Hackers are increasingly targeting states and local governments with sophisticated cyberattacks. Thus, securing government information systems is critical, as a cyber intrusion can be very disruptive, jeopardizing sensitive information, critical infrastructure, public safety, and the delivery of essential services.
Between 2018 and 2019 alone, known attacks on local governments rose 58.5 percent, with an average ransom demand of $835,758.33. Recent attacks on water treatment facilities, pipelines, hospital systems, food processors, and schools districts are clear evidence that cyber incidents disrupt our daily lives and endanger the continuity of government.
At the MACo Winter Conference session, “Bend Don’t Break: Roadmap to Cyber Resilience,” an expert panel will highlight actionable policies, standards, and best practices for counties to prevent and mitigate network intrusions and maintain critical services.
Bend Don’t Break: Roadmap to Cyber Resilience
The risks of malicious cyberattacks are not new. Still, as incidents become more sophisticated and persistent, counties need to shift from cybersecurity to cyber resilience — the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks, or compromises on cyber resources. In this session, an expert panel will highlight actionable policies, standards, and best practices for counties to prevent and mitigate network intrusions and maintain critical services — even when navigating a cybersecurity incident.
Speakers:
- Jack Markey, Emergency Manager, Frederick County
- Chip Stewart, State Chief Information Security Officer, State of Maryland
- The National Security Agency (speaker information forthcoming)
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (inv)
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 8, 2021; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
The 2021 MACo Winter Conference, “Time to Reboot: Tomorrow’s Tech Today,” will be held on December 8-10, 2021, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland.
Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference:
