When Local Governments and Businesses Unite: The Power of Municipal Cybersecurity Partnerships in Defending Our Digital Communities

In today’s interconnected world, the line between public and private cybersecurity has blurred beyond recognition. From the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland to the bustling cities of Texas, municipalities worldwide are facing an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks that threaten the very foundation of public services. The past year has painted a stark picture: local governments have become prime targets for cybercriminals, with devastating consequences that ripple through entire communities.

The statistics paint a sobering picture of the current threat landscape. Between 2018 and 2024, there were 525 reported ransomware attacks on U.S. government entities alone, resulting in an estimated $1.09 billion in downtime. So far in 2025, major cyberattacks on state and local governments have been recorded in at least 44 U.S. states. These numbers represent more than just financial losses—they reflect disrupted essential services, compromised citizen data, and eroded public trust.

The Evolving Threat Landscape

Municipal governments face unique cybersecurity challenges that make them particularly attractive targets. Municipal governments can be particularly vulnerable, as they often lack the security resources of federal agencies. Local governments typically have limited budgets for upgrading networks and security systems, often use outdated technology and may not have dedicated IT staff to implement organizational safeguards to protect against the ever-increasing risk of a cyberattack.

The threats themselves are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The center found that malware attacks increased by 148%, while ransomware incidents were 51% more prominent during the first eight months of 2023 than they were during the same period a year earlier. Non-malware cyberattacks, in which hackers use the tools that already exist on a device or within software to take over a system instead of creating a custom tool that could be flagged as malware, increased by 37%. The report also documented a 313% rise in endpoint security services incidents, such as data breaches, unauthorized access and insider threats.

The Power of Public-Private Partnerships

Recognizing these challenges, forward-thinking municipalities are turning to innovative partnerships with private sector cybersecurity providers. State governments are increasingly providing services to county and municipal governments, including endpoint protection, shared service agreements for cyber defensive tools, incident response and statewide cybersecurity awareness and training. Many CISOs believe that increased engagement with locals has strengthened the state’s overall cyber posture, and they have made it a top cybersecurity priority.

These partnerships take various forms, from managed security service providers (MSSPs) to comprehensive IT outsourcing agreements. Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs): Outsource cybersecurity functions to MSSPs to gain monitoring, incident response, and specialized expertise. Public–Private Partnerships: Leverage organizations like: Center for Internet Security (CIS): Free CIS Controls v8.1, security benchmarks, and guidelines · Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC): Low-cost endpoint detection, network monitoring, and actionable threat intelligence for state and local governments

Success Stories in Municipal Cybersecurity Collaboration

One exemplary model of successful public-private partnership can be found in the collaboration between municipal leagues and specialized cybersecurity firms. Maryland Municipal League (MML) Partners with VC3, a National Cybersecurity Firm, to Deliver Services to Local Government in Maryland. VC3 has spent the last 29 years making IT personal, making IT easy, and getting IT right for over 1,100 municipalities.

These partnerships demonstrate how shared resources and expertise can level the playing field for smaller municipalities. With 9 municipal leagues trusting us as their endorsed technology partner for members, we are all about serving, educating, and protecting cities and towns. With 9 municipal leagues trusting us as their endorsed technology partner for members, we are all about serving, educating, and protecting cities and towns.

Local Solutions for Local Challenges

For communities in regions like Contra Costa County, California, local cybersecurity providers offer the advantage of understanding regional needs while providing enterprise-level security. Companies like Red Box Business Solutions exemplify how local businesses can serve as trusted partners for municipal cybersecurity needs. Red Box Business Solutions provides comprehensive IT services including cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and managed IT support, specifically tailored for small and medium-sized businesses in Contra Costa County. The company aims to alleviate tech-related challenges, allowing clients to focus on their core business activities. Their experienced team offers 24/7 support, ensuring that they are a reliable partner for businesses across various industries.

For municipalities seeking specialized cybersecurity clayton and surrounding areas, such partnerships offer comprehensive protection tailored to local government needs. Protect sensitive data with advanced cybersecurity services. At Red Box Business Solutions, we offer a range of IT solutions, including cybersecurity services and cloud computing, to ensure your data is secure and accessible. Our managed IT services provide ongoing support, ensuring business continuity in Clayton, CA.

Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure

Effective municipal cybersecurity partnerships go beyond traditional IT support. Building partnerships with external organizations is another great way to help alleviate the financial burden often associated with enhancing one’s cybersecurity infrastructure and resilience. We’ve already touched upon the various resources available from the federal government, however, there are many other avenues which can be explored as well. Local governments can also reach out to various local nonprofits who are eager to develop relationships and could also mutually benefit from partnerships.

These collaborative approaches address the root challenges facing municipal IT departments. Organizations without established cybersecurity plans cited “insufficient funding, an increasing sophistication of cyber threats, a lack of documented processes, emerging technologies, and limited access to cybersecurity professionals” among the challenges they face — the same top five concerns that have plagued government entities for the past eight years, according to the report.

The Future of Municipal Cybersecurity

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the importance of public-private partnerships in municipal cybersecurity cannot be overstated. At CISA, partnership and collaboration are our foundation and the lifeblood of what we do. Information sharing and cooperative action – across both public and private sectors – is essential to our goal of raising the nation’s collective defense.

The path forward requires municipalities to view cybersecurity not as an isolated IT concern, but as a community-wide initiative. Local governments cannot afford to view cybersecurity as solely an IT issue or a problem that can be solved by technology alone. Cybersecurity should be viewed as shared responsibility across the entire organization and requires a top-down approach that must include the entire chain of appointed and elected officials in local government.

By fostering strong partnerships between local governments and cybersecurity businesses, communities can build more resilient digital infrastructure that protects citizen data, maintains essential services, and preserves public trust. In an era where digital threats know no boundaries, collaborative defense represents our best hope for securing the digital foundations of our communities.