Article Harnessing data for safer communities 18th November 2024 When ranking the most significant developments of the digital age, the evolution of data storage does not garner many glamour points. Yet few innovations have had such a profound impact on the ability to develop new technologies and perform tasks previously unimaginable. The ability to gather, store and analyze almost unlimited amounts of data has […]
Article Small budget, strong security: Why Zero Trust is key to protecting critical infrastructure 15th November 2024 Earlier this year, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a joint advisory, warning government agencies of potential disruptions to U.S. critical infrastructure by cyber actors. Since then, reports have surfaced highlighting state and local governments as increasing targets for these attacks, particularly from […]
Article Ransomware presents a growing threat to vulnerable local governments 6th November 2024 In the past, cities and counties were not a prime target for ransomware attacks, says Rahul Mahna, a partner who leads the Outsourced IT Services team at Eisner Advisory Group LLC. The company is a licensed independent CPA firm providing tax and business consulting services to their clients, which includes governments. Mahna has more than […]
Article 2024 elections meet social media – How local governments can stay ahead 1st November 2024 Social media is a critical aspect of the 2024 election in different ways from years prior. This is due to younger generation voters engaging on platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok, and with half of all U.S. adults saying they at least sometimes get news via social media, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center […]
Article A trusted technology partner can help cities and counties achieve their digital vision 1st November 2024 If a local government wants to re-do its IT setup, its leaders should collaborate with knowledgeable teammates, says Matt Sprague, industry strategy director, local government at Trimble, a U.S.-based software and hardware firm that provides services and a variety of technologies. “If a city or county is starting from scratch on their vision or plan […]
Article Traverse City’s broadband project is a cautionary tale for other communities 29th October 2024 As a former telecommunications executive who created business plans for fiber networks, I’ve watched Traverse City, Mich.’s efforts to build a fiber municipal broadband network with both interest and concern. The appeal of affordable, high-speed internet owned and operated by the city itself was understandable, particularly in a time when reliable internet access has become […]
Article As cyber threats evolve, cities and counties need to safeguard staffers’ mobile devices 25th October 2024 No question, more local governments are facing cyber threats in 2024, says Tim LeMaster, vice president, worldwide systems engineering at Lookout. His firm is a data-centric cloud security company. It uses a defense-in-depth strategy to address the different stages of modern cybersecurity attacks, which now start with infiltrations of mobile devices. The following link includes […]
Article Building smarter, stronger communities with an AI-enhanced government workforce 24th October 2024 There are an estimated 20.3 million public sector employees in the United States, representing a significant 13% of the country’s active workforce. The implications for turnover are staggering, as several thousand of these employees retire each year on average as others constantly join. Technologies once relied on to manage this process and reduce knowledge loss […]
Article On technology buys, it’s important that agency stakeholders work together throughout the process 8th October 2024 Teamwork is essential when cities and counties plan to buy new systems and equipment, says Gary Mitchell, director of SLED (state, local and education) business development at Iron Mountain Government Solutions, a company that provides secure management of data and assets; it works to protect, connect and activate high-value customer data. “The single most important […]
Article Modernizing municipal IT infrastructure: A vital defense against cyber threats 3rd October 2024 This summer, Flint, Mich., became the latest in a growing list of U.S. municipalities to fall victim to a ransomware attack. This incident, which took city services offline for weeks, is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities many local governments face in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape. The attack on Flint underscores the urgent need […]
Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina 13th October 2020
A new dashboard tracks early voting for the 2024 election. These 10 counties have cast the most votes so far 21st October 2024
Cycling, recycling and green space: these are the top 10 most sustainable cities in the U.S. 30th August 2024
