Speaker, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education Webinar, "Building a Cyber Fortress around Your Town: What Every Local Government Lawyer Should Know about Cyber Security"

In medieval times, leaders took a multi-layered approach to security and built fortresses, gates, moats, and security perimeters to protect cities and towns from enemies. Some things never change. Today, municipal officials must do the same to defend against the “barbarians” at their electronic gates, because when hackers attack local governments, the results can be life-threatening. 911 and other emergency systems can be affected. Court proceedings and revenue collection can come to a halt, as can the administration of social services. As cities become “smarter,” more and more of their services – water, sewer, traffic lights – are controlled by computers, and are susceptible to attacks on all fronts.

Local government attorneys must urge their clients to take a comprehensive view of cybersecurity and put it at the forefront of planning and funding, and not think of it as a “backroom” function for a few computer geeks. Public officials and employees need to become “security knights in shining armour” and know how to shield their systems from hackers, detect potential attacks, and know how to respond if there is a breach.

This webinar will highlight the cybersecurity issues every local government should be counseling their clients about including:

• Why caution is needed when integrating new technology with older
  systems
• How to shield against breaches and fortress your systems
• Data protection and backups
• Why having and practicing a cyber disaster recovery plan is crucial.
• Should you outsource security services?
• Why training is crucial for all departments and personal
• How smaller devices, such as phone and tablets, can cause big security
  problems
• Cooperating with State and Federal agencies
• Getting municipal employees to practice “digital hygiene”