DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Looking to protect the city against ransomware and cyber-attacks, the Tullahoma City Board of Mayor and Aldermen recently approved an IT department request for a $50,745 expenditure to sure up the city’s internet security – something the city administrator said is an area where the city has fallen behind.

“We continue to look at ways we can secure the date, secure all the information for the city of Tullahoma,” Quick said. “Unfortunately we continue to have attempts to crack into our system.”

Quick said cities Tullahoma’s size are very good targets based on what he has been told by the city’s insurance company. The reason is that similar sized cities do not have the resources and expertise in order to set up perimeter guards and blocks.

“We are continuing to build gates and moats around what we have,” Quick said. “Hopefully this is the last one we will need to have for some time to secure our data and make sure we don’t have any ransomware attacks or any cyber-attacks.”

The coverage will include computers and user protection 24-7. The service also holds an insurance policy should something happen.

“We’re kind of having to play catchup on some of these things that should have been purchased some time ago,” Quick said.

The measure passed 6-0 with Matthew Bird absent.