Cybersecurity

Nebraska Farm Bureau, FBI partner for Agriculture Threats Symposium

The two-day event highlights rising technology matched with rising threats.

  • By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner

Cybersecurity standards gain ground in counties

More counties are embracing voluntary cybersecurity frameworks to evaluate their risk and better protect their assets, a recent report shows.

  • By Chris Teale

Phishing defense, one simulated email at a time

With a platform that trains staff not to click on links in seemingly relevant emails, San Francisco cut the click rate on test emails by 50% in the first 18 months.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

State looks to better assess vendor security

Michigan wants a “security rating snapshot” of contractors as well as a public portal that details their financial risk.

  • By Chris Teale

Cyber talent still in high demand

In the last 12 months, more than 769,000 cyber job postings went up in the United States.

  • By Natalie Alms

$1B cybersecurity grant program still coming into focus

The new federal initiative is in its early stages, with questions about how the money will be spent and how much control localities, versus states, will have over it.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

How one state is trying to prevent a cybersecurity workforce shortage

They’re moving ahead with a set of new programs and working closely with colleges and universities to get more people into a field where jobs can be tough to fill.

  • By Bill Lucia

Cybersecurity grants are coming. Are you ready?

COMMENTARY | Federal grants worth $1 billion could position state and local governments to harden their networks and protect themselves from cyber threats. Here’s what to keep in mind.

  • By Stacy O'Mara

Synthetic fraud is on the rise. Here’s how governments can combat it

Fraud will continue at scale as criminals become better networked, using the dark web to share tips including how to fool selfie verification tools.

  • By Jordan Burris

Cross-agency group explores next steps for identity verification

The group's new report and simulation tool will help officials identify trade-off considerations for different identity solutions and frameworks.

  • By Natalie Alms

Locking down identity and access management post-SolarWinds

The epic intrusion campaign has turned up the brights on vendors providing authentication services, but agencies will still need to be actively engaged for effective implementation.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Lawmakers debate ROI on cyber insurance

The jury is still out on how using insurance policies to pay ransoms and re-establish systems after a cyberattack affects critical infrastructure organizations’ individual and collective resilience.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Allied cybersecurity agencies advise against disabling popular tool for cyberattackers

The Microsoft program – PowerShell – has granted malicious actors in major hacks remote command and control ability over victims, but, by the same token, it can improve cybersecurity management across an enterprise.

  • By Mariam Baksh

How volunteers help states shore up cybersecurity

Programs in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio bring in volunteer experts to conduct assessments and incident response for government systems.

  • By Shourjya Mookerjee
Featured eBooks

Biden strengthens cyber coordination between DHS and state, local government

The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act improves collaboration between DHS and state and local governments by boosting the sharing of information and federal resources.

  • By Susan Miller

How to reframe the cybersecurity conversation for elected officials

Cybersecurity teams can use an emergency management framework to prepare elected officials to respond to and communicate about a cyber incident.

  • By Shourjya Mookerjee

Watchdog finds cyber risks in TVA control systems

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal utility operating in seven southeastern states, lacked proper IT controls and cybersecurity oversight of systems assisting with flood and river management, according to a recent inspector general report.

  • By Chris Riotta

Brush up on phishing detection to prevent ransomware

With ransomware commonly entering state and local IT networks through phishing emails, employees must learn to spot social engineering scams, a new report says.

  • By Shourjya Mookerjee

Cyber competition builds skills, teamwork

Participating in the International Cyber League helps the IT team at the Illinois State Treasurer’s office test their skills against real-world network threats.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Authentication considerations for state and local governments

Multifactor authentication adds a layer of security to accessing accounts but agencies should know the differences between methods.

  • By Kimberly Biddings

Software bill of materials is about more than compliance, expert says

As organizations look to hammer out the standards for SBOMs, they’re also looking at how to automate the vulnerability checking process.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz