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June 28, 2024

Saratoga Springs Faces IT Disruption Due to Cybersecurity Incident


Earlier this year, New York State Govenor Kathy Hochul launched the New York State Cybersecurity Grant Plan to boost cyber defenses across local governments statewide. With nearly $6 million in funding from the federal State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, the initiative aims to enhance cyber resilience by providing more sophisticated tools, resources and services.

New York's program prioritizes shared services initiatives aimed at laying a foundational level of cybersecurity across local governments. These initiatives include MFA (which strengthens user authentication through multiple verification factors), scholarships for cybersecurity certifications for eligible employees, and cybersecurity awareness training for personnel. These efforts equip local entities with the necessary knowledge and tools to defend against evolving cyber threats effectively.

To maximize participation and ensure targeted utilization of funds, New York encourages eligible entities to express their interest in the program through the SLCGP Interest Form. This feedback will inform strategic planning and resource allocation during the first year of implementation. Detailed application procedures will be outlined later in the year.

With this plan, New York aims to strengthen its local governments' ability to protect critical infrastructure and data from cyber threats effectively. But why talk about this plan now?

Well, a city in New York was recently hit with a cybersecurity incident.

Here’s the gist of it.

Saratoga Springs' IT systems were thrown into chaos on after a police officer discovered a digital roadblock – they couldn't access their account. City officials quickly cordoned off the network and took all systems offline to prevent further disruption. 

While the culprit isn't a digital kidnapper demanding a ransom, thankfully, the incident forced a temporary detour for city services.

911 calls were rerouted to the county dispatch center to ensure a swift response to emergencies. Non-essential calls are also on hold, but city hall remains open for business, albeit with some limitations. 

“There are a lot of aspects to the emergency protocols,” said Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi. “Making sure our bank accounts are safe and secure, making sure our payroll is safe and secure, the city’s data, we’re working through all those pieces and that’s how we were able to ascertain there’s no threat.”

Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll did emphasize that there is no threat to the public.

“The FBI was here, their special agent in charge and cyber division, and they said Jeff did everything he was supposed to do,” said Coll. “We don’t have any concerns that any records were stolen or deleted.”

It’s good to hear that data was reportedly not stolen or deleted. But that made a question pop up. What if Saratoga Springs had a digital guardian angel, like an MSP? These tech experts could have prevented this IT nightmare or at least gotten the city back on its feet much faster.

Before the incident, MSPs would have put firewalls and security systems in place to constantly scan for threats. They also train employees to spot phishing attempts, the sneaky tricks hackers use. Most importantly, they would have had a battle plan – a clear outline of who does what if a cyberattack strikes.

During the crisis, the MSP's Security Operations Center (something that I often think of like a high-tech war room) would be on high alert. They'd quickly identify the culprit and isolate the problem. Their expertise would be invaluable in determining the cause and kicking the digital intruders out. Plus, they'd handle communication with everyone from the mayor's office to worried residents. And, by having backups at the ready, they could get vital systems back online much faster.

With an MSP, Saratoga Springs could have faced this crisis with a lot less chaos. They might have even avoided it altogether.

With that said, it will be interesting to see how Hochul’s cybersecurity grant plan will factor into how local governments in New York use the provided funds. Will the funds be enough to bring in an MSP to strengthen cybersecurity postures throughout New York State?

Sure, data was not stolen or deleted this time. But, who’s to say that the next attack won’t be worse? Just as businesses do, city governments need to make sure their cybersecurity posture is in tip-top shape especially since they hold personal records.




Edited by Alex Passett


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