The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is among more than 30 nations to receive a cybersecurity grant from the Department of Homeland Security as increased attacks target tribal communities.
DHS awarded the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community in July $546,000 of the $18.2 million provided through the first-ever Tribal Cybersecurity Grants.
“There are indications that tribes are specifically targeted in cyber attacks,” Vinnie Singh, the director of Information Technology for the tribe, told Cascadia Daily News. “Due to perceived weaker cybersecurity defenses, cybercriminals see tribal communities as attractive targets.”
Digital threats impacting tribes are increasing and becoming more complex, with tribal sovereignty creating unique cybersecurity challenges for communities that have been consistently underfunded and under-resourced, stated a DHS news release.
A cybersecurity incident at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge forced the business to close its casino and restaurants on April 5. The casino opened back up weeks later, according to an April 24 announcement on its website.
“We are working with law enforcement and leading cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and determine the scope of the issue,” the business wrote in a post on its website that month.
Singh said the tribe, along with other tribal governments, face a wide range of digital threats, including phishing attacks, ransomware and cyber fraud.
“Despite our limited resources, we are determined to strengthen our cyber defenses and protect the critical infrastructure and sensitive data of our tribal community,” Singh said.
Tribal nations must overcome a number of challenges to successfully combat digital threats, Singh said, including limited financial resources, lack of cybersecurity expertise and an ongoing need for additional training to keep up with the rapidly evolving nature of cyber threats, as well as outdated IT infrastructure.
The tribal grant program was designed to establish critical governance frameworks to address cyber threats and vulnerabilities, as well as identify key vulnerabilities.
The competitive process for the grants saw more than 73 applicants requesting more than $56.5 million in funding. Ultimately, only 32 tribes were awarded grants.
Singh described the process as rigorous but rewarding, requiring the tribe to assess its cybersecurity needs, develop a comprehensive plan and justify its budget.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will use the grant for multiple projects: conducting risk assessments, increasing cybersecurity awareness, implementing advanced security measures, and staff training, Singh said.
“With these first-ever Tribal Cybersecurity Grants, we are not just addressing immediate needs, but also reinforcing the infrastructure that supports the sovereignty and resilience of Tribal Nations,” Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said of the FEMA-administered program.
All grant recipients are required to participate in a number of free services provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, under DHS. These include cyber hygiene vulnerability scanning and nationwide cybersecurity review, according to the news release.
“This grant empowers us to take ownership of our cybersecurity efforts, ensuring our community’s unique needs are addressed,” Singh said. “We hope this grant serves as a model for future initiatives supporting underserved communities.”
Isaac Stone Simonelli is CDN’s enterprise/investigations reporter; reach him at isaacsimonelli@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 127.
