Smart Cities: Some Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity

Smart Cities: Some Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity
Smart Cities: Some Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity

Smart Cities: Some Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity

To boost the efficiency and effectiveness of city services, smart cities need to harness the power of three Ds—digital technologies, data, and design thinking. Their implementation is essential for a Smart City to create new economic and social opportunities. However, digital transformations of cities like using the Internet of Things, putting services online, analyzing lots of data has also evolved cyber risks that could fundamentally impact the existence of smart cities.  The rapid hyper-connectivity and digitization of smart cities have made imperative for cities to embed cybersecurity and privacy principles in each stage of their development.

To tackle the challenge, government leaders, and urban planners should evolve and build “strong capabilities for detection, response, reconnaissance, and recovery plan.”

Here are some ways to make smart cities Future-proof cybersecurity cities:

Establish a Secure Cyber Strategy:

The government must establish a detailed and defined cybersecurity in line with their broader smart city strategy that can mitigate challenges of cyber risks and managing the associated risks effectively. When it comes to cybersecurity, it is essential to recognize and understand the complexity and frequency of the different types of cyberattacks.  Based on the complexity or nature of the cyber attacks cities should carry out an extensive impact assessment of their data, systems, and cyber assets to protect vulnerable source systems and to mitigate the risks associated with it.

Manage Risk through effective Training and Culture:

Poor digital practices and knowledge gap can lead to organizations more vulnerable to future attacks. To combat this, Cities should spend large amounts of money on technical solutions and effective tools that can reduce the likelihood and the potential damage created by the cyberattacks. Today, employees are unaware of their organization’s security risks and their one wrong click can cause detrimental consequences. Through effective training and proactive culture, organizations can alleviate risk and can strengthen the security of government information.

Hire Cybersecurity Expert:

 A smart city needs to formalize the governance approach and requires new skills and technologies across the various ecosystem layers. This approach may require a strong governance model along with an investment in elevating the skill level of the people responsible for cybersecurity defense.

It is critical for city leadership to realize that Cybersecurity is just too important to be treated as an afterthought.

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