Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 2, 2024 Town takes step to bolster cybersecurity T he Town of Saugus will receive cybersecurity training from the state Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) under the Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program. “We’re thrilled to again be included in this important grant program,” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said this week. He noted that the town had received a grant for this program back in 2022. “We’re excited about the positive impact these funds will have on our town’s overall capabilities and security posture,” Crabtree said. “By prioritizing comprehensive training and investing in cutting-edge cybersecurity measures, we are reinforcing our commitment to the well-being of our community and the efficient functioning of our government.” The 2024 Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program will provide 78,000 employees from 227 municipalities and public school districts across Massachusetts with critical cybersecurity training to better detect and avoid cyber threats. It is designed to support local government efforts to improve overall cyber readiness through comprehensive online end-user training, evaluation and threat simulation. Awarded communities will receive licenses for end-user training, assessment and phishing simulation procured by the EOTSS. Program participants begin their training with an initial cyber strength assessment to measure baseline cybersecurity awareness. Following the assessments, periodic assessments consisting of training modules and simulated phishing email campaigns help participants build good cyber hygiene habits to increase their awareness of deceptive techniques used by bad actors to gain unauthorized access to government systems. At the end of the program, participants complete a final cyber strength assessment to measure their progress. The EOTSS offers the training program free to municipal organizations, which are further supported with quarterly threat briefings and weekly newsletters with cybersecurity best practices and program updates provided by the EOTSS Office of Municipal and School Technology. Municipal information technology officials also receive monthly summary progress reports that detail the number of employees who inadvertently clicked on malicious links contained in the simulated phishing emails, offering important visibility on the threat landscape. “In my time as the Commonwealth CIO I’ve had a chance to talk to municipal officials from all over the state,” EOTSS Secretary Jason Snyder said in a press release announcing this year’s grant awards. “In every discussion, cybersecurity comes up as a top priority. EOTSS is proud to advance the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s priority of supporting municipal cybersecurity readiness,” Snyder said. Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll noted that the free program offered to municipalities and employees taking the training “makes clear that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, whether we have IT in our job titles or not.” The Town of Saugus continues to take significant steps to enhance its organizational capabilities by launching a comprehensive training initiative and bolstering its cybersecurity infrastructure, according to Crabtree. Saugus’ Information Technology Department is collaborating with Human Resources to ensure that all town departments actively participate in this initiative. The town manager said the goal is a completion rate of 80 percent of town employees who work on computers for the training program. “We’re committed to encouraging the active involvement of all users in the upcoming training sessions,” Crabtree said. “To facilitate seamless coordination, a top-down approach will be implemented: Department Heads will spearhead the initiative within their respective departments. Regular follow-ups will be conducted to monitor the progress of employees and address any challenges they may encounter Saugus Birthday Celebrations T he Senior Center ended the month in grand style last Friday, honoring 11 Saugus residents who shared January as their birthday month. Birthdays are always special occasions at the throughout the year-long training program,” he said. Crabtree noted that the town recently decommissioned its outdated computer legacy servers and applications. “This move aligns with the town’s commitment to remain in compliance with supported operating systems, ensuring the highest level of efficiency and security in its operations,” Crabtree said. “In addition to these upgrades, the Town of Saugus is set to introduce an encrypted email option in critical departments, including Accounting, Treasury, HR, and the Town Manager’s office. This initiative aims to fortify communication channels and safeguard sensitive information against potential threats,” he said. “Looking ahead, the town is exploring the possibility of migrating to a higher-level Sophos package, which includes a managed threat response. This proactive step reflects Saugus’s dedication to staying ahead of cybersecurity challenges and maintaining the utmost protection for its digital assets. Saugus residents named to Dean’s List at University of New England T he following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the 2023 fall semester at the University of New England (UNE): Abigail Anthony and Sarah McGonigle. Dean’s List students have attained a grade point average of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester. UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-akind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. UNE is the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other inter-professionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized degree paths in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities and the arts. Visit une.edu. Election 2024 Town Clerk’s Office seeks poll workers and student volunteers for March 5 Presidential Primary Saugus Senior Center. The center likes to recognize the Seniors Birthday on the last day of the month with a collective birthday celebration. They receive a free lunch, cake, ice cream and a souvenir group photo. T own Clerk Ellen Schena said she is still looking for residents who are interested in filling paid positions to help staff the town’s polling locations for the March 5 Presidential Primary Election. As in past elections over the years, the Clerk’s Office will also be recruiting Saugus High School juniors and seniors to work for money or credit for Community Service hours. Students who are 16 years old can work part-time shifts of six to eight hours. Seventeen and 18 year olds can work full shifts of eight to 12 hours. The town clerk said her office is willing to accommodate any student credit hours, which help to enhance college applications and resumes. For more information about paid and volunteer poll worker jobs, please contact Andrew DePatto, the Saugus Election Coordinator, at 781-231-4102, or stop by the Town Clerk’s Office on the Main floor of Saugus Town Hall. The Town Clerk’s Office is already preparing for the Presidential Primary Election. Plans are already set to use the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library as the polling location for In-Person/Early Voting for the March 5 Presidential Primary Election. Here is the schedule: · Saturday, February 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (also last day to JANUARY 2024 BIRTHDAYS: The Senior Center celebrated the collective birthdays of the month for 11 Saugonians last Friday (Jan. 26). Pictured from left to right are the celebrated seniors: Marylou Ciampoli, Louise Martin, Louise Hoyt, Sandy Tozza, Ralph Littlefield, Ted Pollack, Betty Pauley, Sony Dall, Terry Cronin, Mark DiGregorio and Elaine Cox. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) register to vote for March Election) · Monday, February 26, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. · Tuesday, February 27, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Wednesday, February 28, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Thursday, February 29, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Friday, March 1, 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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