The importance of cybersecurity for Local Public Administrations (LPAs)

L’importanza della cybersecurity per le Pubbliche Amministrazioni Locali (PAL) hor

In an increasingly connected and digitized world, Local Public Administrations (LPAs) are crucial in protecting information and services for citizens and organizations.

However, the rise of cyber threats makes it imperative to adopt effective security strategies and work with reliable cybersecurity partners. This need is not just a technical issue, but a strategic imperative to ensure operational continuity, community trust, and safeguarding public resources.

 

LPAs are cyber-vulnerable

Local public administrations include municipalities, provinces, regions, and other institutions that deliver critical services: registry, health, public transportation, land management, social services, electronic payments, and more. These services, supported by digital systems, are frequent targets of cyber attacks such as ransomware, phishing, and unauthorized access.

According to recent studies, the number of attacks targeting public entities is steadily increasing. The vulnerability of LPAs is amplified by limited budgets, legacy systems that are difficult to update, and a chronic shortage of in-house technology skills. A cyber attack can have devastating consequences, disrupting essential services and undermining community trust in institutions.

 

Why choose a trusted cybersecurity partner

L’importanza della cybersecurity per le Pubbliche Amministrazioni Locali (PAL) officeAddressing cybersecurity challenges requires specialized skills and resources that LPAs often do not have in-house. Working with an experienced cybersecurity partner offers multiple benefits:

  1. Advanced, customized protection: A qualified partner can provide solutions tailored to each entity’s specific needs, such as real-time monitoring systems, advanced firewalls, and protection against ransomware.
  2. Training and awareness: Many cyber attacks take advantage of human error. A good partner implements technology tools and offers training programs for staff, increasing security awareness.
  3. Quick incident response: In the event of a breach, time is crucial. An experienced partner can intervene quickly to limit the damage, restore services, and initiate thorough investigations of the incident through incident response services.
  4. Regulatory compliance: Italian and European regulations, such as GDPR or the NIS2 Directive, impose stringent standards for personal data protection. A trusted partner helps LPAs comply with these requirements, avoiding penalties and potential reputational damage.

 

Securing services, facilities, and supply chain

Cybersecurity is not just about protecting data, it extends to all critical infrastructure and the supply chain. Indeed, LPAs collaborate with external suppliers and partners to offer services, which exposes them to additional risks. An attack on a supplier can therefore have significant repercussions on the supply chain and, consequently, on the services provided.

Investing in cybersecurity means taking a proactive and integrated approach that ensures end-to-end security. This includes regular risk assessments, vulnerability testing, and implementation of access control systems.

A digitally secure public entity protects citizens and local organizations. Protecting personal information and digital services is critical to preserving trust in institutions and ensuring a high quality of life.

In an era when more and more people and businesses rely on online services, cybersecurity has become an indispensable pillar of innovation and local governance. To address these unavoidable needs, TIM and Telsy offer TIM Check & Support.

 

TIM Check & Support

TIM Check & Support enables Italian organizations and SME entrepreneurs to embark on a virtuous path of strengthening their ability to defend themselves against cyber attacks, measuring their level of risk, planning the necessary investments and, in addition, receiving, in the event of a cyber attack, the immediate support of TIM SOC technicians and a team of lawyers to analyze the legal impacts resulting from the security incident.

Learn about all the features of TIM Check & Support in this video:

 

The components of TIM Check & Support.

The solution is aimed at Italian companies, LPAs and SMEs that feel exposed to the risks of attacks but lack the in-house expertise and resources to develop a defense plan independently and quickly and consists of the following services:

TIM check support TelsyA Security Check is conducted on a WEB platform on which the customer logs in to answer a survey that is understandable even to non-experts. At the end of the survey, a report is produced that measures the overall cyber risk and defines the client’s ranking on various dimensions (e.g., technological risk, governance, human factor, data processing). The report also guides on improving actions to be taken to increase one’s resilience to cyber-attacks.

A Cyber Attack SOS service that allows customers to call a toll-free number to receive immediate support from a team of TIM security experts (Security Operation Center) in case of an incident.

A Legal Protection service that allows the client to receive immediate support from a team of specialized lawyers who can assist the company on issues such as reporting any data breaches to the authorities, handling out-of-court and court disputes, etc.

An insurance policy that provides up to €15,000 in reimbursement per single claim. In the event of an attack, the policy covers legal expenses for: lawyer’s fees, charges for court consultants, expenses for registration of court documents, expenses for investigations in defense, and criminal or administrative proceedings in which the insured is involved carried out by third parties. It is also possible to access law firms in agreement with the company, and the reimbursement of legal expenses also takes place with the use of a firm trusted by the client.

Find out more about TIM Check & Support in the TIM Enterprise portal.

For more information contact@telsy.it or ask for a contact.

 

If you are curious about how prepared you are for a possible cyber attack, find out with us by answering the 10-question form done by our cybersecurity experts.