In February 2018, Colorado’s Department of transportation became the first major ransomware casualty of the year. Cryptovirological attackers targeted the department’s server with a variant of SamSam ransomware. The administration had to go offline while experts were dealing with ransomware removal and recovery measures. The administration should be applauded for they didn’t go into negotiations with the attackers for ransomware removal.
Colorado’s CTO (Chief Technology Officer) David McCurdy recently attended National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) conference where he extensively talked about the changing landscape of organizational cybersecurity particularly after the infamous ransomware attack on CDOT.
No foolproof security
McCurdy has acknowledged that even after the attack the state is struggling to devise a foolproof security system. Working out a 100 percent foolproof digital security system in this time and age has become virtually impossible. So, security experts can only strive for anything close to an ideal cybersecurity regimen.
Improved awareness and investment
McCurdy also thinks that that state machinery is now taking cyber threats more seriously. Six years ago, Colorado government allocated a mere $6,000 dollars for the cybersecurity of the statewide digital systems. And now the budget promises a supplementary grant of $9.8 million for cybersecurity. He has also talked about how the governor and key state legislators are on board to revamp the cybersecurity of the state’s digital front.
The need for layered security protocols
Colorado’s CTO also believes that the organizations and governments must upgrade to multi-layered security from the existing archaic unidirectional protocols. Layered security arrangement can help in materializing the three basic elements for securing valuable digital assets in their most optimal form. These three elements are prevention, detection, and response. Any cyber attack including ransomware can be dealt with in a better manner only if these three elements could be modernized accordingly.
