Whether it be to meet the needs of hybrid work policies or streamline user experiences, our working world has moved wholly into the modern era of cloud computing. It has become imperative for municipalities to do the same for safe online collaboration and information sharing. We know that the people who work in communities do so more efficiently when they feel empowered with digital tools – but with that, we have seen a rise in opportunistic attacks that can undermine municipal operations without proper safeguards and training in place. Cybersecurity training should now be considered an integral part of insulating organizations from potential attacks,

Many of our antiquated community computer systems and staff members are unprepared for the dangers lurking in this increasingly connected work environment. Without proper knowledge of security, permissions, and protocols, important community information can be seized and held for ransom, disseminated without consent, or deleted altogether. According to leaders in the tech field, strikes on government organizations have increased by 95% since 2022. At MVPC, we curate hundreds of datasets and resources for the region that provide high-value insights that no one else can. Our staff and computer systems must modernize and become equipped with the latest security protocols and training.

To prepare for the current trends from the ever-changing threat landscape, our GIS and IT Program Manager, Steve Lopez, applied to the Massachusetts State Office of Municipal and School Technology’s Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant program to train our staff in the latest methods of cyber threats. Over several months, the team underwent video training modules, assessments, and random phishing campaigns that tested their knowledge.

We are pleased to report that all members of the MVPC staff successfully passed the multiple rounds of phishing campaigns, modules, and final assessment. Not one nefarious test email was opened by our staff members. While this is only one element of keeping the region’s digital data safe, we feel confident knowing that we have adequately prepared our staff for the potential threats to come.

For more information about the cybersecurity initiatives at the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, contact the GIS Program.