The Importance of a Centralized Cyber Function: Insights from the 2024 MISA Municipal Cybersecurity Survey
The 2024 MISA Municipal Cybersecurity Survey sheds light on a critical gap facing Ontario municipalities: the lack of centralized cyber functions. According to the survey, only 15% of municipalities have a centralized cybersecurity function, and many report these functions are often reporting to non-technical roles.
Why Does This Matter?
A centralized cyber function plays a pivotal role in safeguarding municipal operations, sensitive data, and public trust. Without it, municipalities face several challenges:
Fragmented Efforts: Dispersed responsibilities lead to inconsistent implementation of cybersecurity protocols, leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed.
Inefficient Communication: When cybersecurity reports into non-technical roles, important issues may be delayed or misunderstood due to lack of technical expertise.
Missed Opportunities for Proactive Defense: A centralized cyber function can better identify emerging threats, coordinate responses, and better plan long-term, proactive strategies, therefore, creating a stronger more resilient municipality.
The truth? Municipalities without centralized cyber functions face greater challenges in defending against increasingly sophisticated attacks. However, this doesn’t mean they need to drop everything and invest heavily in building a dedicated cyber team. With tight budgets and limited staffing resources, this can feel like an impossible task. Fortunately, there are cost-effective solutions and tools available to help municipalities establish a robust cyber function without breaking the bank.
The Edgeworx Solution
At Edgeworx, we understand the challenges municipalities face in establishing effective cybersecurity practices. Here’s how we can help municipalities build and enhance their cyber function:
1️⃣ Comprehensive Assessments: Our M365 Security Best Practices and CIS-18 Security Framework Assessments provide a clear understanding of your current security posture and help identify gaps giving you the building blocks needed to begin building a more resilient municipality.
2️⃣ Tailored Roadmaps: We develop customized strategies to help municipalities establish a centralized cyber function that aligns with their unique needs, resources, and budgets.
3️⃣ Expert Guidance: We work alongside your team to ensure key stakeholders understand the importance of cybersecurity, enabling seamless communication between technical and non-technical roles.
4️⃣ Proactive Defense: With a centralized approach, municipalities can build security-by-design into their IT infrastructure, ensuring systems are prepared to handle evolving threats.
Take Action
The survey highlights the importance of municipalities prioritizing their cybersecurity strategies. By implementing a centralized cyber function, municipalities can strengthen coordination, improve communication, and enhance their defenses against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
