"Interest in Cybersecurity Needs to Start at Top, New Research Argues"

Despite the increase in cyberattacks against US towns, cities, and counties, local governments are still not prepared to address cyber threats. A new paper, titled Managing Cybersecurity at the Grassroots: Evidence from the First Nationwide Survey of Local Government Cybersecurity, developed by professors at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County discusses the results of a survey to which local governments responded, sharing their insight and experiences regarding the frequency of attacks against their networks, employee cybersecurity training, and institutional support. Although almost 50% of government organizations that participated in the survey face an attack on their network at least once a day, only a few manage cybersecurity risks effectively. The researchers suggest the need for more support from elected officials and other top managers in efforts to strengthen local government cybersecurity. This article continues to discuss key findings from the survey regarding the frequency of cyberattacks on local governments, the adoption of cybersecurity tools, security awareness training for employees, and the need for executive interest in cybersecurity.  

StateScoop reports "Interest in Cybersecurity Needs to Start at Top, New Research Argues"