KINGWOOD — County offices in Preston passed the first cyber security test with good marks, County Network Specialist William “Biff” Armstrong reported Monday.
County commissioners earlier agreed to pay IT Mindshare $599 to conduct a risk analysis after Harrison County paid $1,500 ransom when a cyber attack locked some of that county’s records.
“We did a simulated phishing attack,” Armstrong said. “We had very, very, very low number of people who followed the links and clicked on it, which was a good thing.”
That may be partly because of cautionary emails being sent to employees and partially because employees noted it was a test when everyone received the email at the same time, he said.
Continuing education for employees and sending out simulated attacks on a rotating basis will continue, Armstrong said.
A scan was also done of the dark web. A couple account numbers showed up in the scan, he said, but they were closed accounts. Armstrong said IT Mindshare is putting together a five-year plan for training and cyber security. He should have estimates on that later this month.
Commissioner Don Smith said Preston also needs to develop a plan for dealing with an instance when something goes wrong. “It’s basically like a disaster relief plan,” he said. “We need a mitigation plan for that: Here’s what you do when this blows up.”
He suggested working with the county’s insurance company and state agencies. County Administrator Shannon Wolfe said she’s also checking on whether the training by IT Mindshare can be counted as continuing education for those required to have it.
Also Monday:
Commissioner Dave Price said the State Division of Highways told him bids are being taken to repair a slide that occurred on W.Va. 72 in spring 2018. A stop light controls the one-lane section of highway.
Wolfe said Joseph Adegboro was the purchaser of a home donated by the Dolores Ryan estate to benefit the county animal shelter. His winning bid was $27,000.03. Wolfe is preparing the deed to transfer the property.
Commissioners Smith and Price voted 2-0 to pay $395 to rent a tent 4-8 p.m. Aug. 17 to be placed at the 911 center for Put A Face on a Voice, an opportunity to meet 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel. Commissioner Samantha Stone was not at the meeting.
Wolfe said she and County Clerk Linda Huggins are working to find a place for election central. “We do have to have a solution in place by January, before filing begins,” Wolfe said.
Assistant Office of Emergency Management/911 Director Justin Wolfe and County Flood Plain Coordinator Clark Nicklow said the office is working to qualify the county under the Community Rating System. If it qualifies, residents will be eligible for cheaper flood insurance.
