FAQ: Cybersecurity for Michigan Municipalities
- Jan 26
- 4 min read
Protecting Citizen Data, Infrastructure, and Public Trust
Cyberattacks against cities and local governments are rising across the country — and Michigan municipalities are no exception. From ransomware shutting down city hall systems to data breaches exposing resident records, cybersecurity incidents now pose a serious risk to public safety, essential services, and citizen trust.
Below, we answer the most common cybersecurity questions Michigan cities, townships, and villages are asking — and what local governments can do to protect their systems, data, and communities.
Why are Michigan Municipalities Targeted by Cybercriminals?
Local governments in Michigan manage a wide range of sensitive systems and data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Municipalities are targets because they:
Store large volumes of citizen data
Including tax records, utility accounts, court data, payroll, voter information, and health records.
Provide essential public services
Police, fire, utilities, DPW, and court systems rely on technology that cannot afford extended downtime.
Often operate with limited IT budgets and staff
Many Michigan municipalities do not have full-time security teams.
Use legacy systems common in local government
Older financial, utility, and records systems are harder to secure and patch.
Face public pressure to restore services quickly
Attackers know service disruptions increase the likelihood of ransom payments.
In recent years, ransomware attacks against Michigan cities and counties have made headlines, reinforcing that municipal cybersecurity is now a top public-sector risk.
How can Michigan Cities Protect Citizen Data?
Protecting resident data is both a legal obligation and a matter of public trust for Michigan local governments.
Best practices for protecting citizen data include:
Strong Access Controls & Multi-Factor Authentication
Limit access to sensitive systems based on job roles and require multi-factor authentication ("MFA") for remote and privileged users.
Data Encryption
Encrypt citizen data both in transit and at rest to protect records even if systems are compromised.
Network Segmentation
Separate public-facing systems, such as city websites, utility portals, and guest Wi-Fi, from internal government networks.
24/7 monitoring helps detect suspicious activity before it turns into a major breach.
Backup & Disaster Recovery Planning
Michigan municipalities should maintain secure, off-site backups and regularly test recovery plans to ensure rapid system restoration without paying ransom.
What Cybersecurity Requirements Apply to Michigan Local Governments?
Michigan municipalities must comply with a mix of state regulations, federal requirements, contractual obligations, and cyber insurance controls.
Common cybersecurity and compliance requirements include:
Michigan data protection and breach notification laws
CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) standards for police departments and courts
HIPAA for municipal health clinics and employee health plans
PCI DSS for utility billing, tax payments, and online payment portals
Cyber insurance security requirements, such as MFA, endpoint protection, logging, and regular risk assessments
In addition, many Michigan municipalities must now:
Conduct regular cybersecurity risk assessments
Maintain formal incident response plans
Provide annual cybersecurity training for staff
Meet reporting timelines following a data breach or ransomware incident
Failure to meet these requirements can result in regulatory penalties, insurance claim denials, and reputational damage.
How Can Michigan Municipalities Afford Cybersecurity?
Budget constraints are one of the biggest challenges facing smaller Michigan cities, villages, and townships, but effective cybersecurity does not require enterprise-level spending.
Cost-effective strategies include:
Prioritizing High-Risk Systems
Focus first on police, fire, utilities, finance, and systems that store sensitive resident data.
Outsourcing to a Michigan-based managed service provider (MSP) gives municipalities access to enterprise-grade security without hiring full-time specialists.
Leveraging Predictable Monthly Pricing
Managed security services provide flat monthly costs that simplify budgeting and eliminate surprise expenses.
Pursuing State and Federal Cybersecurity Grants
Michigan municipalities may qualify for DHS, FEMA, and state-level cybersecurity funding programs.
Aligning with Cyber Insurance Controls
Meeting insurer security requirements improves protection while reducing premiums and preventing denied claims.
For municipalities, the goal is not perfection; it's risk reduction, service continuity, and community trust.
Cybersecurity is Now a Public Safety Issue for Michigan Communities
As Michigan cities, villages, and townships continue to modernize services and adopt digital systems, cybersecurity has become inseparable from daily government operations. From protecting police and court systems to safeguarding utility billing platforms and resident records, secure technology now plays a direct role in public safety, service continuity, and public confidence.
Cyber threats are no longer rare or hypothetical. Ransomware attacks, data breaches, and system outages are already affecting municipalities across the country, including in Michigan. For local governments, the impact goes far beyond IT disruption: it can delay emergency response, interrupt essential services, expose sensitive citizen information, and erode trust in local leadership.
That is why cybersecurity must be treated as a long-term infrastructure investment, not a short-term technical project. Effective municipal cybersecurity requires proactive monitoring, layered protection across networks and systems, well-tested backup and recovery plans, staff training, and a clear incident response strategy. Just as importantly, it requires a partner who understands the unique regulatory, budgetary, and operational challenges facing Michigan local governments.
At BAE Networks, we work closely with municipalities throughout Michigan to design cybersecurity and managed IT strategies that protect critical systems, meet regulatory requirements, and fit within public-sector budgets. Our goal is simple: help local governments keep services running, protect resident data, and maintain the trust of the communities they serve.
