Cyber Archives

NACo EDGE Webinar: Cyber Resilience in County Finance

On Friday, March 6, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. EST, NACo EDGE will host a timely webinar focused on strengthening cyber resilience in county finance operations. County finance offices sit at the center of local government operations, managing payroll, vendor payments, tax revenues, and sensitive financial data. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, public sector finance teams are increasingly being targeted. The webinar titled, "Cyber Resilience in County Finance: Protecting What Matters Most," will address these…

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February 26, 2026

Cyber / Information Technology / MACo Testimony

Cyber Reserve Proposal Offers Stronger Local Cyber Defense and Resilience

On February 12, Legislative Services Assistant Charlotte Fleckenstein testified before the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee in support of SB 183 – Public Safety - Maryland Cyber Reserve - Established with amendments. This bill would establish the Maryland Cyber Reserve within the Military Department to provide educational and technical support to help prevent and respond to cyberattacks affecting state, county, and local government agencies, as well as critical infrastructure across Maryland. MACo requested clarifying, structural…

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February 18, 2026

County News / Cyber / Information Technology

Cybersecurity Incident Prompts Emergency Alert System Transition in St. Mary’s County

The St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) Department of Emergency Services (DES) has provided an update regarding the previously reported cybersecurity incident involving the CodeRED Emergency Notification System - a third-party platform used by local governments nationwide to issue emergency alerts. What Happened CodeRED has completed a forensic investigation, conducted by internal security teams and external cybersecurity experts, into the incident that led to the suspension of the legacy platform in November 2025. According to CodeRED,…

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February 12, 2026

County News / Cyber / Information Technology

New York Renews Grant Program To Support Local Gov Cybersecurity

As cybersecurity risks and technology demands continue to grow, states are exploring new ways to support local government capacity. New York’s renewed Local Government Efficiency Grant program offers funding for collaborative technology projects that improve service delivery while managing costs. In a recent Government Technology article, New York has renewed its Local Government Efficiency Grant (LGEG) program, making $8 million available to help counties, municipalities, and other public agencies invest in technology upgrades, particularly cybersecurity…

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January 8, 2026

County News / Cyber / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Reinstate Lapsed Cyber Grant Program

Congress is moving to revive a key federal cybersecurity grant program that counties rely on to protect critical systems and infrastructure. With cyber threats rising and local resources stretched thin, long-term reauthorization is essential for keeping communities safe. As covered in an article from Cybersecurity Dive, a bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to restore a key federal cybersecurity grant program that many state and local governments rely on to protect essential systems and infrastructure.…

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December 4, 2025

County News / Cyber / Information Technology

Free Webinar: Strengthening Maryland’s Water Cybersecurity

Cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure are growing more sophisticated, and a new initiative gives local systems practical tools to strengthen operational technology defenses. Local water and wastewater utilities have a new opportunity to strengthen their operational technology defenses through a free cybersecurity webinar and year-long support program. The initiative aims to help utilities navigate growing cyber threats, build internal capacity, and access practical tools tailored to the water sector. On December 4, Dragos will host…

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December 1, 2025

Cyber / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues

Cuts to a Federal Cyber Division Could Leave Counties Vulnerable

The federal government has scaled back a key cyber stakeholder division, leaving states and counties at risk of communication and support gaps. According to an article from Smart Cities Dive, the federal government has essentially dismantled a key division within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that connects federal cybersecurity operations with state and local governments, private industry, and critical infrastructure sectors. Nearly 100 employees have been laid off from CISA’s Stakeholder Engagement Division,…

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October 30, 2025

County News / Cyber / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues / Risk Management

Maryland Launches Cybersecurity Disclosure Program Covering State and Local Systems

The State of Maryland has implemented a new cybersecurity program that gives security researchers and the general public a legal pathway to report cybersecurity vulnerabilities in web-facing State of Maryland IT systems and websites. Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDPs) are widely used by the federal government and private sector to identify vulnerabilities before threat actors use them to breach IT systems and websites. While some state governments have limited VDPs, the State of Maryland’s is one…

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October 30, 2025

Cyber / Environment / Information Technology / News You Can Use

Free EPA Webinars on Strengthening Cybersecurity in Water Systems

The EPA will be hosting a series of free cybersecurity technical assistance courses for water systems, starting on November 5, 2025 - Here are the details... Cybersecurity 102: Register now to learn how Cybersecurity can impact Operational Technology systems. This webinar is for everyone, not just information technology personnel, as it will explore the skills needed to navigate today's digital threats. Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 1:00 - 2:30 pm EST | Register here Cybersecurity…

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October 30, 2025

County News / Cyber / Information Technology

Maryland Lawmakers Eye Potential AI Legislation in 2026

Artificial intelligence is changing how Maryland works and learns. State lawmakers are preparing new measures to guide its use responsibly and strategically in the next legislative session. In a recent article from The Baltimore Sun, Maryland lawmakers are preparing to consider a slate of AI-related proposals aimed at both safeguarding the public and encouraging innovation when the General Assembly returns in January. As previously covered by MACo, local governments are increasingly adopting AI for a variety…

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October 15, 2025