Solutions Spotlight - Oct. 19, 2015

Protecting Paradise: How the County of Maui Is Strengthening Its Cyber Defenses

The tranquil islands of Maui County are among the world’s most coveted tourist destinations. But nowhere on the planet is immune to the threat of cyber attack. Even the remotest corners of Maui County’s three populated islands have potential ex­posure to the full onslaught of Web-sourced malware and malicious payloads.

Recognizing the realities of today’s connected world, Maui County appointed Karen Sher­man, a highly experienced IT veteran, to the newly created position of Information Secu­rity and Privacy Officer. “The County Council really under­stood the need for a dedicated resource to properly address the challenge of cybersecu­rity,” remarked Sherman.

She continued, “My sphere of responsibility is very broad; from emergency services, industrial control systems, parks and recreations, etc. We’re working hard to secure the entire landscape. Timed to coincide with the upcoming ‘National Cyber Awareness Month’ we’re also kicking off a campaign and a series of programs to educate employees and community members.”

Despite the popularity of the islands, human resources are always a constraint. “It can be challenging to find ap­propriately skilled resources, so the county relies on technol­ogy to help us bridge the gap,” Sherman commented.

“We look for world-class se­curity solutions that constantly monitor our environment and only alert us when we actually need to do something, she added. “Unless a tool allows us to optimize how we deploy our staff, it doesn’t even warrant consideration.”

To enhance its existing cyber defense measures, Maui County deployed solutions from best-in-class vendors, including FireEye, a leading provider of dynamic malware protection platforms. Sher­man said, “Since the county is so dispersed, it’s invaluable knowing exactly where an alert was generated; this enables us to make informed decisions about the most appropriate mitigation strategy and how best to utilize our people.”

Relationships are another critical element for Sherman: “Because we all have the same objective of protecting our constituents from cyber threats, I’ve found great value in the strong partnerships I’ve formed within our IT team, the County Council and the state.”

She concluded, “With cybersecurity there is no silver bullet: It all comes down to forging the right partner­ships and collaborations, raising awareness and staying constantly vigilant. This ap­proach is the cornerstone of ensuring that Maui remains the paradise that our residents and visitors deserve.