CyManII shares strategies for strengthening cybersecurity during panel discussion
As cyberattacks become more frequent, communities across the United States face a growing challenge: protecting critical infrastructure with limited resources and personnel.
This is one of the messages Ed McCormick, Regional Innovation Officer at CyManII, shared at the Joint Aerospace, Cybersecurity and Education and Workforce Development Council meeting on June 23.
McCormick sat on a panel, “Innovation, Talent and the Future of San Antonio’s Economy,” alongside other leaders in the community, including Bianca Rhodes, president and CEO of Knight Aerospace, and Michael Ramsey, executive director of workforce development for the City of San Antonio. The panel was moderated by Sandi Wolff, VP of community engagement and advancement at Hallmark University and the education and workforce development council chair.
According to McCormick, the threat landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, particularly for smaller organizations and independent manufacturers.
“Cyberattacks on small, independent manufacturers are on the rise,” he said. “Ransomware is getting a lot more sophisticated.”
While large corporations often have dedicated cybersecurity teams and extensive resources, smaller organizations frequently rely on a handful of employees to manage both daily technology needs and emerging cyber threats.
“The problem is that small towns have fewer resources,” McCormick said. “Not only is the IT team unlocking someone’s email in the morning because they forgot the password, in the afternoon they’re handling a ransomware attack from Iran.”
The challenge is particularly significant because much of the nation’s critical infrastructure exists outside major metropolitan areas.
“Eighty-five percent of the nation’s critical infrastructure are in towns that have a population that is less than 6,000,” McCormick said.
That reality means cybersecurity preparedness cannot be limited to large cities or major industrial centers. Small municipalities, utilities, manufacturers and public agencies increasingly find themselves on the front lines of cyber defense.
To address this gap, CyManII has focused on delivering experiential training that allows participants to practice responding to cyber incidents in realistic environments.
