Last week, New York state and local government received $3 million from DHS to help protect their computer networks form cyber security breaches. According to DHS officials, the funding will help New York State’s Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination (CSCIC) conduct work with the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). The MS-ISAC is the first and only facility dedicated to state, local and territorial governments in the country and the funding is expected to enhance the center’s capabilities.

“Our State and local governments are on the front lines of providing services to citizens and securing the technologies used to deliver these services is crucial for our homeland security and economic stability,” New York governor David Paterson said in a statement.

One of the key enhancements includes the ability to provide real-time cyber threat detection and prevention. The projects underway at MS-ISAC would not only benefit New York state’s cyber security efforts, but those across the country could also learn from the technologies being developed.

CSCIC director and MS-ISAC chair William Pelgrin said what the center is doing today with cyber security research could serve as a tremendous benefit to the country’s overall cyber security response and readiness. “The collective view is more powerful than the singular view…we are making a tremendous difference in the ability of our state and local governments to prepare for and protect against cyber attacks and incidents.”