Cybersecurity Needs for Local Government Entities
The potential impact of a successful cyberattack on a municipality, public utility, school or local government entity can be devastating, ranging from disrupted services and financial losses to compromised sensitive information and erosion of public trust.
Why is Cybersecurity Crucial for Local Public Organizations?
Highly Sensitive and Valuable Data
Municipalities possess large amounts of sensitive data attractive to hackers, including personal information of residents (e.g., social security #’s, tax records) and infrastructure data (e.g., billing systems, surveillance).
Fragile Infrastructure, Limited Technical Resources, and Lack of Knowledge
Many local governments struggle with outdated IT infrastructure, limited cybersecurity budgets, and a lack of cybersecurity awareness. 67% report insufficient cybersecurity measures due to budget constraints, and 60% lack cybersecurity training programs.
Disruption of Services
Many essential services, such as emergency response systems, public transportation, power grids, and water supply rely on digital infrastructure that can be crippled under a cyberattack.
Public Trust and Confidence
A cyberattack can erode the integrity of local governments and public trust. This can include fraud, whereby hackers can expose voter registration databases and ballot processing, and manipulate election results.
Key Metrics
44%
of global ransomware attacks in 2020 targeted local municipalities.
$2.6
million
was the average data breach cost in the governmental public sector in 2023.
Less Than
3%
of most states’ total IT budget is allocated to cybersecurity.
80%
of local governments express an inability to compete for cyber talent as a main barrier for sufficient cybersecurity.
Highlighting Risk: State of Emergency from Ransomware
In December 2019, New Orleans was hit by the Ryuk ransomware, forcing the city to declare a state of emergency. The attack impacted over 450 servers and 3,500 workstations, causing service outages and data loss. Total cost of recovery from the incident exceeded $7 million.
Acrisure Cyber Services understands Local Government and Municipalities
- Tailored Cybersecurity Solutions: Built for the needs of the public sector.
- Comprehensive Protection: Combining cybersecurity, IT support, and cyber insurance.
- Proven Track Record: Trusted by government organizations nationwide.