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Upcoming Webinar on Cyber Incident Response Planning for Emergency Communications

Police, fire, EMS, emergency management and others.

For basic information on national preparations for cyber threats to public safety, check out the National Emergency Communications Plan.

Related to the above, there is an upcoming webinar [on my birthday]. Details below:

Tools and resources designed to enhance an organization’s cybersecurity posture

Cyber threats are one of the greatest operational risks to emergency communications systems as they can directly inhibit first responders from providing life-saving services. However, many organizations are not prepared to deal with cyber incidents. The SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS) found that 49% of public safety organizations indicated a cybersecurity disruption or breach has affected their ability to communicate; yet only 27% incorporate incident response plans, policies, and capabilities into their cyber planning.

By developing and maintaining a cyber incident response plan, as recommended in the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP), public safety organizations can more effectively identify, mitigate, and respond to cyber risks. However, many organizations lack the funding and resources to conduct cybersecurity planning. But they don’t have to do it alone! Experts such as Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWIC), information technology administrators, CISA Cybersecurity Advisors (CSA), and CISA Emergency Communications Coordinators (ECC) are available to assist with planning. This webinar will detail the importance of cyber incident response planning for public safety organizations, provide actionable guidance on how to create new or update existing cyber incident response plans, and share information on resources and tools to assist in the process.

Join the webinar to learn about:

  • Leveraging NECP best practices for cyber planning
  • How cyber planning can help to protect and quickly restore emergency communications systems
For more information on the webinar, please visit: cisa.gov/necp or contact us with any questions.


All are invited to participate. To join on October 26 at 1 PM ET, use: Link (for visual): https://share.dhs.gov/necpwebinars


Dial In (for audio): 800-897-5813


Please consider joining a few minutes early to ensure connectivity. You must dial in for audio.
Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.