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Open Letter to Prioritize Community Cybersecurity

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Dissent

Over on Infosec.Exchange, Wendy Nather mentioned an open letter that is noteworthy for its approach to improving cybersecurity. The letter to presidential candidates’ transition teams, relevant federal agencies, and members of Congress begins:

The federal government focuses primarily on cybersecurity as it relates to national security. This priority is essential, but the framing allows many small, critical organizations to fall through the cracks, including public organizations like small municipalities and rural school districts, as well as critical nonprofits like food banks, legal aid, and social services. The impact of cyber attacks on community organizations is devastating, and disproportionately affects the poorest Americans who rely on the critical services they provide. Collectively, these incidents degrade our economic wellbeing and public health and safety.

Public life would not function without the thousands of small, local organizations that make America work. Students learn at 14,000 school districts across the country, and residents receive essential services from 312,000 U.S. nonprofits and shop at 33.2 million small businesses. But many of these organizations lack the resources, training, and access to protect themselves from common cyber attacks, and are often referred to as target-rich and resource-poor, or below the “cyber poverty line,” a term coined by cybersecurity expert Wendy Nather.

We strongly urge the next administration, regardless of political affiliation, to prioritize strengthening the cybersecurity of these under-resourced community organizations.

Read more at the Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity.

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