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Oct. 30, 2023 |  By: Mark Moran - Public News Service

IA boosts cybersecurity precautions as elections, holidays near

cybersecurity

By Mark Moran - Public News Service

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the State of Iowa is focusing on potential threats to the online integrity of upcoming elections.

Given the increasing importance of electronic information and a reliance on data being stored "in the cloud," Iowa's Chief Information Security Officer Shane Dwyer said the state is bolstering cybersecurity across all platforms.

This includes investing in intrusion-detection systems, firewalls, 24-7 monitoring devices, and better communication with election officials statewide.

"We have a presence in all 99 counties, from a security tooling and monitoring perspective," said Dwyer. "I think those are really critical things for Iowans to understand. We're looking at these things from multiple layers to ensure that your vote is secure."

Absentee voting and casting a ballot early by mail are options in Iowa, but you can't vote or register to vote online.

While the integrity of election-related information is critical, Dwyer said cybersecurity goes beyond election season.

He cautioned people to be careful with their personal information - no matter what they are doing online. He added that local governments need to take the lead.

"Really, [Cyber]security Awareness Month is about having discussions in your communities about the importance of cybersecurity, and really building up knowledge within those communities," said Dwyer. "Almost everyone is fully ingrained in technology, and I think those discussions are extremely crucial."

Online awareness is also increasingly important as the holidays near. Officials have warned people to be on the alert for cyber scams as they use credit cards and personal information to shop online.