Tech:NYC Digest: August 9

Tech:NYC Digest: August 9

August 09, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

In today’s digest, New York state’s new comprehensive cybersecurity plan, why airports are so busy again, and how the city is celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.

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  • New forecasts estimate that costs for NYC to house and care for asylum seekers will surpass $12 billion by 2025. On average, 98 new asylum seeker households are now entering the city’s shelter system each day. (Gothamist)

  • Rockaway Beach reopened for swimming on Wednesday, a day after city officials closed off the location to swimmers following an apparent shark attack. (Gothamist)

    • Drones, police and fire boats will be deployed to scan the waters off the peninsula prior to the beach’s opening each morning until the end of the swimming season.

  • NYC airports saw a rebound in passenger traffic last year that far outpaced growth at the country's other largest hubs, including a nearly 80% year-over-year increase at John F. Kennedy International Airport, to more than 55.2 million passengers in 2022. (Crain’s New York Business) 

In other reading:

  • What to know about EG.5, the most prevalent covid subvariant in the U.S. (Washington Post)

  • Mayor Adams announces block party line-ups to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop (NBC New York)

  • Harlem, Pummeled by the Pandemic, Experiences a Tourism Revival (Wall Street Journal)

Gov. Kathy Hochul today announced the state's first comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, which includes plans to modernize government networks, provide digital defenses at the county level and regulate critical infrastructure, as detailed in the Wall Street Journal.

Cyber threats are multiplying — and the state announcement comes as the federal government and city officials are dedicated resources to protecting against hacks. Here's what to know about the state plan:

The state strategy is organized around three principles: Unification, resilience, and preparedness. 

  • That includes upgrading state networks to support modern security technology, such as multi-factor authentication, and having the state work with county governments and federal agencies to thwart cybercrime. 

  • The state also plans to expand its cybersecurity workforce and work to educate New Yorkers and companies about cybersecurity.

  • The state's 2024 budget earmarked $90 million for cybersecurity investments, as well as $500 million for healthcare systems to upgrade their technology and cybersecurity programs.

Background: Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced in Brooklyn last year the launch of a Joint Security Operations Center, focusing on coordinating efforts to combat cybersecurity threats.

  • The city is also working to expand its cybersecurity workforce: A Cyber Academy that provides municipal employees with training graduated its first class this spring. 

  • State officials also coordinated with the U.S. Office of the National Cyber Director to help The White House publish its own National Cybersecurity Strategy in March.

  • The private sector is taking action as well: Google earlier this summer announced a $12 million partnership with four New York universities for cybersecurity research and career development. 

You can view the full Cybersecurity Strategy report here. 

In other reading:

  • Small companies are often better at this surprising part of innovation (Fast Company)

  • What venture capital layoffs mean for the startup economy (Marketplace)

  • Slack’s biggest redesign ever tries to tame the chaos of your workday (The Verge)

  • Gomboc.ai, a NYC-based startup focused on cloud infrastructure remediation, raised $5.2 million in seed funding. Glilot Capital and Hetz Ventures co-led the round.

  • IVIX, a NYC-based financial crime and tax evasion tracking platform for governments, raised $12.5 million in Series A funding. Insight Partners led the round and was joined by Team8, Citi Ventures, and Cardumen Capital.

URBAN-X is accepting applications for Cohort 13 of its accelerator program. The four-month program is interested in startups with scalable climate mitigation and/or adaptation solutions in areas such as mobility, real estate, energy, and community.  Learn more and apply by August 22 here.The Environmental Tech Lab, a public-private initiative between the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Partnership Fund for New York City, is accepting applications for its inaugural cohort. The Lab is seeking early- and growth-stage companies with data and operations solutions to help solve pressing challenges facing the city’s water and wastewater network. Learn more and apply by August 23 here.The Black Venture Institute is accepting applications for its Fall 2023 cohort. Accepted fellows are Black operators and executives looking to become angel, scout, or venture investors and  learn how to evaluate opportunities and negotiate terms from top industry experts and business leaders. Learn more and apply by Sept. 3 here.

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