CISA and ONCD Release Playbook for Strengthening Cybersecurity in Federal Grant Programs for Critical Infrastructure

Today, CISA and the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) published Playbook for Strengthening Cybersecurity in Federal Grant Programs for Critical Infrastructure to assist grant-making agencies to incorporate cybersecurity into their grant programs and assist grant-recipients to build cyber resilience into their grant-funded infrastructure projects. 

This guide is for federal grant program managers, critical infrastructure owners and operators, and organizations such as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments who subaward grant program funds, and grant program recipients. The guide includes:

• Recommended actions to incorporate cybersecurity into grant programs throughout the grant management lifecycle.
• Model language for grant program managers and sub-awarding organizations to incorporate into Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) and Terms & Conditions. 
• Templates for recipients to leverage when developing a Cyber Risk Assessment and Project Cybersecurity Plan.
• Comprehensive list of cybersecurity resources available to support grant recipient project execution.

CISA encourages organizations to review and apply recommended actions to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and enhance resilience.