Michael Sauer

By Journal Staff

MARQUETTE — Michael Sauer, director of the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute at Northern Michigan University, has been nominated to the state of Michigan’s Cybersecurity Planning Committee for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.

The committee is chartered by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget and helps eligible entities address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems owned or operated by or on behalf of state, local and territorial governments. In addition, the committee helps develop a state cybersecurity plan and identify projects that can be implemented with SLCGP funding.

“I am honored to be nominated to the committee and to be representing Northern Michigan University and the Upper Peninsula on this statewide initiative,” Sauer said in a news release.

The state of Michigan has been awarded $4.7 million for federal fiscal year 2022 and will apply for Michigan’s $9.6 million allocation for federal fiscal year 2023 from the Department of Homeland Security to support cybersecurity projects throughout the state. The state of Michigan will pass down funding by offering services to minimize cyber risk, increase cyber resiliency and provide future-year opportunities for sub-grant awards to local governments, K-12 schools, community colleges and public universities.

“I am particularly interested in the workforce development and education aspects of the plan. The Upper Peninsula is a rural area that has historically been underserved, and local governments and educational entities struggle with cybersecurity planning, preparedness and developing a trained workforce,” Sauer said.

The committee is chaired by Jayson Cavendish, the state of Michigan’s CSO. Cavendish and other program managers will travel to NMU to attend the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Symposium Sept. 25 to discuss the SLCGP program and funding opportunities with attendees.