ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — The Ithaca City School District will receive state money to strengthen cybersecurity. 

Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown tells 607 News Now the funding will help protect the data of students.

“Through the grant, the ICSD will receive a set number of physical multi-factor authentication (MFA) security keys. The keys provide an additional layer of protection for user accounts, helping safeguard district systems and data from unauthorized access,” according to a statement from ICSD.

Cybersecurity has become essential to day-to-day life, Dr. Brown said.

The $639,600 in funding comes from New York’s State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, which was announced earlier this year by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

FULL INTERVIEW: ICSD Superintendent Dr. Luvelle Brown on 607 This Morning