In today’s digital age, public entities are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. While cyber-attacks were once primarily associated with large corporations, governmental entities, agencies and organizations providing essential services such as utilities, public safety and social services are now frequent targets. According to the FBI, government entities ranked as the third most-targeted sector for ransomware attacks in 2024, driven by financial, geopolitical and disruptive motives.
Public entities face unique challenges in cybersecurity due to bureaucratic structures, budget constraints and numerous access points, often resulting in outdated systems and aging infrastructure. These vulnerabilities can lead to significant service disruptions, affecting public services such as water and wastewater services, emergency response and judicial processes.
Cybersecurity best practices
To mitigate these risks, public entities must adopt robust cybersecurity practices. Two fundamental measures include:
- Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA requires more than a username and password to verify the user’s identity. Authentication factors typically include…
