The cybersecurity landscape has changed dramatically over the past several years, and Native American organizations are part of a growing group facing new and evolving threats on a daily basis. Attacks on all local government organizations have risen 58% in a single year.1
Ransomware attacks, in particular, have become an increasingly ever-present threat. According to the FBI, they increased 62% in 2021.2 With an increasing number and intensity of attacks on state and local governments, the costs continue to add up. As an example, the estimated reported ransom paid by municipalities per ransomware event from 2017-2020 was $125,697.1
Native American Gaming organizations are also in the hackers’ crosshairs. One recent example involved six Lucky Star casinos operated by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma that were forced to shut down after a ransomware attack crippled their computer systems.3
Part of the challenge is the proliferation of sophisticated hacking tools. Bad actors no longer need to write complex code to mount an attack — the resources are a click away as websites now offer “malware as a service.”4
Shifting to a proactive security approach
The time to take action against the new wave of cybersecurity threats is before an incident occurs. As Harry Jackson III, a partner at the Fox Rothschild LLP law firm in Atlantic City — and someone familiar with the security threats Native American organizations face — puts it, “The amount of money that you spend preparing for an attack will be minimal compared to the financial damage that will happen both in physical cash or bitcoin, and also the impact on your reputation and consumer confidence.”3
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for all tribes. Every tribe has a different background, different experience, different access to tribally owned I.T. or data security,” Jackson said. “Each tribe is unique in its own individual needs, but there are things that not only tribes but the gaming industry as a whole is doing to protect itself.”3
Security begins with the PC
Securing the modern hybrid workplace requires a comprehensive, integrated approach that provides multilayer protection against today’s evolving threats. And, for any IT security measures to be effective, they must be unobtrusive. When users are faced with solutions that hinder access to critical data or disrupt established workflows, “workarounds” quickly develop, and that can lead to new vulnerabilities.
As the PC has become the centerpiece of work today, it makes sense to consider the role modern devices can play at the hardware level in keeping employees and data safe. For example, Secured-core PCs guard against attacks aimed below the operating system, keeping malicious code out of the BIOS. Deep security integration between hardware, firmware, and the Windows 11 Pro OS builds a bedrock of security at the heart of the device. Secured-core PCs boot up against a security checklist known as the “root of trust.” If processes and movements deviate from the norm, boot-up is aborted.
Devices like the Lenovo ThinkPad® X13 Windows 11 Hello to help prevent unauthorized access.
Multilayered protection is provided by Lenovo ThinkShield, a customizable solution that secures critical data and business technologies with comprehensive end-to-end protection built on Zero-Trust principles. ThinkShield includes features like an advanced AI-powered endpoint protection solution that lives on each device, predicting tomorrow’s attacks today and enabling the device to self-heal from broad modes of attack instantaneously. And persistent remote endpoint security management helps IT teams maintain visibility and control when users are working remotely.
Lenovo also offers a comprehensive and flexible suite of managed security services, which can free up IT teams to focus on more strategic efforts, confident in the knowledge that users, devices, and data are protected against evolving threats.
Building a secure future together
As a trusted partner for hundreds of Native American-owned and operated organizations today, Lenovo is uniquely positioned to help you succeed in the world of hybrid working. We hold multiple certifications from the US government, highlighting our ongoing relationship as a trusted partner at the federal, state, and local level.
- Current GSA contract/permission to sell PC workstations to US federal agencies
- TAA-compliant manufacturing
- Tier III Certification — US Customs and Border Protection’s highest-rated C-TPAT certification level
- FirstNet-approved solutions providing reliable public safety connectivity
You can learn more about Lenovo’s complete portfolio of award-winning digital workplace and comprehensive service solutions for Native American businesses and organizations at Lenovo.com/Tribal.
