CISA Supports Inaugural US Cyber Games as Founding Sponsor
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced its founding sponsorship of the first-ever US Cyber Team, which will compete as part of the US Cyber Games, in the International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC) June 14-17, 2022 in Athens, Greece. The US Cyber Games was founded by Katzcy in cooperation with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Sponsorship of the US Cyber Team complements CISA’s other workforce development initiatives aimed at expanding both the current and future pool of cybersecurity talent, including Project REACH, the CYBER.org initiative, and the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP), which targets K-12 students and educators.
CISA also partners with the National Security Agency (NSA) on the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on the CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program.
CISA Launches Tribal Affairs Webpage
 CISA launched the CISA Tribal Affairs webpage to assist Native American and Alaska Native tribes in strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure, including improving operable and interoperable communications, an enhanced cyber posture, consultative engagement, outreach, advocacy, technical assistance, and coordination.
The launch of the CISA Tribal Affairs website is one of several steps being taken to strengthen the communication between CISA and Native American and Alaska Native tribes. Given the significant rise in complexity and volume of cyber attacks, it is critical that organizations stand together against the attacks on the nation's people, communities, and infrastructure.
CISA Announces Cyber Safety Review Board
 On February 3, CISA announced the establishment of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) and the 15 members who have been appointed to the Board.
As directed by Section 5 of Executive Order 14028, Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, the Board will operate in an advisory capacity, with the primary purpose to review and assess significant cyber incidents affecting Federal Civilian Executive Branch Information Systems or non-federal systems, threat activity, vulnerabilities, mitigation activities, and agency responses.
The CSRB’s first review will focus on the vulnerabilities discovered in late 2021 in the widely used log4j software library. The widespread use of that software, the ease of exploitation, and the potential impact by an adversary on a network as a result makes this an incredible serious vulnerability.
New Grants Finder Tool Launches on SchoolSafety.gov
The Grants Finder Tool on SchoolSafety.gov was developed to help the kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) community more easily find, apply for, and ultimately receive school safety-related funding. It houses federally available school safety-related grants in one centralized location and serves as a decision-making support tool to help K-12 schools determine the eligibility and applicability of funding opportunities for their specific needs, challenges, and characteristics. The tool will be continually updated throughout the year as new school safety grant programs become available for the K-12 community.
CISA Hosts Webinar on Communications Continuity
In December, CISA hosted an Implementing the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) webinar entitled, “Stay Flexible and Adaptable: Planning for Communications Continuity.” More than 230 representatives from government, public safety, and the private sector joined to learn about the importance of continuity across the Emergency Communications Ecosystem.
The webinar provided guidance on resilient communications issues based on findings from the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS). It also covered best practices on ways public safety organizations can strengthen their continuity plans to bolster uninterrupted communications.
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