The past year’s COVID-19 pandemic marked an unparalleled turning point that has completely changed the world as we know it. When businesses and organizations from many industries rushed to establish business continuity from home, hackers took full advantage of the remote work conditions that provided easy targets in unsecure environments. Although people are returning to the office and getting “back to normal,” the idea of evaluating the organization’s cybersecurity posture is becoming more prevalent. While cybersecurity has long been at the forefront for IT professionals, this has not necessarily been the case for many organizations. Especially since the rate of cyberattacks against state and local governments has increased considerably over the last year, lawmakers are now aiming to prioritize cybersecurity legislation.
Up until recently, state and local governments have generally not been centered on establishing cybersecurity best practices. Their priorities and limited budgets are spread thin. They either don’t have the funds to spend on improving cybersecurity infrastructure or don’t feel that it’s the main concern. Yet nearly every day, there is a steady stream of news about the latest hack, breach, or ransomware attack. Many municipalities are having difficulty keeping themselves safe because they are trying to do it on the cheap. They may be using outdated hardware and software or could have holes in their security posture. This is a persistent problem and will only get worse if it isn’t addressed.