In July of 2021, the US House passed a bill to incentivize cybersecurity planning for state and local government. The goal of The State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act is to provide governments the resources they need to invest in cybersecurity.
The Consequence of Ignorance
For techies like us who learn about new threats every single day, the need for this sort of grant program is obvious. But for those in charge allocating funds with a limited budget, think of it this way. Hackers are actively targeting government entities at an unprecedented rate and the disruption can be far reaching. In 2019, for example, a majority of Baltimore’s government computer systems were infected with the aggressive ransomware variant RobbinHood. Servers were taken offline and the hackers demanded 13 bitcoin in exchange for keys to restore access. The ransom note stated that if the demands were not met within four days, the price would increase and within ten days the city would permanently lose all of the data.
Similar cyberattacks aimed at government entities are increasingly common, yet less than 3% of overall state IT budgets go to cybersecurity, according to the 2020 Deloitte-NASCIO Cybersecurity Study.
When cybersecurity isn’t a budget priority, the domino effect of repercussions can’t be understated. In the Baltimore example, the real estate market was negatively impacted as property transfers could not be completed until the system was restored weeks later. In more severe instances, negligent IT practices put election integrity at risk. Investing in cybersecurity is about more than protecting data. It ultimately protects citizens and tax dollars.
The Smart Solution
Local governments have a lot on their plate (which is often dessert-sized to begin with). Is there really room for identifying, preparing for, detecting, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity risks, threats, and incidents? Smart leaders know when to delegate. Enter CompleteCloud Platform: your organization’s entire IT infrastructure managed by one vendor, on one platform, for one monthly subscription fee.
Key Features
- Servers & Unlimited Storage
- Internet Connectivity
- Managed Security
- Cloud Desktops
- Local Hardware
- 24/7 US-based Support
- Audio & Video Conferencing
- Chat & Collaboration Tools
- Soft Phones
- Email Archive
- Secure File Sharing
Why do local governments love CompleteCloud?
Security, Security, Security: Oh, and did we mention security? Cybercrime is no longer a worry when CompleteCloud, the most secure platform on the market, is on your side. With our deeply layered approach, your data is protected by all technological and human-oriented means available.
Economic Alignment: AKA no surprise expenses or RFPs! Once you’re a CompleteCloud customer, your entire technology environment is covered. That even includes unlimited server space, on-site equipment such as phones and desktops, and new software implementation.
Custom Solutions for Diverse Department Needs: We know that between staff accountants, the police department, public works, and GIS departments, each function requires a different level of technology and support. CompleteCloud is customizable for various user types so that everyone can work efficiently.
Mobility: In the office, at home, or on the road…CompleteCloud lets your entire organization work from anywhere, any time. And no matter where they’re working, the level of security doesn’t waiver. Always protected, always productive.
Experience Matters: We work with a variety of cities and counties, meaning we’re familiar with the unique way of doing business. From board meetings to RFPs, we’re comfortable navigating the world of local government and exceeding expectations.
