden at the helm, we are confident that America’s cybersecurity posture will continue to grow stronger with each passing day.