Insight in Indian Country Podcast
Trusted Expertise to Serve Tribal Nations
Is it time to strengthen your tribe’s cybersecurity? On September 27th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the funding of a new grant—the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP)— to aid tribal leaders in protecting their communities against the risk and consequences of cyber-attacks.
Join host Wes Benally as he speaks with cybersecurity expert Brian Grayek about this new federal grant opportunity for Tribal Nations. With an urgent deadline of January 10, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security’s Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program provides $18.2 million in funding for tribes to enhance the security of their IT infrastructure and systems. Eligible grant applicants meeting the definition of a Federally Recognized Tribal Government must have submitted their Grant Application, received feedback from FEMA and CISA on required changes, and submitted those changes back before 5 pm ET on the January 10 deadline.
Wes and Brian discuss key details Tribes need to know about eligibility, requirements, the application process and more for this vital program aimed at strengthening cyber defenses in Indian Country. Tune in to gain insights and get your questions answered about this time-sensitive grant.
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REDW LLC is proud to bring you the Insight in Indian Country Podcast, covering important advisory, accounting, and finance topics that impact Tribal Nations and business affairs. Thanks for listening!
Meet Your Hosts
Wesley Ryan Benally, CPA
REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader
As the leader of REDW’s National Tribal Practice, Wes is committed to improving financial literacy throughout Indian Country and hosts the Insight in Indian Country Podcast. He oversees audits of a wide range for Native American communities, state and local government agencies, and non-profits, nationwide, is a member of the Arizona State Board of Accountancy’s Peer Review Oversight Advisory Committee and serves as an instructor with Arizona State University’s American Indian Policy Institute. In addition, as a Board member for a tribal gaming entity that operates in two states, Wes keeps up with regulatory issues important to tribal gaming operations. Wes is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
Brian Grayek, CISSP, CMMC-RP, CCSK, ITIL
REDW IT & Cybersecurity Consulting Director
As the Director of REDW’s IT & Cybersecurity practice, Brian consults with clients to help manage and mitigate their cybersecurity risks. He has more than 40 years of experience in the field of Information Security, including as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), helping companies meet security regulations or prepare for a security audit. Responsible for developing security products and compliance services, and leading teams, Brian has focused his efforts on applications security, threat and vulnerability management, and running security operations centers for some of the largest enterprises in the world.
Compensation Studies—Your Key to Hiring & Retaining Top Talent.
It’s important to attract—and retain—the best employees to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your tribal organization. And given an exceptionally competitive labor market and the usual budget constraints, this means basing your employee compensation and benefits programs on relevant and reliable data.
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- GASB 96: Understanding the New Rules for Subscription-Based IT Arrangements (SBITAs)Expect GASB 96 implementation to be a multi-step process that occurs over several weeks or months.
- Implementing GASB 96: Q&AIf you’re a tribal government entity using subscription-based software, your financial statements will soon be held to a whole new accounting standard: GASB 96 – Subscription-Based IT Arrangements (SBITAs).
- Opportunity knocks! Applying for the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP)Tune in to gain insights on applying for the time-sensitive Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program.
