The holiday season for many begins in the week ahead, and it is often prime time for cybercriminals to strike—and public safety organizations and local governments are high-value targets this time of year.
A 2024 study showed 86% of respondents were targeted by a cyber attack on holidays. We’ve seen everything from ECCs to local governments and water treatment plants targeted with ransomware and phishing attacks during past holiday seasons.
Here’s are a few reminders why your organization could be at risk and targeted this time of year:
- Reduced Staffing: Limited holiday staff may delay recognizing or responding to cyber threats.
- Increased Phishing Attacks: Seasonal-themed phishing emails target your workforce, attempting to steal credentials.
- Exploited Vulnerabilities: Attackers leverage unpatched systems and vendor weaknesses, knowing resources are stretched thin.
It’s an important time to stay vigilant and lever tools and trusted partners to protect your network:
- Train Your Team: Educate staff on recognizing phishing emails and social engineering attempts.
- Monitor Networks Closely: Use enhanced monitoring during holidays to detect suspicious activity early.
- Secure Remote Access: Limit and protect remote access points with multi-factor authentication.
- Have a Response Plan: Prepare for worst-case scenarios, including ransomware attacks or breaches.
If you suspect a cyber threat, time is critical. SecuLore specializes in and is trusted with protecting critical, sensitive networks of public safety, local government, and critical infrastructure organizations to prevent and respond and mitigate cyber attacks.
Don’t wait for a breach to disrupt your operations—act now.
Happy Holidays and Stay Cyber Safe!
Other Resources
- Threat Detection and Response: A Case Study in Human Expertise
- Why SOAR Isn’t the Right Cybersecurity Fit for Public Safety
- World Backup Day: Essential Backup Strategies for Public Safety & Government
- Managed Detection and Response FAQ: Everything Public Safety Agencies Need to Know
- What is Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)?