Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $9 million in grants awarded to 153 local government projects statewide through the Strengthening Essential Cybersecurity for Utilities and Resiliency Enhancements (SECURE) grant program. This funding will support communities in their efforts to bolster their cybersecurity posture against increasingly sophisticated and dangerous cyber threats while strengthening services that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day.
“New York is taking action to protect our critical water infrastructure from cyberattacks that could disrupt services and threaten public health and safety,” Governor Hochul said. “As we have seen with recent malicious cyberattacks on water systems across multiple states, these threats are real and escalating. These investments give local governments the tools they need to strengthen their defenses, safeguard essential services, and keep delivering safe, reliable water to New Yorkers.”
SECURE grants and no-cost technical assistance from the Environmental Facilities Corporation will help local governments implement the State’s new minimum cybersecurity standards for drinking water and sewer systems. The grants will fund local cybersecurity assessments and implementation, helping water systems build stronger, more secure operations.
This funding is in addition to Governor Hochul’s landmark five-year $3.75 billion clean water investment in the 2027 Enacted Budget, reflecting her comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to protecting and modernizing critical water infrastructure.
Water infrastructure is essential to public health, safety, economic stability, and national security, making it an attractive target for cyberattacks. As systems increasingly rely on digital and internet-connected technologies, the need for cybersecurity safeguards continues to grow.
Strengthening cybersecurity helps reduce the risk of a cyberattack that could disrupt utilities for residents and threaten the water supplies that drive local economies, industries and tourism.
The complete list of recipients and additional program information is available on EFC’s Cybersecurity Hub, where communities can access centralized training and resources and request a one-on-one consultation. The Community Assistance Teams are available to provide no-cost guidance and tools to help water and wastewater systems implement cybersecurity best practices.
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