State cyber teams brace for impact of U.S. government shutdown

Cybersecurity officials say they’re being buffeted by the simultaneous expiration of a largely uncontroversial statute shielding companies from liability when sharing cyberthreat indicators and the abrupt halt of state cybersecurity grant programs, along with a furloughs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The shutdown and reduced state funding for cybersecurity comes on the heels of a March executive order that shifted much of the federal government’s cybersecurity risk management responsibilities onto state and local agencies, a move critics say was never backed with adequate resources.

The impact of the shutdown and lack of funding grants will not be felt evenly across the country. Larger states with more established cyber agencies and in-house talent will likely be able to absorb some of the shortfall, at least temporarily. Smaller states and rural governments that rely heavily on federal support and grants could face significant challenges with the shutdown poised to stretch from days into weeks.

Read more at Gov Info Security