Cyber incidents cost local governments more than downtime — they can damage reputations, drive up insurance rates, lower bond ratings and cause financial stress for residents.
A group of cyber experts is working to bring that financial impact forward and, in the process, influence how elected officials and local finance officers view cybersecurity in the municipal landscape. Their focus is U.S. local governments including cities, counties, villages and special districts that may include utilities, hospitals or airports.
The Local Government Cybersecurity Alliance (LGCA), formed earlier this year, doesn’t plan to replace existing cybersecurity efforts, but fill a niche that has lacked targeted guidance, said Donald Hester, a career cybersecurity leader and former auditor. He co-founded the alliance with Elisabeth Dubois, a municipal cybersecurity risk specialist in New York state.
The LGCA’s Local Government Officials Guide to Cybersecurity targets elected and appointed officials, not cyber or IT staff, and outlines fiduciary responsibilities for managing cyber risk. It has more than 40 contributors from…
