Security News > 2020 > February > Louisiana Governor Urges Officials to Ready for Cyberattacks
Gov. John Bel Edwards called on Louisiana's local government leaders Wednesday to protect their data, reminding them of recent cyberattacks across the state and saying they're likely to face such a strike in the future.
"You may not have been hit yet in your town or in your city. But it's a question of when, not if," the Democratic governor told a luncheon crowd of the Louisiana Municipal Association.
Edwards urged the local elected officials Wednesday to follow the state's lead in refusing to pay ransom to hackers and in backing up data to secure against losses.
Edwards has repeatedly warned the public and government officials that ransomware hits around the state are a new normal.
He's established a cybersecurity emergency response team that includes leaders from the technology services office, the homeland security department, the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana National Guard and university experts.