Rancho Water has been awarded a $250,000 cybersecurity grant through the 2024 State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). This funding will enable Rancho Water to enhance the security and resilience of its cybersecurity infrastructure, ensuring the continued protection of essential services provided to the community.
The grant will support a variety of essential cybersecurity initiatives, including replacing older firewalls and installing industrial-grade security devices for data acquisition systems, deploying encrypted Ethernet radios to secure critical communications, and developing and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity policy. The funding will also provide certification training for key staff, conduct vulnerability scans and penetration testing, and integrate advanced threat monitoring to improve incident detection and response.
“Cybersecurity is vital to the integrity of our operations and the safety of the services we provide,” President Brian Brady said. “By receiving the maximum amount of $250,000 for this grant, Rancho Water will be able to make significant advancements in our cybersecurity measures without placing an additional financial burden on our ratepayers.”
By strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure, Rancho Water is better positioned to safeguard its operations against emerging threats.
Rancho Water is one of more than 100 statewide recipients of this grant funding which was open to a wide range of entities such as water districts, community services districts, cities, tribes, and schools.
