Are Municipalities Prime Targets for Hackers?

The report concerns a March 2022 attack on the Canadian tourist town of Banff, which apparently cost over $500,000. “Municipalities can be favoured targets of cybersecurity attackers because their cyber defences aren’t as sophisticated as higher levels of government. Attackers believe cities and towns may be more willing to pay ransoms than other organizations because … Read more

Most K-12 Schools Have Cyber Insurance, But Still Lack Basic Security Measures:  MS-ISAC Report 

In our opinion, the report’s authors are diplomatic in their summary: “The K-12 community displayed an overall average maturity score of 3.55 on the 2021 NCSR’s 1 through 7 maturity scale. Results from the Nationwide Cybersecurity Review (NCSR) risk-based assessment have shown the K-12 sector is improving in its cybersecurity capabilities over time, though the … Read more

K-12 Schools Having Trouble Getting & Maintaining Cyber Insurance: GAO

“Additional federal coordination is needed to enhance K-12 cybersecurity,” says the report from the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). But it looks as if many school districts are failing to do their part, from failing to report all cyber attacks to not instituting MFA and training. Note the reference to one school district being … Read more

Local Governments Struggle with Hikes in Cyber Insurance Premiums 

“’We’ve been seeing the cost of cyber insurance increase for years now, but this year it went to a whole new level,’ said Michael Zurlo, president of the New York State Association of Counties and the Clinton County administrator. It’s a kind of insurance local governments can’t be without, Zurlo said…This year, Clinton County paid … Read more

Hack of L.A. Schools Highlights Complexity and Costs of Attacks on School Systems

The L.A. school system reportedly has cyber insurance, but how much it will cover is unclear. The system had failed to address security deficiencies identified in 2020. The range of costs for attacked school districts is illustrated by fall out from Baltimore’s school cyberattack. “A 2020 attack on the Baltimore schools has resulted in more … Read more

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