Start-Up Releases Guide to Increase Small Government Cybersecurity

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Aug. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In response to the recent rise in successful cyber attacks on local governments, Threat Sketch, a groundbreaking cybersecurity data analytics company, announces the publication of "ts governance for Small Governments," a guide written specifically for local governments and municipalities that provides tools for implementing a strategic cyber risk management plan.

"Hackers are indiscriminate on whether to attack a business, a government agency, or a nonprofit organization. All they care about is how easy it is to attack and, if attacked, how likely is it that the organization will pay," said Rob Arnold, founder and CEO of Threat Sketch. "Cyber criminals have found a vulnerable segment in small to medium-sized governments and even larger municipalities, because for the most part, we have found that local governments are not funding cybersecurity at nearly the level of their commercial counterparts."

The information held by governments is at greater risk for cyber attack than many businesses, and that risk continues to increase. Big cities including Baltimore, Atlanta and San Diego have suffered high-profile cyber attacks in the last year, leading to millions of dollars in damages and lost revenue, but it's not just the larger cities that are at risk. Almost 40 percent of local government CIOs reported more attacks during the last 12 months, while another 18 percent reported a cyber breach attempt almost daily, according to surveys by International City/County Management Association.

"ts governance for Small Governments" aims to help turn the tide of cyber crime in the government sector by providing the information and tools these organizations and agencies need to improve cybersecurity preparedness and prevention measures. The guide provides an overview of why cybersecurity is an important issue for small governments, including the motivations of cyber criminals, the most common types of attacks, and what is at stake. The guide also includes:

• An outline of key strategic functions for managing cyber risk
• How to create a tactical advisory and implementation team that include more than IT professionals
• Tips for balancing prevention and preparedness
• A crisis control plan for protecting public reputation
• An explanation of regulatory compliance measures and why those alone aren't enough in today's cyber climate

The Threat Sketch guide also includes valuable information about the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the federal guide to managing cybersecurity. This framework is both a technical reference and a management guide that serves as a guideline for city managers, elected officials, and senior staff as well as a reference manual that points to external resources that contain more detail.

"We are very excited to offer this publication designed specifically for small government entities," Arnold said. "These organizations are a vital part of the critical infrastructure for the communities they serve, and their reach extends to a large number of people. One economic measure of impact is that small government entities impact the lives of 148 million U.S. citizens. This new cybersecurity guide will enable small governments to prepare for and prevent cyber attacks."

ts governance is available for download at https://threatsketch.com/cyber-risk-management-tools-government/.

For those wanting to use ts governance as an informational guide for small government clients, contact the Threat Sketch team at info(at)threatsketch(dot)com for co-branding opportunities.

About TS Governance for Small Governments -- This guide was published with funding and support provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, National Risk Management Center, through the National Infrastructure Protection Program Security & Resilience Challenge which is implemented by The National Institute For Hometown Security (NIHS).

About Threat Sketch -- Founded in 2015 in Winston-Salem, NC, Threat Sketch provides proprietary cybersecurity databases and analytical tools built upon a comprehensive cyber risk management platform. Through risk-based queries, cyber risk managers can access detailed risk mitigation data to assemble a custom risk management plan, including access to a legal database comprised of more than 350 summaries of data privacy and security legislation at both the state and federal levels. The Threat Sketch cybersecurity platform includes a vetted database of third-party vendors who can help companies manage their cyber risk. Together, this information empowers risk management professionals to quickly and effectively customize risk management plans for their clients.

SOURCE Threat Sketch