Borough awarded $50,000 grant for cybersecurity

The borough received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to put together a comprehensive cybersecurity plan.

Developing a cybersecurity plan entails contracting a consulting team to help the borough conduct risk assessments and draft a comprehensive plan that will guide further initiatives like equipment and training.

The grant will fund assembling a plan, after which the borough could apply for further grants to fund purchases and the implementation of the plan.

Assets might include things like software, but also hard assets like electronic gates for the new water treatment plant, Borough Manager Mason Villarma said at the April 23 assembly meeting.

The goal of the plan is to help the borough counter risks posed by cyber threats, data breaches and malicious activities, and to also provide insights to other communities and “potentially contribute to an overall enhancement of cybersecurity across boroughs and the state,” according to the borough’s application for the grant.