State and Local Government

Protect Public Services and Strengthen Cyber Resilience

Critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and always-on public services make government environments a prime target for ransomware and advanced cyber threats. Limited resources and complex, distributed systems only increase exposure. A unified, layered security approach helps reduce risk, improve visibility, and protect essential operations without adding complexity.

State capitol building

Cyber Attacks on Critical Services Are Accelerating

374

374 ransomware attacks hit government entities in 2025 alone, rising 27% year over year with the US accounting for over a third of incidents and attacks continue to surge

$1.09B

Ransomware attacks caused $1.09B in downtime costs across government entities, highlighting the severe financial impact of prolonged disruptions

68%

68% of government organizations lack the budget to address critical cybersecurity gaps, leaving systems exposed as funding falls short

The Challenges of Securing Government Agencies

Understaffed Agencies and Expanding Risk Surfaces

State and local governments must secure growing networks of users, devices, and locations with limited IT staff. Disconnected tools create visibility gaps and slow response times when every second matters.

Simplify Security Operations

Increasing Attacks on Government Identities

Cybercriminals and nation-state actors actively target government credentials through phishing and credential theft. A single compromised login can expose critical systems and sensitive citizen data.

Stop Credential-Based Attacks

Complex, Cross-Agency Compliance Requirements

Meeting NIST, CJIS, FedRAMP, and state regulations requires continuous monitoring, reporting, and proof of enforcement. Manual processes increase risk and strain limited resources.

Streamline Compliance and Reporting

Secure State and Local Government Across Every Environment

State and local governments must protect users, devices, and locations while maintaining visibility, uptime, and compliance. A unified security approach helps agencies reduce risk, improve response times, and meet public sector accountability requirements.

Network Security for Distributed Agencies

Protect municipal offices, public safety networks, and agency infrastructure with intrusion prevention, traffic inspection, and segmentation, all managed centrally with full visibility and reporting.

Secure Every Location

Endpoint Protection Across Critical Devices

Secure laptops, workstations, and shared systems used by government employees and field teams with advanced detection and response, ransomware protection, and device control.

Protect Government Endpoints

Continuous Detection and Response

Extend your team with expert monitoring and rapid incident response to stop attacks before they disrupt government systems and services.

Accelerate Threat Response

Secure Connectivity Across Public Networks

Deliver secure, segmented Wi-Fi for staff, public access, and community services, while maintaining control and visibility across all locations.

Control Network Access

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Protect Your Agency with Proven Cybersecurity Solutions

Contact us to learn how WatchGuard protects government agencies.

State and Local Government Cybersecurity FAQs

State and local governments face persistent cyber threats targeting sensitive data, critical services, and distributed environments. Understanding common risks and security approaches helps agencies strengthen defenses, meet compliance requirements, and improve resilience.

black man watching network activity on several monitors

State and local government agencies are frequent targets because they store sensitive citizen data and operate essential services such as public safety, utilities, and courts. Cybercriminals and nation-state actors exploit limited resources and high operational pressure, knowing downtime can disrupt communities and increase the likelihood of ransomware payments.

State and local agencies typically align with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for risk management and incident response, CJIS Security Policy for criminal justice data, and FedRAMP for secure cloud adoption. Many states also enforce their own mandates, including security awareness training, incident reporting timelines, and public sector data protection requirements.

Network security protects data in transit by controlling traffic, preventing intrusions, and segmenting systems across government infrastructure. Endpoint security protects devices such as laptops, workstations, and field equipment where users access systems and where attacks like ransomware often execute. Both are essential to prevent breaches from spreading and to protect sensitive government data.

Multi-factor authentication adds a second verification step beyond usernames and passwords, blocking unauthorized access even if credentials are stolen. Public sector guidance from agencies like CISA identifies credential abuse as a leading cause of breaches, making MFA one of the most effective controls for protecting government systems and applications.

Government agencies should choose a security partner that delivers a unified platform for network, endpoint, and identity protection, provides 24/7 threat monitoring and response, and supports compliance reporting for frameworks such as NIST and CJIS. Experience with public sector procurement, budgeting, and operational requirements is also critical for long-term success.

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