Ransomware Attacks Against Local Governments on the Rise

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Think ransomware attacks are waning? Think again. Especially if you’re a city or local government official in charge of cybersecurity. American cities are under attack like never before.

As reported by CNN, 22 cities and counting have reported attacks this year alone.  These attacks can have disruptive, crippling consequences on major cities, costing millions of dollars in ransom payments and lost revenue, and shutting down essential services vital to law enforcement and emergency response.

Cities victimized during the most recent spate of ransomware attacks include Baltimore, Greenville, NC; and Cleveland. For Baltimore, now unshackling its systems from the grip of the Robinhood virus, it’s the second major ransomware attack in just over a year.  In March, 2018, the city’s emergency dispatch systems were attacked but the infection was isolated before it could spread throughout the network. And last year’s WannaCry ransomware attack cost the city of Atlanta more than $2.6 million. So, every city government must be keenly aware of what’s at stake.

View of a skyline of a city as the sun sets.

Proactive Steps to Prevent Your City from Ransomware Attacks

Government organizations, even the smallest municipalities, typically handle more sensitive data affecting more components of our daily lives than private businesses do. This makes them high-profile targets for today’s advanced attack techniques used by cybercriminals.

However, by following a set of best practices cities can curtail the risks they face to their Internet-facing infrastructure, such as ransomware attacks. These practices involve everyone from those in charge of information technology to employees out in the field. Here are five key practices to employ:

  1. Perform periodic vulnerability scanning and establish patching procedures
  2. Enforce strict password controls
  3. Enable network-level authentication (NLA)
  4. Implement two-factor authentication (2FA)
  5. Consider a SOC-as-a-service

 Security Operations Might Be Your Answer

The fifth practice above is arguably the most important. See why SOCs are often the centerpiece of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that can keep you protected from some of the most pernicious threats to your valuable data. Is a SOC-as-a-service the right approach for your organization? Find out by reading this free, comprehensive guide.

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Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf provides your team with 24x7 coverage, security operations expertise, and strategically tailored security recommendations to continuously improve your overall posture.
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