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In the quiet corners of America—far from the big-city headlines—county governments are increasingly finding themselves on the frontlines of cyber warfare. From small towns to rural regions, ransomware attacks are no longer a “big business” problem—they’re a county crisis.

Why Are County Governments Being Targeted?

Cybercriminals are no longer casting wide nets—they’re aiming with precision. County governments are seen as ideal targets because of:

• Limited IT staffing and outdated infrastructure
• Valuable data, including personal, financial, and criminal justice information
• Slow response times and minimal incident response plans
• Dependence on continuous public services like 911, permitting, and court systems

For attackers, this means a greater likelihood of a successful breach—and a better chance that the county will pay up to resume services.

Real-World Attacks: The Toll is Mounting

• In 2019, the entire network of Jackson County, Georgia was frozen by ransomware. The county paid $400,000 in Bitcoin to regain access to its systems.
• In October 2019, Jasper County, South Carolina’s computer systems were attacked by ransomware, causing significant disruptions and financial costs to restore operations.
• In January 2021, Georgetown County, South Carolina, suffered a ransomware attack that crippled its IT systems, exposed some employee Social Security numbers, and led to over $250,000 in recovery costs—highlighting the vulnerability of local governments to sophisticated phishing schemes.
• In 2021, Grundy County, Illinois, had to take its police systems offline due to ransomware—leaving dispatchers and officers scrambling for workarounds.
• In 2023, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, became the victim of a ransomware attack that disrupted government operations and put sensitive data at risk.

While some larger counties have made the news, similar attacks have quietly hit counties of all sizes across the Southeast, Midwest, and rural West—with local taxpayers footing the bill.

The Financial Fallout

The impact of a ransomware attack goes well beyond the ransom demand:

• Service disruption: Interruptions to 911, court systems, permits, and email communication can bring local government to a standstill.
• Cost of recovery: Average recovery costs can exceed $1 million, even for small counties.
• Insurance consequences: Cyber insurance providers are increasing premiums and reducing coverage for entities without proper protections.
• Public trust: Once data is breached, citizen confidence is hard to win back.

Affordable Prevention Is Possible—With the Right Partner

Most counties don’t have the luxury of a full-scale IT department or 24/7 cybersecurity staff. That’s where Creative Consultants Group (CCG) steps in.

Our Managed IT & Security Services are specifically designed to meet the needs—and budgets—of county governments across the Southeast. We help counties:

• Prevent ransomware attacks with advanced endpoint protection, threat detection, and secure backup systems.
• Prepare for compliance with CJIS, HIPAA, SCIDSA, and other critical cybersecurity mandates.
• Detect and respond with 24/7 monitoring through our U.S.-based Security Operations Center.
• Educate staff with monthly cybersecurity training and phishing simulations to reduce human error.

Protect Your County Before It’s Too Late

The next attack isn’t a matter of if—it’s when. Proactive security isn’t just smart governance—it’s fiscal responsibility.

At Creative Consultants Group, we’ve been supporting local governments since 1997. Our tailored solutions ensure you stay secure, compliant, and fully operational—without breaking your budget.

Let’s Talk.
Schedule a free security assessment with our team today and discover how CCG can help protect your county from ransomware and other cyber threats.

Visit www.ccgpro.com or call us at 843-234-9980 0r toll free 1-888-293-4224 to get started.