Los Angeles to expand cybersecurity lab

Dive Brief:

Bolstered by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the City of Los Angeles will expand the capabilities of a public-private partnership to protect the city against hacker attacks and support the cybersecurity industry.
The expansion will allow the Los Angeles Cyber Lab to build a universal platform for threat intelligence. Partners in the public and private sector will be able to submit threats to the Lab for analysis and distribution to other participants.
To support growth in the cybersecurity industry, the Lab will also invest in an innovation incubator, which will open the program to students, researchers and product developers. Organizers will also expand trainings and conferences.

Dive Insight:

The Cyber Lab, which launched in August 2017, is a nonprofit partnership to help both the government and private sector build up resistance against cyber threats. The Lab distributes daily and weekly alerts to more than 500 business partners, and members can contribute to building city-wide networks protecting infrastructure. The program has been touted as a national model.

"We learn more every day about the havoc that criminal hackers can wreak on our lives," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. "This expansion ensures that L.A. will continue to lead with the urgency that is required to protect our financial, business, and personal information."

The expansion comes as cities are increasingly building up their defenses in the face of devastating cyber attacks. In September, the Port of San Diego was hit by a ransomware attack, and Atlanta and Baltimore both had to shut down city functions after high-profile hacks in March. New York City and Houston have both held cyberattack prep tests to ensure the cities are safe, and governments across the country are seeking private partnerships to help bolster security.

As Los Angeles is boosting training through the Cyber Lab, New York City last week also announced a major investment to help support 10,000 new cybersecurity jobs over the next decade through tech hubs and new university programs. Given the growing cybersecurity needs, expect more cities to announce investments to build the industry.