ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Tompkins County has announced that they launched a pilot cybersecurity initiative, in partnership with New York State. The initiative, called the Security Information and Event Management program is designed to bolster cyber defenses across the state.

Tompkins County is the second county in New York to join the pilot program. According to officials, the technology will enhance the county's capabilities to detect, prevent and respond to cyber threats.

"Our collaboration... will not only help safeguard our county’s digital infrastructure but also serve as a model for other counties to strengthen their cyber resilience," said Loren Cottrell, the director of Tompkins County Information Technology.

According to the county, the program will provide "real-time analysis of security alerts generated by hardware and network devices, significantly improving the county’s ability to manage and mitigate potential cyber incidents."

Eventually, the program will be distributed to counties across New York, after being refined throughout the course of the pilot program.