New Delhi [India], April 07: The local governments around the globe have gone digital. Most services and operations rely on interconnected digital systems to function. The billing systems are automated. Infrastructure is monitored using digital means. Approvals run through the digital chain of command. Even the communications with citizens happen over digital platforms. However, while the municipalities have invested heavily in bringing about digital transformation, they have failed to acknowledge the importance of cybersecurity. Rather than treating it as a core element of governance, it is seen as an afterthought.

The gap seems subtle at first. However, it becomes impossible to overlook when someone sees firsthand how cyber events impede municipal operations and undermine public confidence. This is what happened with Dr. Shandukani Tshilidzi Thenga.

One event in particular stood out for him. The cyberattack that hit the City of Johannesburg. It caused operational chaos, financial loss, and reputational damage. Similar, but less visible incidents in the City of Ekurhuleni and in other municipalities had exposed vulnerabilities. And even though they were at a much lower scale,........

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