Key Security Threats Facing State and Local Governments
One of the key cybersecurity challenges that state and local governments face is the changing nature of the threats. Cybercriminals continuously change their tools and tactics to find new vulnerabilities to exploit. However, one thing that has remained consistent is the threat of ransomware. According to a 2023 report from Sophos, 66 percent of organizations were hit by ransomware in the past year.
“Ransomware is a top-of-mind threat,” says Scott Hansen, manager of hybrid infrastructure for CDW. “New vulnerabilities and entry points are discovered daily, so it’s very difficult to keep up. In fact, it’s not uncommon for agencies doing a vulnerability audit to discover unprotected and decommissioned devices they didn’t even know about.”
Many state and local governments also operate public utilities that are particularly attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to disrupt the day-to-day operations of agencies and threaten the health and safety of citizens.
DIVE DEEPER: How agencies can boost security against threats.
Infrastructure Optimization Can Help Agencies Improve Security
State and local agencies can address their security concerns by adopting advanced security tools and implementing strategies such as zero trust. But data center optimization initiatives can also help agencies improve their security posture and address evolving threats.
By optimizing their data centers, agencies can map out all of their IT assets, gaining a clear, comprehensive picture of interdependencies and improving their ability to spot vulnerabilities. Tools such as IT infrastructure management and data center management solutions enable agencies to have greater visibility into IT environments and help them to simplify their security efforts.
“Network management and visibility are important capabilities,” says Christopher Moran, state and local sales manager for the Keystone Region with CDW. “You need to know where your endpoints are and what they are.”
