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Every permit, property record, or service request contains valuable information. Protecting it is a matter of public trust.
Local governments have always managed records that include infrastructure data, business details, and Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In the past, protecting that data meant controlling physical access to paper records: locking offices and filing cabinets and possibly making sure nosey neighbors weren’t reading someone else’s application upside down at the clerk’s window.
Modern Data Protection Leads to Greater Trust, Better Services, and Business Continuity
Today’s digital systems reduce lines in city hall and, by making information faster and easier to store, sort and share at scale, they’re overall more efficient, too. But modern systems require modern data protection, as these incidents demonstrate:
- In 2018, ransomware froze Atlanta city systems, disrupting courts and utilities.[1]
- In 2019, a ransomware attack in Baltimore shut down property sales and permitting, causing losses that exceeded $18 million.[2]
- In 2023, hackers disabled Dallas municipal systems, and services were offline for weeks. [3]
Ransomware isn’t the only risk. It’s equally important to protect local government systems from data tampering. Altered permits or licenses can lead to code violations and lost revenue. Manipulated GIS data can misdirect emergency services, misrepresent critical infrastructure, or enable fraudulent property deals.
How to Build a Secure Foundation
Protecting local government data isn’t difficult with the right government management system. Secure software includes enterprise-grade controls such as:
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Data encryption
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Role-based access management (RBAC) so only authorized staff can create, view, or edit records
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Secure hosting and backups to ensure business continuity
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Continuous monitoring to detect and stop threats in real time
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Independent audits to confirm controls are working
Staff training is also important to reduce the risks of breaches due to phishing and social engineering The rise in the use of AI among cybercriminals has led to more sophisticated attacks, including automated exploitation that speeds discovery of vulnerabilities and the creation of convincing deepfakes that exploit human trust.
GovPilot’s Security Advantage
GovPilot delivers a modern government operating system with enterprise-level security controls. With 125 solutions across multiple departments, GovPilot is validated by SOC 2 Type II certification, an independent, ongoing review that proves our controls for availability, integrity, confidentiality, and privacy operate reliably over time.
GovPilot’s data security measures include:
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Data encryption, role-based access controls, and secure hosting on the Microsoft Azure platform
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Frequent data backups, business continuity planning, and disaster recovery strategies
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Third-party penetration testing and continuous monitoring
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Secure development and change management processes
Protecting Trust, Empowering Efficiency
GovPilot helps local governments modernize processes while safeguarding the data that’s entrusted to them. With SOC 2 Type II certification and proven security practices, GovPilot ensures efficiency and transparency never come at the expense of data protection. That’s why municipalities nationwide trust GovPilot to help them secure their operations.
