To mitigate cyber security threats, Iowa State University is leading a new statewide initiative providing free training exercises to help communities prepare for major technology disruptions.
The Iowa Cyber Resilience Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through FEMA’s State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, offers a suite of free tools, training, and strategic guidance. The program is open to all Iowa city administrators, county officials, and school leaders, regardless of their current level of cybersecurity readiness.
“Unfortunately, there is no way to completely eliminate the risk. The goal of the Iowa Cyber Resilience Initiative is to make communities more resilient so that they can continue to operate when it happens.”
Jacobson highlighted that approximately 75% of Iowa communities outsource their information technology services. In the event of a cyberattack or system failure, local officials are unable to fix the technical issues directly, making operational continuity plans vital to maintaining public services until systems are restored.
The program uses a service-based approach tailored to each community’s specific needs. ISU experts work directly with local leaders to review current security procedures and conduct a Cybersecurity Incident Management Exercise. These two-hour scenarios simulate cyberattacks or natural disasters, helping departments:
- Establish a shared understanding of essential services
- Define clear operational priorities during outages
- Develop practical workarounds for system failures
- Improve cross-departmental communication
Local officials who have completed the workshop emphasize its immediate utility for local planning. Panora City Administrator, who took the training, explains how she benefited from it.
“The content was practical, clearly presented and directly applicable to the challenges cities face in strengthening cybersecurity and preparing for emerging threats. The hands-on guidance and real-world scenario made it easy to understand where our vulnerabilities may be and how to address them.”
Because the initiative is fully grant-funded, the training is completely free.
