MCP Insights

Are Cloud-Based Solutions Right for Your Agency?

A lot of people in the public safety/justice/public sector sectors are talking about cloud-based solutions these days. It is easy to understand why there is so much chatter because solutions that live in the cloud offer some impressive benefits. Here are just a few:

• Cloud-based solutions typically offer best-of-breed technologies and services
• Cloud-based solutions remove the maintenance and upgrade burden from the end user from a technology perspective
• Cloud-based solutions often make it easier to share resources regionally or even broader compared with siloed, on-premises solutions
• Cloud-based solutions typically offer enhanced resiliency and redundancy compared with on-premises solutions
• Cloud-based solutions often make it easier for agencies to transfer operations to another location in “bug out” scenarios
• Cloud-based solutions are easier and faster to scale —both up and down, based on the agency’s needs at any given juncture — compared with on-premises solutions
• Cloud-based solutions typically are more secure, because providers often have greater information technology and cybersecurity resources and assets to draw upon

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: LockBit Ransomware

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Cisco Releases Patches for Multiple Security Vulnerabilities

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Root Access by Way of Linux Kernel Bug

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

This week there is a new critical alert that requires the mission-critical community’s immediate attention.

Advisory overview

Qualys’s research team discovered a pair of vulnerabilities in the Linux operating system (OS). While one is a local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerability, the other is a stack-exhaustion, denial-of-service (DOS) vulnerability in the system. Both can be exploited by an unauthorized user. Both vulnerabilities affect an integral part of the Linux operating system, which increases the need for remediation. A patch has been released for both vulnerabilities and should be immediately applied.

MCP Has a Lot Going On at Next Week’s NENA Conference

Things are starting to feel more normal, if not completely normal, as the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be winding down and various restrictions are being lifted, or at least lessened. Strong evidence of this can be found next week in Columbus, Ohio, where the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) will host its annual trade show and conference. This is the first brick-and-mortar event to be staged in the public safety communications sector in roughly a year and a half.

The Need for Cybersecurity in the Justice Sector Is Real

Travelling back from the National for Court Management annual conference, I am reflecting on a meeting of national court leaders from across the country that I attended. Of the dozen or so representatives at the table, five reported cyberattacks. For three of the jurisdictions, the attacks were debilitating.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: 'PrintNightmare' Zero-Day Vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

This week there is a new alert that requires the mission-critical community’s immediate attention.

Advisory Overview

Last week, security researchers mistakenly published proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code, which has since been dubbed “PrintNightmare.” The vulnerability exploits a critical flaw in Microsoft’s print spooler service. Microsoft has issued out-of-band security updates to address the flaw and has rated it as critical as attackers can remotely execute code with system-level privileges on affected machines.

Data Integration Infographic Brings a Vast Technology Ecosystem Into Perspective

The technology ecosystem that exists in the public-safety/justice community is vast, complex and powerful. Because of its vastness and complexity, we developed an infographic to help clients more easily grasp it. Here’s what it looks like:

This Month’s Cyberchat Shines a Light on the Rise of Ransomware

Earlier this year, we ramped up our cybersecurity efforts by launching a series of monthly video chats in which we summarize the most recent threats, share information from entities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and offer tips for preventing cyberattacks and mitigating them if they occur. This month’s Cyberchat video, which can be viewed below, contains some important information that public-sector and critical infrastructure agencies need to have.

Double the Attack, Double the Fees

Double-encryption ransomware attacks, which typically include cyberattackers encrypting a target’s data twice, at the same time or shortly after each other, are on the rise. In this month’s video, we explore how agencies can mitigate the risk of a double-encryption attack and begin the rebuilding process if one occurs.

MCP Helps Story County Replace Obsolete Public-Safety Radio System

Steady, reliable communications are a necessity for public-safety agencies. From having reliable coverage in an area to always being able to relay important messages and information to emergency responders and/or the citizens they protect, agencies need up-to-date, functional communications systems.

Now Is the Time to Get Ready for the Arrival of Z-Axis Data

There is cause for rejoicing in the public-safety community due to the recent consent decree issued by the Federal Communications Commission regarding the Z-axis, which is a vital third element of 911 caller location that has been missing. But a closer read of the order indicates that the real celebration is probably months away.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Nobelium Spear Phishing Activity

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.