Securing the future: How advanced network management protects smart cities

The United States is home to some of the world’s most digitally advanced cities, with New York, Washington D.C., and Dallas leading the way. These urban centers rely heavily on the Internet of Things (IoT) to maintain seamless connectivity across their infrastructures. However, this connectivity also demands immense data storage, processing power and efficient management to support the flow of information and sustain the smart city ecosystem. For municipal and county leaders nationwide, understanding how to implement and secure such systems is critical to enhancing local services and protecting their communities from growing cyber threats.

To unlock the full potential of smart city technologies, municipalities must focus on building a secure, reliable network foundation. Advanced network management is key to ensuring these systems work cohesively, from selecting the right technologies to integrating vendor-agnostic solutions and building the right team to prioritize long-term adaptability and efficiency.

Choosing, integrating, and managing the right network technology for smart city initiatives
Smart city projects often face similar problems in the planning process, and one of the most significant is selecting the right network technology. Smart city infrastructures are inherently distributed, often extending into remote areas with limited existing technological infrastructure. For example, placing IoT sensors in rural or less-developed areas requires network solutions that can bridge significant gaps. Some devices may seamlessly integrate with existing Wi-Fi networks due to proximity, while others might require cellular or 5G connections to ensure functionality. Choosing the right networking technology upfront is essential to avoid bottlenecks and ensure scalability as the city grows.

Once the appropriate technologies are chosen, the next challenge lies in integration. Smart city systems often require a mix of diverse network technologies to meet various demands, from public safety to environmental monitoring. This diversity can create silos of data and operations if not managed effectively. Advanced network management plays a critical role in unifying these disparate systems, ensuring they work cohesively under a single framework. For instance, integrating Wi-Fi, 5G and other specialized networks under a unified management platform allows for seamless communication and standardized practices across all components.

Regardless of the type of network technology implemented, cities must prioritize consistent security practices, data protocols and performance metrics to ensure long-term success in smart city projects. Unfortunately, this is an area often overlooked in the planning process. Some municipalities rush to deploy technologies based on immediate availability without fully evaluating their long-term needs or the broader range of options. This can lead to costly replacements and inefficiencies when initial choices fail to scale with the city’s growth.

The solution lies in thorough due diligence during the planning phase. By carefully evaluating potential networking technologies and considering future needs, cities can make informed decisions that minimize the risk of obsolescence and provide cost-effective solutions in the long run. Furthermore, advanced network management tools provide a vendor-agnostic approach to unify and standardize operations across different technologies. This prevents cities from being locked into a single vendor's ecosystem, ensuring flexibility and adaptability.

Evolving cybersecurity threats
Data privacy is one of the most pressing cybersecurity risks currently facing smart cities. As cities integrate an increasing number of IoT devices, they also collect vast amounts of sensitive data. This can range from traffic and environmental sensor data to personal information, such as license plate numbers or behavioral data tied to individuals. Unlike other sectors, smart cities handle data that is often directly tied to people's daily lives, making it particularly vulnerable to cyber threats. Ensuring this data remains private and protected is crucial, as breaches can have far-reaching consequences for residents' safety and privacy. Best practices for mitigating these risks include working with reputable vendors and maintaining rigorous data protection protocols, such as encryption and regular system updates.

Another major risk revolves around unauthorized access to critical devices. Smart cities gather data and control and manage physical systems like streetlights, traffic signals and other infrastructure. If these devices are hacked, the consequences can directly affect public safety and city operations. To mitigate these risks, it's essential to establish strong access controls and conduct regular monitoring to detect malicious activity. Limiting who has access to these devices—whether through role-based permissions or multi-factor authentication—helps prevent internal and external actors from exploiting vulnerabilities. Ensuring that security is maintained across the entire IoT network, including data collection devices and those controlling city functions, is essential for minimizing risks and maintaining trust in smart city technologies.

Collaborating for success: How IT and security teams can safeguard smart city networks against cyberthreats
Effective collaboration between IT and security teams is crucial for managing the complex networks that power smart cities and safeguarding them from cyber threats. One of the key strategies for ensuring smooth collaboration is having both teams operate on the same technology platform or integrating their systems tightly. By working from a unified dashboard or "pane of glass," teams can more easily monitor, troubleshoot and respond to potential issues in real-time. This shared visibility helps break down silos and improves communication, enabling both IT and security teams to address problems more quickly and efficiently.

In addition to using integrated platforms, security should be woven into every policy and practice, particularly in standard operating procedures (SOPs). It's essential that security teams are involved in the creation and review of these procedures from the outset, a step often overlooked by IT teams. This ensures that security measures are not added as an afterthought but are a foundational element of the city's network management practices. Furthermore, maintaining the reliability and security of the network requires a dual approach: monitoring the physical devices and maintaining the software. 

On the hardware side, cities must ensure that devices are operational and secure from environmental factors like temperature and prevent unauthorized physical access. On the software side, continuous patching, regular updates, and strict change management practices are necessary to avoid vulnerabilities caused by outdated systems or unauthorized configuration changes. Through this collaborative and holistic approach, IT and security teams can help ensure the reliability and protection of smart city networks as municipalities implement these tech initiatives.

Starting smart: Key advice for local governments embarking on smart city integration
For local governments just beginning their journey towards smart city integration, it's important to remember that you're not alone in this process. Many cities are already tackling similar challenges, so don’t hesitate to contact neighboring cities or those with comparable issues. By networking with these cities, you can learn from their experiences, adapt their solutions to fit your unique needs, and avoid reinventing the wheel. Most cities have already navigated the hurdles of technology adoption and can provide valuable insights on what worked and what didn’t.

A common concern for cities is the need for more budget for training and developing expertise in smart city technologies. This can create anxiety, especially when mandated to implement solutions without the necessary knowledge or resources. I suggest tapping into the experience of other local governments. They’ve likely already solved similar problems and can offer guidance without you having to invest significant time or money into developing expertise from scratch. Collaborating with other cities helps you overcome the learning curve and move forward more confidently in your smart city initiatives as you evaluate network management implementations for your municipality.