Ransomware has been a malicious tool used by attackers to extort money since the late 1980s. In the decades since, ransomware has gone through multiple stages of evolution, becoming increasingly sophisticated and destructive. Here, we will explore how ransomware has changed over the years and discuss modern techniques attackers use to create more powerful threats.

Encryption is the process of encoding data to make it secure and unreadable to anyone but those with the correct keys to access it. It makes use of algorithms that scramble data, ensuring that the information remains confidential and can only be accessed with the appropriate decryption key.

Government security generally refers to the measures and protocols implemented by a government to protect its citizens, infrastructure, and assets from various types of threats, including physical, digital, and cyber threats. Continuous monitoring and security vigilance is necessary to protect this highly sensitive data throughout generations. Government security measures can include everything from border security and intelligence gathering to cybersecurity and disaster management.

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) is a network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity, which enable these objects to collect and exchange data. IoT is reshaping government processes by improving efficiency, increasing transparency, and saving costs.

Connected communication platforms in government are digital systems used by public sector organizations to share and exchange information between different government departments, other government entities, and the public.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) helps organizations detect, investigate, respond to, and defend themselves against ransomware and other malicious network activity. The technology offers real-time insights into threats. EDR tools provide visibility into endpoint devices like computers, phones, servers, and smartwatches.

Now more than ever, citizens are getting invested in politics, monitoring communications, and trying to find ways to hold government entities accountable for what happens behind closed doors.

The push for transparency in government is nothing new, but the landscape has changed over the past few decades commensurate with the rise of new communication technologies.

Service level agreements set the standard for deliverables and ensure that customers get what they pay for. But, what happens when the service quality doesn't quite match up to what's on paper? Most business executives agree that SLA breaches are relatively common. Companies make big promises initially, but very few of them can live up to them. Does that mean SLA breaches are inevitable, and what does this mean for emergency business communications?

The need for a remote government workforce has become glaringly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Widening telework options has enabled government employees to do their jobs from home, reducing the risk of transmission and protecting both federal workers and citizens from harm. Regardless of the reasoning, the number of people working remotely tripled between 2019 and 2021.