Alamo City Council Pursues Cybersecurity Measures in Response to Cyber Attack

The Alamo City Council voted to pursue fiber security services and a cybersecurity training course in the aftermath of a cyberattack, during their June 4 called meeting and June 15 regular meeting respectively.

City Manager Jeffery Floyd and City Attorney Perry Avery declined to reveal the specifics of the cyberattack during either meeting, preferring to wait for more information from law enforcement.

Announced two days prior for “financial discussion,” the June 4 meeting primarily consisted of an executive session to discuss the issue. After the council reentered regular session, Council Member Patricia Woodard offered a motion for the city of Alamo and its insurance company to enter into an agreement to purchase fiber security services, pending clarification on which party will pay for the services. The motion passed unanimously.

The primary difference between fiber connections and the connections used by cable and digital subscriber lines (DSL) is in the material each uses to transmit data. Cable and DSL utilize copper wires to carry electrical signals along telephone lines, whereas fiber transmits data using light pulses sent through very thin strands of glass or plastic.

“Both forms of data transmission were initially designed for something else entirely, and their use for internet applications became an accidental feature,” wrote fiber-optic Internet company Glo Fiber. “Fiber Internet, on the other hand, was explicitly created with the internet in mind, using light instead of electricity to share information over significant distances at speeds much higher than copper cables and electricity can match.”

Because of how it transmits data, fiber Internet connections provide some security benefits over cable and DSL connections, especially against interceptions and disruptions in the middle of data transfers. The material can also be more resistant to wear and tear.

However, installing fiber-optic cables can be an expensive venture, especially if an area does not have a pre-existing infrastructure for the technology. 

Alamo’s insurance may pay for the installation if certain parameters are met, which is why Woodard stipulated the need for clarification on payment in her motion.

During the council’s June 15 meeting, they discussed adopting a three year contract for a KnowBe4 training program. KnowBe4 is a cybersecurity company which provides online security measures and employee training to “secure both AI agents and humans,” according to the company’s website.

“This is training that I think would be very beneficial for our employees,” said Mayor Pamela Lee. “It kind of tells you, ‘Know before.’ Know before you click on emails that may be bogus.”

The contract would also provide the city with an “email quarantine” system, which can recognize suspicious emails before they reach city employees. This would protect against phishing scams, where a cybercriminal sends a deceptive message to a target while pretending to be a trusted source, tricking the target into clicking a hazardous link or divulging sensitive information.

“If it looks bogus, it won’t even reach the employee,” said Lee.

Council Member Patricia Woodard offered a motion to purchase KnowBe4’s services, which passed unanimously.

The council also considered implementing life insurance for city employees. During their previous meeting, one concern during the discussion was whether city employees would be willing to contribute to the life insurance, or if the city would be required to pay for the insurance in full.

“I talked to all the employees,” said Floyd. “Each one would be willing to participate.”

The insurance would offer $20,000 per employee, with the employees’ payments based on their respective ages in a 50/50 split with the city.

Woodard offered a motion to adopt the insurance as of June 15, which passed unanimously. Floyd also offered to ask for additional information on the insurance, such as if council members could also apply.

“That’s a good deal,” said Woodard.

Floyd also approached the council about issues with one of the local waste water treatment plants, as an engine was damaged by a lightning strike in May. Floyd said it would cost $10,443 to rebuild the engine and $19,000 to replace it.

“That’s almost half the price of the new one,” said Council Member Angela Wright.

Woodard offered a motion to accept the $10,443 option to rebuild the engine, which passed unanimously.

Floyd also asked for $10,764.36 for additional repairs and a new fuel screen for the water treatment plant hit by the lightning strike. Council Member Geoffrey Villegas offered a motion to approve, which passed unanimously.

Council Member Laura Brownley offered a motion to advertise for bids for repairs to the local event center, which passed unanimously. The bids will be used to gather documentation on costs to apply for FEMA funds and may not move forward when received.

She also offered a motion to pay an overage on the Eastside Park project budget to ME Sacks, which passed unanimously.

Council Member Dondrea Geter offered a motion to approve a joint Telfair and Wheeler 911 ordinance, which passed unanimously. He also offered a motion to allow the city to host a Back to School Bash event at city hall on July 18, which passed unanimously.