Fortifying Your Municipality Against Cyber Threats: A Guide to Strengthening Defenses

By Rebecca Christoforidis
Senior Content Marketing Manager, GHD Digital

According to a report by The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, ransomware is the most disruptive form of cybercrime currently impacting North America. The average cost of a ransomware attack in Canada is $6.32 million per breach. Both public and private organizations are facing ransomware threats, with municipalities increasingly being targeted. These cyber-attacks not only disrupt services but can also lead to significant financial losses and an erosion of public trust. 

In this article, we'll walk through some key areas municipalities should focus on to safeguard their operations and protect the citizens’ data.

Understanding Municipal Cyber Threats

To build effective safeguards, municipalities need to understand the scope and nature of the threats they face. They provide diverse digital touchpoints to meet the needs of residents. Unfortunately, they also leave them vulnerable to phishing attacks, ransomware, and data theft. 

High-profile attacks against cities like Hamilton and Huntsville reveal the potential impacts—ranging from service disruptions to millions in financial losses.

Most notably:

• Ransomware incidents against government entities have surged, with phishing alone accounting for around 25% of these attacks.
• Data theft has grown by 76% over recent years, and the risks are heightened by the increase in remote work and interconnected digital systems.

Best Practices for Secure Municipal Operations

As a result of the diverse touchpoints mentioned above, municipalities need a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity. Following are key strategies for bolstering their defenses:

1. Adopt a Secure Operations Framework

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers a comprehensive roadmap for securing your operations. NIST is a voluntary guide designed to help organizations assess, manage, and reduce cybersecurity risks. The primary benefit for municipalities using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is its structured, adaptable approach to enhancing cybersecurity, which can significantly strengthen municipal defenses against evolving cyber threats. It does this in the following ways:

• It provides a comprehensive, risk-based approach that helps municipalities identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents. 
• It is adaptable to the needs of the individual organization and can be scaled or expanded, as necessary. 
• It enhances compliance and risk management making it easier for municipalities to meet regulatory requirements.
• It provides clear guidance on incident response, making it easier to manage potential threats and speeding response and recovery times.
• Using a common framework makes it easier for municipalities to align with other public agencies, law enforcement, and private entities, which in turn, creates a unified defense and more robust security.

This adaptable, structured approach makes the NIST framework an ideal foundation for municipalities looking to implement best-practice cybersecurity without overwhelming their resources.

2. Develop an Incident Response Plan

An incident response plan enables municipalities to quickly identify, contain, and resolve cybersecurity threats, minimizing damage, reducing recovery time, and protecting sensitive data. It ensures a coordinated response, helping staff act swiftly and effectively in a crisis by detailing:

• Asset and technical infrastructure inventories
• Business continuity and emergency management plans
• A dedicated response team that includes legal, law enforcement, and communications personnel

3. Cyber Insurance Options

Cyber insurance can provide financial recovery post-incident, but it’s essential to examine the policies carefully. Take the time to understand the scope of coverage, its sub-limits, and if incident response is embedded in the policy. While insurance is not a standalone solution, it can play a critical role in a broader risk management strategy.

The Importance of Collaborating with Law Enforcement

Early involvement of law enforcement can be critical in managing cyber incidents. Building a relationship with local law enforcement cyber teams before an attack allows for smoother collaboration, minimizes potential missteps, and accelerates the incident response process. Engaging with law enforcement also provides access to shared intelligence and can serve as a strong deterrent against would-be attackers.

To gain a deeper understanding of the dangers posed by cybercriminals, the vulnerabilities that may be lurking in your organization, the steps you can take to mitigate risk, and the role of law enforcement in your defense strategy, check out this joint presentation offered by GHD Digital and AMO/LAS, featuring a guest speaker from Halton Regional Police Service – Cyber Crime Unit.