---
title: "What Makes Government Departments A Prime Target For Cybercrime Such As Phishing Attacks? | Phish Protection"
description: "Cybercrime is one of the primary forms of menace in the online world. Threats like phishing and ransomware attacks have been around for a long time now."
image: "https://phishprotection.com/og/blog/government-departments-prime-target-cybercrime-phishing-attacks.png"
canonical: "https://phishprotection.com/blog/government-departments-prime-target-cybercrime-phishing-attacks/"
---

Quick Answer

The amount of value an attack would return is a prime attraction to the \*\*phishing agents\*\*. \_Government departments store a wealth of information at every level related to the country and its residents\_. Malicious actors understand the importance of government departments at all levels, such as the municipal, local, state, or central levels. This information can provide immense insight into the behavioral patterns and lives of the inhabitants. \_The market value of such data would be enormous on the dark

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_Cybercrime is one of the primary forms of menace in the online world_. Threats like **phishing and ransomware attacks** have been around for a long time now. Despite the best effort of agencies, both public and private, it does not seem to slow down. From breaking into information system networks to stealing data to impersonations, cybercrime has covered it all. With time, it has grown exponentially. And _government departments are highly vulnerable to such attacks due to various reasons_.

### What Makes Government Departments A Prime Target For Phishing Attacks?

The amount of value an attack would return is a prime attraction to the **phishing agents**. _Government departments store a wealth of information at every level related to the country and its residents_. Malicious actors understand the importance of government departments at all levels, such as the municipal, local, state, or central levels. This information can provide immense insight into the behavioral patterns and lives of the inhabitants. _The market value of such data would be enormous on the dark web_.

Cyberattacks on government departments have always been on the rise. It demands governments **raise cybersecurity** expenses with each passing year, as is evident from the below graph.

![Zero day attack prevention](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2021/01/zero-day-attack-prevention-5054.jpg) 

### What Makes Government Departments Vulnerable?

> “Zero-day phishing URLs have an average lifespan of just 12 hours before they’re added to blocklists. During that window, traditional signature-based filters are blind. Our real-time behavioral analysis catches these threats by pattern, not by signature - which is how we detect attacks that no database has seen yet.” - **Adam Lundrigan**, CTO, DuoCircle

The following are the dominant reasons that render government information networks and cybersecurity infrastructure **highly vulnerable** to cyberattacks.

#### Budgetary Constraints For Cybersecurity

_Malicious actors keep observing the security of the IT Infrastructure_. Unlike private concerns, which have the budget to shore up their **IT Security Infrastructure**, many government departments are perennially hamstrung for money. Governments walk a tightrope when it comes to financing. _The budgetary allocation for investing in cybersecurity systems is often inadequate_, thereby leading to gaps in the overall cybersecurity infrastructure.

#### Inadequate Workforce

Another major shortcoming of government departments is that they are usually short-staffed, especially in domain-trained staff. Cybersecurity being a specialized subject, is often left to the contractors to maintain the [Government](https://cardconnect.com/launchpointe/payment-security/government-agencies-and-cyber-attacks) IT backbones. Malicious actors always look for **loopholes in such a system**. They take advantage of the vacuum that is created out of the arrangement.

#### sufficient Awareness And Training

_Phishing techniques prey on the human psyche_. A human being will always act positively towards a known source. Malicious actors take advantage of the lack of [cybersecurity awareness](/products/phishing-awareness-training/) and **anti-phishing training** among staff in government departments. Thus, a government employee could inadvertently direct the con person towards critical areas in the government database.

#### Legacy Software And Hardware

_The continued usage of legacy hardware and software in government departments_ is another pertinent aspect of cybersecurity. Local governments, out of budgetary constraints or a reluctant mindset, hate change. Hence, hardware and software that are way past their prime are continued to be used. It creates **extensive vulnerabilities** and opens a veritable gateway for malicious actors to exploit.

The activities are not just limited to phishing. There have been repeated instances of other threats such as **ransomware attacks**, which have taken serious proportions over time.

\*\* \*\*

### How Can Governments Prevent Cyber Attacks On Their Systems?

The government departments have to take earnest initiatives and follow strict protocols to efficiently curb the ever-increasing threats of phishing and ransomware attacks, as described below.

#### Training And Awareness Programs

It is the greatest weapon against phishing and other cybercrimes. Without adequate knowledge-sharing and awareness sessions, it is impossible to stand up to cyber threats. The government needs to be vigilant and build capacities to churn out _cyber-proficient employees who are well aware of the implications of following cyber protocols_. The said governments also need to standardize the training methodologies to spread cybersecurity vigilance equally across the board. All information about [protection against phishing](/) needs to be spelled out clearly.

#### Fostering An Ecosystem Of Cooperation

Every Government department has to work towards the common goal of [prevention](https://www.csoonline.com/article/3391589/why-local-governments-are-a-hot-target-for-cyberattacks.html) of cyber-attacks in various forms such as **phishing and ransomwar**e. Hence, an ecosystem based on the premise of cooperation is highly required. State and local governments will not have the wherewithal to fight this war alone and need central assistance. _The Federal Government usually has the resources to assist the other governance levels and must extend full help_.

#### Continuous Monitoring Of Systems

_The government must monitor all their IT systems 24×7_. It can do it either through contractors or by having a dedicated IT Infrastructure department to handle IT emergencies. Any attempt to disrupt such a system will produce warning alerts, and the department can **take emergency action** to prevent any further damage.

#### Enhance Security Solutions

_The Federal Government has to ensure that all the levels of governance have updated IT systems_. It is essential from the IT Security point of view. Investing in more robust and state-of-the-art infrastructure would ensure smooth operations of governance. The governments should use every capability to **protect sensitive information**.

\*\*

![Zero day attack prevention](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2021/01/zero-day-attack-prevention-5055.jpg) 

\*\*

### What Can You Do As An Employee To Thwart Such An Attack?

_The foremost duty of an employee is to protect his or her area of responsibility_. Unable to do so may be equivalent to a criminal offense, and he or she may be charged for dereliction of duty. Other than that, they must also regularly follow healthy **cybersecurity practices** such as the ones mentioned below:

- An employee needs to be aware of all the dangers and pitfalls on the internet.
- The employee should regularly update oneself on the newly emerging threats.
- Actively participating in [training sessions](/products/phishing-awareness-training/) on anti-phishing is also a must.
- Information will have to be shared strictly based on protocols. There should be no sharing of information with anyone without proper authorization and permission.
- While searching the net, they should not click on unknown links or access dubious websites. Spyware and malware emanate from these websites.

\*\* \*\*

### Final Words

_The weakest link of any organization is also its strength if adequately nurtured_. The individual employee is the most significant guarantee against wrongdoing. And to strengthen this **wall of protection**, the organization has to invest in them. They can do it through [training and awareness programs](/products/phishing-awareness-training/) and upgrading existing systems. _Phishing is one of the biggest reasons for the loss of data_, and government departments have to be particularly vigilant against them.

## Topics

[ Phishing ](/tags/phishing/) 

![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg) 

[ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) 

General Manager

Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across DuoCircle's 2,000+ customer base.

[LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) 

## Protect your inbox from phishing attacks

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