CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced Monday that the county is undertaking a cybersecurity project to determine any existing vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks.
The government’s cyber systems control so many crucial systems, including the 911 calls center, traffic signals and water districts, which is why cybersecurity has become an important item for Bellone.
The Suffolk County executive says his county will soon become the first in New York State to hire companies to look through the government's cyber systems to check from vulnerabilities.
“This cyber checkup will help the county understand current abilities to respond to a cyber threats and will utilize a robust table top exercise that will identify any possible operating vulnerabilities to our public safety department,” Bellone said.
He notes that the study will focus on three areas: “The Suffolk County Police Department, the Department of Fire Rescues and Emergency Services and the Department of Information Technology.”
He says cyber-attacks are a real threat to law enforcement and local governments and they often happen without any sort of warning.