Victoria County to buy cybersecurity insurance

Victoria Advocate (TX)

Dec. 11--Victoria County commissioners agreed Monday to buy a new liability insurance policy that will protect the county in the event of a data breach.

This is the first time the county has purchased a policy that would cover compromised data. Local governments collect and store large amounts of personal data in the course of their daily work, leaving troves of sensitive data open to attack if they are not properly protected.

John Sestak, the county's IT director, told commissioners Monday that he recommended adding the cyber policy to the county's existing liability coverage.

"In case of an attack or a breach of our data, it helps us bring in resources to correct the problem, research the cause of the problem," Sestak said. "And if there is personal data that was stolen, basically it helps us identify whose information was leaked and provide those people with identity protection."

"It's high time we get that done," County Judge Ben Zeller said. "We can be thankful we haven't been targeted thus far."

The premium for the new policy is about $4,700 a year.

Commissioners approved a contract, including the new cybersecurity policy, with Frost Insurance Agency and also approved a stop loss insurance contract with Great Midwest Insurance Company.

In other business, the court agreed to install four-way stop signs at a dangerous intersection in the Quail Creek subdivision. Commissioner Gary Burns raised concerns about the intersection located in Precinct 3 and said local residents have complained about drivers speeding through the area.

"Everybody's just flying through these subdivisions, and how do we stop them?" Burns asked.

No one commented on the stop signs during a public hearing for the proposal Monday, allowing commissioners to move forward with plans to install the traffic signs. The signs will be put at the intersection of Dove and Bob White roads, about a mile from Aloe Elementary School.

Ciara McCarthy covers local government for the Victoria Advocate as a Report for America corps member. You can reach her at cmccarthy@vicad.com or at 580-6597 or on Twitter at @mccarthy_ciara.

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