HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – After a cyberattack forced Springfield Public Schools to close for the week, Holyoke city leaders say they’re taking steps to prepare for a similar incident.
Mayor Joshua Garcia said the city has secured cybersecurity insurance and called it another layer of protection against potential cyberattacks.
Cyberattacks are one example of new age tech that can be used against cities, he said, and no place can completely eliminate the risk. However, with a major cyber incident close to home, Holyoke is focused on prevention and limiting damage if its networks are ever compromised.
“It’s hard to a hundred percent protect the city because there’s always something that’s going to happen,” Garcia said. “But really it’s about resilience.”
Holyoke leaders were reviewing options for months before deciding on insurance. The coverage can help pay for incident response, regulatory costs, crisis communications, and getting the breach under control quickly.
The city’s insurance carrier can provide a response within 15 minutes. They are currently working with IT departments in Holyoke Public Schools to be ready to secure systems and protect teachers and students’ information.
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