Winston-Salem Strengthens Cybersecurity After December 2024 Cyberattack On December 26, 2024, Winston-Salem city officials detected a cyberattack targeting municipal systems. The city responded immediately, working with state and federal agencies to investigate the incident. Authorities confirmed that an unauthorized actor accessed certain systems and exfiltrated specific data without permission. A comprehensive review, supported by data specialists, was conducted to assess the scope of the breach and identify affected individuals. In response, the city’s IT department implemented enhanced security measures, including: - Deployment of advanced security tools across desktops, mobile devices, servers, applications, and networks. - Collaboration with technical teams from the Winston-Salem Police Department, Utilities, and Department of Transportation. - Stricter password protocols and the elimination of shared accounts. - Introduction of a privileged access management tool. - Mandatory cybersecurity training for all employees, focusing on phishing and scam prevention. City leaders stated that all systems and data are now secure, with defenses strengthened beyond pre-attack levels. The incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by local governments and the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures.