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2018 Cybersecurity Outlook for State, Local, Tribal and Territiorial Governments

Everyone needs to be tracking cybersecurity, no matter their personal role.

Cybersecurity is not going away. If you are an old-timer or someone just beginning their professional career, cybersecurity will be with us in our personal and professional lives. As emergency managers, we have to accept the fact that cybersecurity is not just an IT function. So, dive in and bone up on the topic — it is here to stay.

2018 cybersecurity outlook for state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) governments


The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) recently released its 2018 SLTT Government Outlook detailing the types of cyberthreats it expects to be prevalent in 2018.

  • The six-page document predicts a larger role for SLTT governments in cybersecurity, in part because they will be targeted by cybercrime more. Further:
  • Cybercrime against SLTT governments will again be motivated primarily by financial gain.
  • Network boundaries will be broken as new cybercrime will increasingly target apps, cloud computing, Internet of Things, cryptocurrencies and supply chain.
  • Cybersecurity workforce demand will climb and likely outpace supply. SLTT governments will have a hard time competing with private-sector salaries and drawing qualified workers.
  • New technology (body cameras, drones, apps) will continue to change how chief information security officers do their jobs.
The MS-ISAC offers SLTT governments free cybersecurity resources and information on prevention, protection, response and recovery. It also assists with incident response through its 24/7 Security Operations Center. Visit the MS-ISAC website to learn more.

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.