Illinois Receives $1 Million Grant to Develop Cyber Security Training Program for First Responders

SPRINGFIELD – A $1 million grant recently awarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will enable the state to develop a training program to help first responders, local governments and private sector partners throughout the U.S. better understand and deal with cyber incidents.  IEMA’s proposal for the cyber training initiative was selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to receive a 2012 National Training Program Continuing Training Grant.

“Information technology is vital to every segment of our society, including first responders,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken.  “We’re excited to have this opportunity to develop training that addresses cyber security and to share this training with first responders across the nation.”

IEMA will work with the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF) Cyber Security Committee and the Center for Public Safety and Justice (CPSJ) at the University of Illinois to develop the curriculum for the Cyber Security and Cyber Incident Awareness course. 

The training, which will include online and classroom components, will prepare information technologists working for state and local emergency response organizations to identify, prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. 

Once the training program is complete, CPSJ will deliver the training to each of FEMA’s 10 regions, which cover all 50 states and six U.S. territories.

“By increasing community cyber `security awareness and resilience, we will enhance the protection and recovery of our critical information systems,” said Rafael Diaz, chairman of the ITTF Cyber Security Committee.  “We look forward to building and delivering a curriculum that will serve our nation and communities.”

For more information about cyber security, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.