As in any business these days, one of the most important activities the City must monitor and maintain on a 24-hour, 7-day basis is its Information Technology (“IT”) protection and utilization. The City recognizes that maintaining the integrity of the City's computer system and the protection of data and confidential information contained on that system are vital for the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality of work generated by City employees.
The increasing use of the Internet and the proliferation of technological advances in the field of computers, extending to mobile devices, have significantly improved the communications, research and work product of City employees, albeit at the increasing risk of exposing the City's computer system backbone and data stored on the system to damage caused by external sources, viruses, computer contaminants and unauthorized users. Also, as a full-service City providing public safety services, there are protections and procedures that must be used and required by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. Therefore, the City imposes a strict policy to prohibit the usage of the City's computer system and network which would undermine the integrity of the system, data and confidentiality of information contained on the system and tend to impair employee job performance, efficiency or productivity. Given these concerns, the city staff deploys several techniques in keeping its IT Network monitored for a variety of exposures. We deploy multiple Network Firewalls and Intrusion Prevention programs, Network Access Controls, Username/Password protection, Software Access Controls on files, systems and applications, Data and Network Encryption, Anti-virus/malware protection, Web and Spam Filters, Physical Card Key Access and Security Surveillance, and yearly Information Security Awareness Training for IT Staff.
In conclusion, no matter the size of the business, or in this case the City, IT and Network security is taken very seriously.
